The North Carolina gymnastics team sent Maryland back to College Park Saturday, marking the Terrapins’ first loss of the season and vindication for the UNC team.
Maryland beat North Carolina by a slim margin Jan. 26 in College Park, but this Saturday the Tar Heels were able to rebound and refresh their focus to put together a well-rounded performance.
The Tar Heels edged out the No. 15 Maryland Terrapins 195.675 to 194.825 — UNC’s highest score of the season — in Carmichael Arena this weekend.
Senior Elizabeth Durkac said the team had been competing well in parts of meets recently, but it had not been able to perform its best in all four events until Saturday.
“We put a whole meet together, that’s what we wanted to do,” Durkac said. “Last weekend we had two good events, two not-so-great events. (This) was redemption within ourselves.”
Coach Derek Galvin said his team had a “complete meet” Saturday.
“No one backed off,” he said. “They all competed with confidence and composure.”
Galvin said the Tar Heels were focused and excited in the week of practice leading up to the meet, and the week also offered some gymnasts time to rest their bodies to regain the strength needed for the meet Saturday.
Aside from the overall title, UNC gymnasts also captured the top two spots in the all-around competition. Durkac placed second with 39.200 points, and sophomore Haley Watts took first place with a score of 39.225.