2008 Woodie Awards
Gymnastics puts up strong performance despite illness
Michael Katz
Issue date: 3/3/08 Section: Sports
With top all-arounders sophomore Brandi George and freshman Abigail Adams out of the lineup with the flu, the Terrapin gymnastics teams' chances at Saturday's quad meet in Chapel Hill appeared ill-fated.
Knowing it would take a team effort to overcome the absences of George and Adams, coach Bob Nelligan rallied his troops and the team responded with its highest score of the season, 193.250, en route to a third-place finish.
"Brandi came down with the flu [at the meet], and we had already left [Adams] at home. I just got everyone together and said, 'We've got enough people on our team that can step up. Let's do it,'" Nelligan said. "My philosophy is, when the meet comes you put the best team out on the floor that you got."
The team Nelligan had was able to turn in the Terps' best performance of the year thanks to a combination of seniors stepping up and youngsters stepping in.
On vault, senior Gretchen Kittelberger notched to a season-high 9.825 to lead the Terps and place third in the event.
Senior Lindsey Bonomo and sophomore Candance King each earned season-highs with 9.775 and 9.725, respectively. The team totaled 48.600 in the event, its highest mark of the year.
"The two seniors really stepped up," Nelligan said. "They took a leadership role and we got off to a great start."
The underclassmen came up big for the Terps on the uneven bars, as sophomore Marguax Meeks paced the team with a score of 9.725. Freshman Kaitlin Joseph stepped into the lineup for the first time this season and came through with a 9.600.
In the final rotation the Terps hit all six of their balance beam routines. This marked the first time this season the team has not had to count a fall in their final score.
Sophomore Talia Tossone took first place in the event with a score of 9.850. Nelligan lauded her achievements this season.
"Talia Tossone is one a role," Nelligan said. "She's probably one of the best beam workers in the country."
Knowing it would take a team effort to overcome the absences of George and Adams, coach Bob Nelligan rallied his troops and the team responded with its highest score of the season, 193.250, en route to a third-place finish.
"Brandi came down with the flu [at the meet], and we had already left [Adams] at home. I just got everyone together and said, 'We've got enough people on our team that can step up. Let's do it,'" Nelligan said. "My philosophy is, when the meet comes you put the best team out on the floor that you got."
The team Nelligan had was able to turn in the Terps' best performance of the year thanks to a combination of seniors stepping up and youngsters stepping in.
On vault, senior Gretchen Kittelberger notched to a season-high 9.825 to lead the Terps and place third in the event.
Senior Lindsey Bonomo and sophomore Candance King each earned season-highs with 9.775 and 9.725, respectively. The team totaled 48.600 in the event, its highest mark of the year.
"The two seniors really stepped up," Nelligan said. "They took a leadership role and we got off to a great start."
The underclassmen came up big for the Terps on the uneven bars, as sophomore Marguax Meeks paced the team with a score of 9.725. Freshman Kaitlin Joseph stepped into the lineup for the first time this season and came through with a 9.600.
In the final rotation the Terps hit all six of their balance beam routines. This marked the first time this season the team has not had to count a fall in their final score.
Sophomore Talia Tossone took first place in the event with a score of 9.850. Nelligan lauded her achievements this season.
"Talia Tossone is one a role," Nelligan said. "She's probably one of the best beam workers in the country."
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