Trick-or-treat!

Hi there guys and ghouls!  Huh huh huh!  It’s me, your squatty old friend Jack-O-Lantern.  Now, I’m not a scaaaaary faced Jack-O-Lantern like some of my cousins.  Nope, not me.  I’m a happy pumpkin, and I’m here to talk with you kids about Maryland’s winter sports!  You see kids, when there is a chill in the air and the leaves start to change two things happen: I get carved-up and immediately start to decay, and winter sports begin!  So start roastin your seeds, stock-up that wood pile, and warm your cockles because it’s time to go indoors! Yuk yuk yuk!

Both the men and women’s Swimming and Diving teams beat Johns Hopkins in College Park at Eppley Recreation Center Natatorium last weekend.  The two teams placed six swimmers in the Olympic Trials over the summer, so look for a winning season from both programs.  They face the Blue Devils in Raleigh on Halloween. That sounds spooky to me!

The Wrestling team finished the season with a 16-4 record and an ACC Championship last year.  Led by All-American Hudson Taylor, the team returns 9 of 10 starters and comes into the season ranked #17.  They start the season at the Fighting Scot Duals in Edinboro, PA this Saturday. Hey, maybe you should dress-up as a Fighting Scot this Friday!

The Competitive Cheer team is going for their fourth straight NCA national title.  That’s right, there are no finer cheerleaders than Maryland cheerleaders.  The team recently named senior Ali Pascucci and junior Lauren Louis co-captains.  Their first demonstration was at Maryland Madness, but the season starts in December. I just hope Maryland Madness ends before Mischief Night, otherwise I might end-up as a pile of mush! Wuh huh!

Gymnastics starts in January, and this year is a farewell season for 31-year head coach Bob Nelligan. The Gymnastics team has a blog of its own called Tumble Talk! Check-in and you’ll find tantilizing tidbids such as this quote from Kelsey McDermid: ”Brandi George is putting her new dismount in and it looks great!”  I don’t even know what that means but it sounds hot. Wait, am I supposed to be a pumpkin?

Finally, the Indoor Track and Field teams also start in January.  The teams graduated a combined 15 seniors, and replace them with 21 freshmen coming into this year.  Watch out for high school national champion Dwight Barbiasz to out leap the competition this year.

OK kids, that’s it for now, old Jack needs to get back to his post before nightfall.  Just remember to root for winter sports, and please don’t kick my head in! Happy Halloween and GO TERPS!