Putting up and shutting up

During a dual meet at Pittsburgh last month, the Terrapin gymnastics team couldn't help but notice several rowdy fans sitting next to the vault runway.

Half a dozen men taunted the Terps throughout their opening rotation on uneven bars. Hurling such insults as "you suck" and "go home," the mini-student section reveled in an early Panther lead.

But when the Terps moved within 15 feet of the hecklers as they began their vault routines, freshman Katy Dodds knew how to silence them.

"I can't wait until it's my turn so I can shut them up," she told Terp coach Brett Nelligan.

And that's exactly what she did.

Competing last on vault, the 19-year-old Gaithersburg native scored a 9.9. As Dodds celebrated the new career high with her teammates, she looked back at the six students. They didn't say a word.

When Dodds committed to this university in March 2009, Nelligan knew he'd added an elite vaulter who could contribute right away. But he never could've anticipated the far-reaching impact she's had this season.

"I figured she'd be good, but for her to have the kind of complete season she's having, that was unexpected," Nelligan said. "She's really set the bar in terms of freshmen we've had here."

In addition to competing regularly on uneven bars and floor exercise, Dodds has continued to anchor vault, the team's highest-scoring event. She finished the regular season ranked No. 2 in EAGL on that event, a distinction that helped her secure a place on its all-conference first team.

Since arriving on the campus late last summer, Dodds has demonstrated a maturity belying her youth. She didn't wait long to establish herself as a leader on a team that lost six seniors to graduation last spring.

Nelligan recalled a September afternoon during the squad's annual boot camp — a grueling five-week workout focused on strength and conditioning training. While watching his team run around the Byrd Stadium field, he noticed something unusual.

"I heard the start of a chant," the second-year coach said. "When I looked to see who was leading it, I saw Katy yelling, ‘Give me a T!' It was unlike anything I'd seen before — a freshman taking such a vocal role so early on like that."

It's an energetic disposition that comes naturally to her. During the Terps' daily practices, Dodds can often be found impersonating a celebrity or encouraging a frustrated teammate.

"I like to lighten the mood," she said. "Sometimes, the environment in the gym can get uptight, and it's easy to forget how much fun gymnastics is supposed to be. I always want to keep it fun."

But when the subject turns to her own frustrations, Dodds tends to remain mum.

"The other day at practice, Abbey [Adams] came up to me and said, ‘Katy just threw up, but she's not going to tell you,'" Nelligan said. "That kind of thing is pretty typical with her. She's a great communicator, but she'll never admit when she's not feeling well."

Beginning in the fall of her freshman year at Rockville's Magruder High School, Dodds was out of gymnastics for 18 months. She was experiencing pain on her lower back and couldn't make it through her most basic routines.

After meeting with a specialist, she was diagnosed with spondylolysis, a condition caused by stress fractures of the vertebrae.

When Dodds was finally ready to resume training in January 2008, she'd made up her mind: She was going to quit gymnastics. For someone who had excelled at the top of her field since she was 3 years old, the idea of rehabilitation seemed too daunting.

"I went into my [club team] coach's office and told her that I was quitting. I had my bags packed and everything," Dodds said. "She told me to give her six weeks to help me get my strength back up before I made a decision."

Eight weeks later, she placed fourth in all-around at a national invitational tournament.

Today, Dodds still experiences shooting pains in her lower back after most meets. Although it hasn't been easy, she's learned to manage her discomfort — a skill that's kept her active for every competition this season.

"Without the pain," she said, "it wouldn't be as worth it."

With Dodds leading the charge on vault, the No. 28 Terps finished the regular season undefeated in conference play for the first time in the program's 32-year history. They placed third at the EAGL Championships on March 19, their highest finish since 2005.

With three-time team MVP Abigail Adams likely competing in her final meet at Saturday's Southeast Regional in Athens, Ga., Dodds will need to assume an even larger role next season.

And for Nelligan, that's no problem.

"Katy's already competing at such a high level," Nelligan said. "There's no telling what she can do."

letourneau@umdbk.com