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Terps Close Early Season Competition Schedule
Dec. 14, 2009
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The Maryland competitive cheer team closed out its early season competition schedule over the weekend with a win at Spirit Unlimited's Chick-Fil-A Charm City Dress Rehearsal competition Saturday at the Baltimore Convention Center. The Terrapins fought through a major stunting change made just before the team's performance time. One flyer was forced to sit due to doctor's advice, which made all team members pull together to compete. "I was particularly impressed with Tricia Fitzgerald, the flyer chosen to make the switch to new bases who were co-captain Joanna Venezia, Amanda Soven, and Arielle Brown," head coach Jarnell Bonds said. "Tricia flew with extreme grace and confidence under the stressful situation. She handled the last minute switch with a maturity that was beyond her years, considering that she is a freshman. Joanna is a strong influential leader that kept her group focused and successful while they were learning to adjust to the change." Another freshman, Jordan Sender, was forced to work with a new stunt group of flyer Brittany Fonfara,and Season Daugherty and Kaitlyn Letourneau basing. "This group showed determination all week and hit a strong stunt on the floor. Brittany is a very encouraging flyer who constantly speaks to her bases during the stunt. I believe that her lead in communication facilitated the group's success," Bonds said. Senior Ashley Heiser threw a double full basket toss that was based by Daugherty, Letourneau, freshmen Nija White and Casey Lynch. Over the course of this semester, this group worked on perfecting their form and technique on this particular element to the routine. Tumbling was once again a highlight for the Terps, with White opening the tumbling sequence with her fast-spinning double full twist. Junior Samantha Johnson, Melissa Buck, and Daugherty closed the sequence with very strong tumbling passes.
"Those three have been extremely consistent this semester and I am always impressed at their ability to perform such difficult skills toward the end of the routine. No matter what errors have occurred elsewhere in the tumbling portion I know I can count on those three to end strong for the team," Bonds said. Judges gave the Terps high difficulty points with a score of 9.7 out of a possible 10.0. The Terrapins will take the competition floor on Sun., Jan. 31 at the University of Pennsylvania's Competition. |
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