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All season the Terrapin gymnastic team has been chasing the one breakout score that would help sew up a spot in the postseason. The team has performed well of late, but it has yet to experience a meet where every single competitor put her best on the floor.

In trying to help his team, coach Bob Nelligan has looked to a familiar waterfowl for inspiration.

"I just gave them a little thing about geese. In nature, a flock of geese, there's a reason for their chevron. It breaks the wind so that the geese in the back that are struggling are helped by the ones in the front that are breaking the wind," Nelligan explained. "If one gets hurt, two breakdown and fly down with it until it either heals itself or it passes. I find that's what [the team] is doing. It's something that has to come from within."

Although the Terps are unhappy with last week's third-place finish at George Washington, they have maintained the level of concentration and determination in the gym that has helped put them in contention for a postseason berth.

"It just gave us that extra motivation to come in here this week and push forward because we know we have it in us," sophomore Brandi George said.

Even with the end of the season right around the corner, the team is optimistic about its chances to pull things together down the stretch. With the way the gymnasts have been supporting one another during practice and in meets, it is obvious this team has a lot of fight left.

"Of course we feel [the pressure], but the only thing we can do is be more aggressive," senior Lindsey Bonomo said. "If anything, we're thinking, 'There's only so many meets left. We have to do what we have to do in these meets.'"

The Terps will certainly have no trouble getting charged up for Saturday's quad-meet with Michigan, Pittsburgh and Temple.

Not only is the competition critical for the Terps' chances at regionals, but the team will also be honoring its seniors - Bonomo and Gretchen Kittelberger - during a ceremony following the meet.

Emotions will be running high and there are sure to be some waterworks following the meet, which explains why Nelligan has decided the ceremony will be held after the competition.

"I've been in gymnastics all my life, and it's a big part of my identity," said Kittelberger, who decided to postpone graduate school in order to exercise her final year of eligibility. "Being here at Maryland, being part of the team, has meant the world to me."

The seniors have likewise meant a lot to this young Terps team, and that lesson has not been lost on the team's more youthful competitors.

"[Bonomo and Kittelberger] mean so much to us. They have been ... awesome captains, awesome leaders," George said. "Especially for our freshmen; [they have helped] guide them. Freshman year is a definite transition, so they mean a lot to us and it's sad to see them go."

The Terps say, despite the inevitable emotions, they will not let their feelings get in the way of focusing during the meet.

There is no doubting that the team has the drive and the ability to put everything together in time to qualify for regionals.

The only question will be whether the Terps can manifest these goals before it's the season, not an injured goose, which has passed.

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