Usually the week before a meet we do "team events" during practice, where we basically treat each event like we would in a meet. We do timed warm-ups and go through and do our routines one by one in our competition line up order.

This week Brett gave our usual team events a twist by splitting us up into two teams for our bars team event day. We ended up being split into seniors verses underclassmen and the age difference led us to the team names of "classic cars" verses "hot rods".  Each team won points based on how many stuck landings, perfect handstands and solid routines were performed. The competition was neck-and neck, but in the end the "hot rods" won by one point, but overall it was the strongest team event bars practice that we have had all year long. I love being part of a team that is constantly looking for ways to keep practice fresh and fun while still working hard every day!

By the time competition day rolled around we knew that our preparation in the gym would have a chance to shine through. We were running low on numbers, as two of our teammates that we have relied on for solid performances in the previous weeks were unable to compete. But despite only having 5 instead of 6 girls to compete on floor and vault, we rallied together as a team to bring home the win! I am so proud to say that your Maryland terps swept all five individual event titles, and I am especially proud of my fellow seniors who gave great performances. Senior Jennifer Iovino gave solid performances on vault and beam, freshman Katy Dodds won vault with a sky-high yerchenko full, and senior Abigail Adams mesmerized the crowd once again, earning a 9.925 on floor, which is one of the highest scores that I have ever seen in the Comcast center.

Overall, we faced some adversity this week due to missing some of our key competitiors, but I think that we a great job of digging deep to pull out the win. I am so proud to say that we are undefeated at home, and I know that the huge fan turnout was a big help!

Thanks to everyone who came out and supported your terps this past weekend, and I can't wait to see you all at our next home meet on February 18^th! But until then, we will be hard at work on a mission to bring home some great road wins these next few weeks as we travel to Michigan, North Carolina and Pittsburgh!

Thanks for reading! Go terps!

-KJ