March 1, 2008
Complete Results
COLLEGE PARK, Md. - The University of Maryland gymnastics team placed third Saturday at the Tar Heel Invitational in Chapel Hill, N.C. Despite top all-arounders sophomore Brandi George and freshman Abigail Adams not competing due to illness, the Terrapins earned their season-high score of 193.250.
Host University of North Carolina won with a 193.775 score, University of New Hampshire notched a 193.600 for second and William & Mary finished fourth with a 189.025.
Maryland began the competition on floor exercise with sophomore Michele Brenner tumbling to a 9.775 score (4th place). Redshirt freshman Lisa Reifschneider and senior Gretchen Kittelberger scored matching 9.725 marks.
In the second rotation, Kittelberger vaulted to a career-high 9.825 score and a third-place finish. Season-highs were earned by senior Lindsey Bonomo (9.775) and sophomore Candice King (9.725). The team's vault event total of 48.600 is the highest of the season.
On the uneven bars, sophomore Margaux Meeks led the team with a 9.725 score (5th place). Freshman Kaitlin Joseph entered the bars line-up for the first time and notched a 9.600.
In the final rotation, the Terps hit six-for-six balance beam routines for the first time this season. Sophomore Talia Tossone won the event with a 9.850 mark. Brenner tied for fourth with a 9.750.
North Carolina sophomore Christine Nguyen won the all-around (39.450), vault (9.875), uneven bars (9.825) and floor exercise (9.925).
The Terrapins travel to local rival George Washington University on March 9 to compete in a quad meet with West Virginia and Kent State. The meet is set for 3:00 p.m. at the Smith Center.
