March 11, 1998

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Tonight from Ritchie Coliseum before a crowd of 300, the Terrapin women's gymnastics team faced Southeast Region rival George Washington on "senior night", as six Terrapins competed at home for the last time in their careers. Maryland rose to the occasion as they scored a season-high team score to defeat the Colonials, 193.475 - 193.200. Maryland's season-high team score was aided by season-high scores on beam (48.250) and floor (48.725).

The Terrapins were led by junior Christine Holcombe (McMurray, Pa. / McMurray Township) who had her best outing of the season up-to-date. Holcombe took first-place in the all-around competition with a season and 1998 Maryland team-high score of 38.925 and first on floor with a season-high score of 9.800. She also added a fifth-place finish on beam with a season-high score of 9.700, a fourth place finish on bars (9.725) and a second-place finish on vault as she tied her season-high with a score of 9.700.

In their last home meet ever, seniors Megyn Byrnes (Mahopac, N.Y. / Mahopac) and Stacy Breidenbach (Hillsdale, N.J. / Pleasant Valley (Pa.) performed exceptionally. Byrnes scored a season-high 9.875 on bars, placing her second overall and setting the new Maryland all-time high. She also recorded a season-high score of 9.725 on floor, earning her a third-place tie with three other gymnasts. Breidenbach, who competed with a broken left hand, participated in only two events, but scored a season-high 9.725 on floor, also placing her in a tie for third.

Junior Jenny Engel (Monrovia, Md. / Linganore) also contributed as she set season-highs on vault (9.675) and beam (9.650) and tied a season-high score on floor (9.775). Engel's scores on vault and floor earned her fourth-place and second-place, respectively.

This was the third time that the Terrapins had met the Colonials this season. In the first meeting at the Towson Invitational, Maryland defeated George Washington, 190.925 - 190.100. The teams met two days later in Washington, D.C. and George Washington defeated the Terrapins, 194.150 - 192.050.

The Terrapin's improve to 18-9 while the Colonial's fall to 15-12. Maryland will next compete at the East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championships on March 21 at Rutgers University. The time has yet to be announced.

TEAM SCORES
1. University of Maryland       193.475
2. George Washington University 193.200

ALL-AROUND
1. Christine Holcombe (MD)  38.925
2. Alexis Hrynko (GW)       38.900
    Darden Wilee (GW)       38.900
4. Megyn Byrnes (MD)        38.300

VAULT
1. Alexis Hrynko (GW)       9.800
2. Christine Holcombe (MD)  9.700
    Donna Slicker (GW)      9.700
4. Jenny Engel (MD)         9.675
    Darden Wilee (GW)       9.675

BARS
1. Siobhan Haney (GW)       9.950
2. Megyn Byrnes (MD)        9.875
3. Rachel Dolbin (MD)       9.750
4. Christine Holcombe (MD)  9.725
    Alexis Hrynko (GW)      9.725

BEAM
1. Shari Doulman (GW)       9.850
2. Darden Wilee (GW)        9.800
3. Karyn Fein (MD)          9.725
   Alexis Hrynko (GW)       9.725
5. Christine Holcombe (MD)  9.700
    Erica Lewy (GW)         9.700

FLOOR
1. Christine Holcombe (MD)  9.800
2. Jenny Engel (MD)         9.775
3. Stacy Breidenbach (MD)   9.725
    Megyn Byrnes (MD)       9.725
   Siobhan Haney (GW)       9.725
   Darden Wilee (GW)        9.725