School Information Location: College Park, Md.

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1 MARYLAND GYMNASTICS Table of Contents Quick Facts... Schedule... This Is Maryland Gymnastics... Head Coach Bob Nelligan... Assistant Coach Wendy Marshall... Assistant Coach Brett Nelligan... Season Preview... Roster Info... Meet The Terrapins... Sarah Hoenig... Katherine Schroeder... Rachel Sibert... Leah Brill... Ashley Oberdorff... Mandy Pascual... Alexandria Gatch... Cameron Logan... Rachel Martinez... Rebecca Ruppert... Ginny Scott... Kristi Skowronski... Newcomer Profiles... Season Review... Review Story... Season Results... Statistics... EAGL Review... EAGL Results... EAGL Honors... History of the EAGL... All-Time History... Yearly Results... Coaching History... All-Time Postseason... All-Time Honors... All-Time Roster... All-Time Team Records... All-Time Individual Records... All-Time Results... Series Records... Comcast Center... Strength & Conditioning... Opponent Profiles... University of Maryland... President C.D. Mote Jr.... Athletics Director Deborah A. Yow... Athletics Department... Academic Support & Career Development... Distinguished Alumni... Media Information... Guide Credits The Maryland gymnastics media guide was written and edited by Mary Smith, Athletics Media Relations Coordinator and Shaili Shah, Athletics Media Relations student assistant. Design and layout by Jason Yellin, Publications Coordinator/Associate Director of Media Relations. Cover design by John Schaffhauser. Photography by Larry French and Bill Vaughan. Printing by Multi-Ad. Additional copies of this media guide can be purchased for $., plus $. for shipping and handling, by writing the Athletics Media Relations Office, University of Maryland, Comcast Center, College Park, Maryland,, or by calling Maryland Gymnastics 2004 Gymnastics Quick Facts School Information Location: College Park, Md. Founded: Enrollment:, President: Dr. C.D. Mote, Jr. (California, ) Athletics Director: Deborah A. Yow (Elon, ) Nickname: Terrapins, Terps Colors: Red, White, Black and Gold Affiliation: NCAA Division I Conference: East Atlantic Gymnastics League Home Facility: Comcast Center Gymnasium (capacity, ) Gymnastics Information Head Coach: Bob Nelligan (Massachusetts, ) Nelligan s Career Record: - - ( seasons) Nelligan s Record at Maryland: same Assistant Coach: Wendy Marshall (Sixth year) Assistant Coach: Brett Nelligan (First year) Making Our Mark! With its combination of talented gymnasts and dedi- cated coaches, Terps gymnastics is making its mark-- throughout the region, in the EAGL and on the Mary- land record books. In keeping with this year's theme of "Making Our Mark", the gymnasts have left their own "marks" on the media guide, as each gymnast has drawn a personalized name graphic for their bio. With their sights set on bringing the program to new heights, the Terrapins aim to make a name for them- selves on the national scene this year. Volunteer Assistant Coach: Scott Welsh (Second year) All-Time Program Record: - - ( years) All-Time EAGL-Record: - ( years) Overall Record: - EAGL Record: - EAGL Championships Finish: th Letterwinners Ret./Lost: / Media Relations Information Assoc. A.D./Media Relations: Doug Dull Gymnastics Contacts: Mary Smith, Shaili Shah Media Relations Phone: - - Media Relations Fax: - - Smith s Home Phone: - - Smith s address: marysmth@umd.edu Shah s address: sshaili@hotmail.com Terps Web Site: Mailing Address: Comcast Center, Terrapin Trail, College Park, MD Maryland Gymnastics Schedule Day Date Opponent Location Time Sat. Jan. at Ohio State with Pittsburgh Columbus, Ohio Sat. Jan. at Denver Denver, Colo. ET/ MT Sat. Jan. at North Carolina Chapel Hill, N.C. Sat. Jan. TEMPLE, JAMES MADISON, TOWSON Sat. Feb. Governor s Cup Towson, Md. Wed. Feb. at George Washington Washington, D.C. Sat. Feb. IOWA Sun. Feb. at West Virginia with Michigan, Morgantown, W.Va. James Madison Sat. Feb. at Rutgers Piscataway, N.J. Wed. Mar. GEORGE WASHINGTON Sat. Mar. STANFORD Fri. Mar. AIR FORCE, NC STATE, PITTSBURGH Sat. Mar. EAGL Championships Pittsburgh, Pa. Sat. Apr. NCAA Southeast Regionals TBA Thu.-Sat. Apr. - NCAA Championships Los Angeles, Calif. TBA Home meets at the Comcast Center Gymnasium All times Eastern Standard unless noted and subject to change Guide Voted Third Best The Maryland gymnastics media guide was voted the third-best media guide in the nation by CoSIDA (College Sports Information Directors of America). The guide was written and edited by Cherise Rhyns and design and layout by Jason Yellin. Last year marked the third consecutive year the Maryland media guide placed in the top-four in the country, as it finished fourth in both and. 1

2 THIS IS 2004 Maryland Gymnastics Making Our Mark! MARYLAND GYMNASTICS All-American Gillian Cote finished her decorated career in 2002, winning the EAGL Scholar-Athlete Award for the second time. Gillian Cote and Jill Fisher were named Maryland s first NCAA All-Americans following the 2001 season. The Terps are heavily involved in community service activities. 2

3 Team unity is always present for the Terps, as they are shown here at the 2003 Homecoming Parade at Maryland. United States Olympic Gold Medalist and 2003 Maryland Homecoming Grand Marshal Dominque Dawes is a friend of the Maryland program. COMCAST CENTER, THE NEW HOME FOR MARYLAND GYMNASTICS The exterior of the state-of-the-art Comcast Center (left) and the auxiliary gym at Comcast Center where the Terps compete (right). 3

4 2004 Maryland Gymnastics Making Our Mark! BOB NELLIGAN HEAD COACH 26th Season at Maryland Massachusetts 72 Bob Nelligan enters his th season at the helm of the Maryland gymnastics program. In that time, Nelligan has been the driving force behind the Terps success. His love for the sport and for his athletes is unique in today s world of gymnastics and has earned him the respect of the gymnastics world and his pupils. With a lifetime coaching record of - -, Nelligan has witnessed and adapted to the numerous changes that collegiate gymnastics has undergone. As gymnasts have gotten stronger, so has Nelligan s recruiting of the top gymnasts in the country. During Nelligan s career with the Terps, they have qualified for the NCAA Southeast Region Championships times, including six consecutive times from to and four consecutive times from -. In recent years, the Terps Year-By-Year Overall at Maryland Year Record Pct Total - -. In The EAGL Year EAGL Place/Score - th/. - th/. - th/. - nd/. - rd/. - nd/. - rd/. - th/. Totals - have moved closer to qualifying for the NCAA Championship meet, barely missing the opportunity last year by finishing in fourth place at the regional meet. Prior to the Terps entrance into the Southeast Region in the - season, the Terps competed in the East Region and qualified for the championships four of the seven seasons that they were members. Nelligan has the respect of all of his colleagues at Maryland and nationwide, and is recognized as one of the top gymnastics coaches in the country. In Nelligan was acknowledged for his contributions to collegiate gymnastics when he was honored as both the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Coach of the Year and Southeast Region Coach of the Year, the first awards he had received in a prestigious career. Maryland s level of success is only achieved through a strict regiment of training and conditioning, which Nelligan implements on a year-round basis. Nelligan is constantly striving to be the best and expects his gymnasts to do the same, both in athletics and academics. Last season, in addition to having four All-EAGL first team selections and three All-EAGL second team selections, Maryland had nine gymnasts earn All- EAGL academic honors. Nelligan is responsible for ensuring that this level of success is constantly maintained. He is the Maryland Terrapin team leader and the dedication and enthusiasm of the Terrapin gymnasts is a direct reflection of Nelligan s attitude and work ethic. Even though his work with the gymnastics team consumes most of his time throughout the year, Nelligan still finds time to focus his energies on several other projects. He is the Assistant Director of the Maryland Gymkana Troupe, the only touring exhibitional gymnastics troupe in the country. They perform nationwide and have become a main attraction on the Maryland campus. Nelligan is also the cofounder of the Maryland Gymkana Camp and on numerous occasions has been a guest lecturer in the College of Health and Human Performance Department. He is also a director and master staff member at the Woodward Gymnastics Camp in Woodward, Pa. and is a member of the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches, the U.S. Elite Coaches Association and the University of Massachusetts Alumni Association. Nelligan has also taught numerous classes regarding athletics and is striving to take athletics to another level through his pioneering of a wellness program for all of the varsity athletes at Maryland. This program is currently in the process of being implemented to each varsity sport and will ensure that athletes achieve their highest potential through the best means possible. Originally from Braintree, Mass., Nelligan has more than years of gymnastics experience. Prior to accepting the position of head coach at Maryland for the - season, Nelligan worked in various capacities at the Masters School in Dobbs Ferry, N.Y. From to he was a physical education instructor at the Masters School and also coached several teams, including gymnastics, lacrosse and softball. In addition to these responsibilities, Nelligan was named the Chairman of the Physical Education Department in for the Masters School. From to Nelligan was the head instructor and coach at the Marvateens Gymnastics School in Rockville, Md., and before that was an instructor and coach at the Weymouth South School in Weymouth, Mass. Nelligan received his B.S. in physical education from the University of Massachusetts in. Nelligan and his wife, Chris, have two children; Brett, who is serving as an assistant coach this season and Kelsey. 4 Coaching Staff

5 WENDY MARSHALL ASSISTANT COACH Sixth Season at Maryland Michigan 96 The season marks Wendy Marshall s sixth year as the Terrapins assistant coach. Marshall, who made a dramatic impact in her first few years, continuously brings energy and determination to the Maryland women s gymnastics team. A time All-American, Marshall epitomizes the level of enthusiasm and perfection that comes with making a Terp gymnast and was rewarded for her efforts at the end of, earning Southeast Region Assistant Coach of the Year. At Maryland, Marshall has helped the team increase their success. She has coached the Terps beam team since the season, coaching them to a season-long top-six national ranking. In, Maryland s beam competitors were ranked as high as No.. Her enthusiasm is great motivation for the team and she is bound to make many more positive things happen during her time at Maryland. Each summer for the past seven years, Marshall has been a member of the senior coaching staff at the University of Michigan Gymnastics Camp in Ann Arbor. In addition, from fall until the summer of, Marshall was a physical education teacher, the head of the intramural program and head gymnastics coach for Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor. In both seasons with the Pioneer gymnastics team, the squad won the conference championship. Marshall earned a full athletic scholarship to the University of Michigan in, and was a four-year varsity letterwinner and two-time Michigan co-mvp. She was one of the Big Ten Conference s most enthusiastic performers and an extremely consistent and solid gymnast each season with the Wolverines. In Marshall s first season at Michigan,, she was named a NCAA second team All-American on vault and earned All-Big Ten Conference honors. She tied for sixth on vault at the NCAA Central Region Championships, placed sixth in the all-around, th on bars, and th on floor at the Big Ten Conference Championships. Marshall s breakout season was as she earned NCAA second team All-American honors on vault and all-around, was named to the All-Big Ten Conference team and earned Michigan co-mvp honors. At the NCAA Championships, Marshall finished th on vault (. ) and th in the all-around (. ). She captured the vault title at the NCAA Central Region Championships with a perfect. This was the first of her career and marked only the second time in Michigan history that a gymnast had scored a perfect. The season saw Marshall named a NCAA first team All-American on beam, vault, and all-around and also earned All-Big Ten Conference honors. She was also voted Michigan s most improved performer and co-mvp. At the NCAA Championships, Marshall finished eighth on beam (. ), vault (. ) and all-around (. ). At the NCAA Central Region Championships, she won her second consecutive vault title by scoring a perfect, her third of the season on vault, and also finished third in the allaround (. ) and seventh on beam (. ). Her outstanding season continued at the Big Ten Conference Championships where Marshall finished second in the all-around (. ) and on floor (. ), third on beam (. ) and fourth on vault (. ) as Michigan won its fourth consecutive conference championship. In, Marshall earned Big- Gymnast of the Year honors and also received the Phyllis Ocker Award for academics and athletics, and the Bob Ufer Spirit Award. Marshall earned first team All-American on beam, floor, and in the all-around and All-Big Ten Coaching Staff Conference honors. Senior year also saw Marshall earning fifth place in the all-around at the NCAA Championships. The Marshall-led Pioneer gymnastics team was ranked No. in the - season, marking the first time in school history that the program was ranked. In the - season, the Pioneer gymnastics team qualified for the region championships and had several individual state championship qualifiers and three All-Americans. They finished the season ranked No., the second time in as many years that they had been ranked in the top. Marshall graduated from Michigan in with a bachelor s degree in kinesiology, majoring in physical education with a communication minor. She currently resides in College Park, Md. Marshall has one brother, Raymond, and one sister, Tammy. Tammy is the head coach at Infinity/Gold Medal gymnastics club in New York, and will be inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame at the University of Massachusetts this year for her time with the gymnastics program in the s. BRETT NELLIGAN ASSISTANT COACH First Season at Maryland Massachusetts 03 Brett Nelligan is the newest addition to Maryland gymnastics this season, joining the stellar staff of head coach Bob Nelligan and assistant coach Wendy Marshall. A recent graduate of the University of Massachusetts with a degree in sport management, Brett Nelligan possesses a well-developed combination of knowledge and experience that will benefit the Terps in practice and in competition. Nelligan competed three years of gymnastics for the Minutemen, serving as cocaptain one year. He was also an Academic All-American and aided his team in winning two ECAC Championships. A versatile athlete, he turned to diving after the UMass gymnastics program was cancelled, and witnessed the team achieve its third straight Atlantic- title. In addition to his work as a student-athlete, Nelligan has compiled years of coaching experience from various gymnastics camps. He spent two years on the staff at Woodward Gymnastics Camp in Woodward, Pa., as well as two years at the University of Georgia s gymnastics camp and at the U.S. Gymnastics Training Center in Holyoke, Mass. Nelligan has also served stints at the University of Rhode Island camp, the Gymini Gymnastics Camp in Reston, Va., and the University of Maryland Gymkana Gymnastics Camp. SCOTT WELSH VOLUNTEER ASST. COACH Second Season at Maryland Maryland 96 Scott Welsh is entering his second year as a volunteer assistant coach with Terps gymnastics, bringing a wealth of gymnastics coaching experience to the team. Welsh is currently the director and head coach of the University of Maryland Gymkana Troupe, the only known touring, exhibitional gymnastics squad in the nation. He also serves as director and head coach of the Gymkana summer camp program, aimed at teaching gymnastics to area youth. Welsh graduated from Maryland in and has also coached at Fairland Gymnastics in Laurel, Md. 5

6 2004 Maryland Gymnastics Making Our Mark! 2004 SEASON PREVIEW TERPS AIM FOR RETURN TO NCAA REGIONALS 6 To gain insight into the University of Maryland women s gym- nastics team s season goal, look no further than the x ft. sign taped to the far wall of its practice gym. Decorated in Terrapin red, yellow and black the sign entitled California Dreamin displays a roadmap of opponents Maryland has to compete against before it can travel to Los Ange- les, Calif, the site of the NCAA Championships. The road to the golden state and the Terps first national appearance is paved with a tough sched- ule as Maryland will take on six preseason Top- teams. Receiving votes in this year s poll as well, the Terps are ranked th overall. The squad is a formidable package, comprised of solid veterans and promis- ing newcomers, including a fresh face aboard the coaching staff. One thing is clear: The Terps are ready to MAKE THEIR MARK! Gymnasts compete individually on each event, with their score contributing to the greater team total in the end. There is no one to pass a ball to; there is no need to block for a teammate. However at Maryland, gymnastics is very much a team sport. The team concept has been the foundation of head coach Bob Nelligan s coaching philosophy for years. With the right combination of pushing and praising, Bob Nelligan and assistant coach Wendy Marshall have been able to keep alive spirit and unity amongst their athletes. The squad has great depth and thus there is competition each day for a top spot in the lineup. However, only healthy competition exists, as the team is closer than ever, having lost only three letterwinners from last season. I can easily have gymnasts compete on any event, Nelligan said. That tells you the amount of talent we are working with here. I will need each athlete to give the team percent and be counted on to step up on any given day. The team is young, comprised mainly of underclassmen. There are three seniors, three juniors, six sophomores and four freshmen. Senior leadership is the cornerstone of any viable program. This year s squad is anchored by three strong seniors: Katherine Schroeder and cocaptains Sarah Hoenig and Rachel Sibert. Collectively, the three provide the emotional stability and team toughness this young squad seeks and needs. Each of the three has competed at the highest levels and will be counted on by teammates and the coaching staff to lead. Captain is a thankless job which anyone who has been chosen knows, Nelligan said. Hoenig and Sibert have quietly molded our team into a highly competitive, cohesive unit, ready to break into the national forefront. Hoenig is Maryland s top Terp on the beam coming off a recordsetting season. She tied for first on the beam at the EAGL Championships and notched a career-high. three times in. (She was also an NCAA alternate in her second year at Maryland). Sarah Hoenig Sibert has been a consistent force on the vault and the bars throughout her collegiate career and will use her take-charge attitude to lead the team. Schroeder, a co-captain last year, competed on the vault and floor in all regular season meets, the EAGL Championships and the NCAA Regionals in. In addition to their athletic accomplishments, the three seniors set the standard for academic excellence as well; all three were named to the EAGL All-Academic Team at the EAGL banquet. The trio of juniors has also been honing themselves to becoming future leaders of this Maryland team. Mandy Pascual is more than a bar worker, Nelligan said. She has established a level of excellence in the classroom, in training and in competition which all strive to achieve. Pascual does lead the troupe at bars competition; the junior notched Season Preview

7 a school-best tying. twice last season in her dominance. Also a strong contender on bars is fellow junior Leah Brill. A EAGL Rookie of the Year, Brill is capable of providing depth and competitive edge on all four events. Ashley Oberdorff is starting to assert herself as a designated hitter and is ready to contribute on any event, according to Nelligan. Sophomores make up the largest group on the team, as there are six total second-year gymnasts. Led by EAGL champion Rachel Martinez, the sophomore class competed on a high level last year and is looking to come back stronger and better. Martinez is coming back following a storybook rookie season, garnering six-all arounds, five vault events, one bar competition, two beam events and four floor events during. She will be the go-to gymnast and both her teammates and coaches continue to witness her tremendous potential. A clear standout, Martinez fits well into the team concept at Maryland. A superstar can only enhance the team to get better and win. Other parts are crucial, Nelligan said. Alex Gatch s maturity will be counted on heavily this season as she is stronger and more determined to perform higher. Kristi Skowronski is a great all-around competitor who can push for a on bars. Cameron Logan is mentally strong and brings to the team a colorful floor routine along with her consistent bars and beam performances. In addition, Logan will be sporting a new vault in. Vault specialist Rebecca Ruppert is a strong and determined athlete. Ginny Scott will be looked at for all events, while she is strongest on the bars and the floor. Sidelined due to injury last season, Scott is continuing to perform at her high Level Qualifier standard, according to Bob Nelligan. The freshmen class brings curiosity and a willingness to learn. All four make the team stronger in the middle of the lineup. Local product Angie Ferg is a powerhouse vaulter and is stylish on the beam, where she was a four-time state champion. Marisa St. Louis was a Level competitor in high school and will be strong on the bars, floor and the vault. St. Louis was the state champion in vault and floor for Wisconsin. Ashley LeVine and Rachel Colon add depth to the team as well. LeVine, a Junior Olympic national qualifier, brings determination to excel. Colon, a four-time elite international competitor and transfer from the University of Michigan, has valuable competition experience coming in. She was the Junior Olympic National Champion in all-around, balance beam and floor exercise. Marshall is back for her sixth season as assistant coach, bringing to the team her raw energy and guidance. Looked at as a big sister, Marshall utilizes her competition experience from the University of Michigan as well as her sheer love for the sport to inspire the gymnasts on a daily basis. Joining this acclaimed staff is first-year assistant coach, Brett Nelligan. A gymnast at University of Massachusetts, Brett brings to the team his vast knowledge of the sport and his youthful exuberance. Since he is younger, he will also serve as the link between the staff and the athletes, according to Bob Nelligan. I am confident in his abilities and it s comforting to know that we will have a spotter at practice and at meets, Bob Nelligan said. On a personal level, it brings be great personal satisfaction having my son here with me. It is truly a rewarding experience when a father can pass on Season Preview Rachel Martinez what he knows to his son. In addition, Scott Welsh, head coach for the University of Maryland Gymkana Troupe will be back again this season as a volunteer coach. The Maryland gymnasts will have to be on the top of their game right from the start, as the Terps will compete in three away meets against top- teams to start the season. First on the docket will be a Jan. meeting with No. Ohio State, followed by visits to No. Denver and No. North Carolina, all in three consecutive weeks. George Washington, receiving votes in the poll, will meet the Terps Feb.. The Terps then battle another top squad on Feb., when they take on th-ranked Iowa at the Comcast Center. The next weekend, Maryland goes back on the road to compete against No. Michigan and West Virginia, with the Mountaineers currently receiving votes. After another meeting with George Washington, the Terps will tousle with perennial power Stanford, currently ranked sixth. The Terps final home meet on March will feature NC State and Pittsburgh-both teams that are receiving votes in the preseason poll. This will gear the team up for the EAGL Championships, where it will look to again upset higher-ranked squads and bid for a national championships berth for the first time following regionals. 7