University of Missouri
Oklahoma
Shire Sets Career High in Tiger Loss
2/19/2010 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 19, 2010
Complete Results
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Despite an early lead, the No. 17 Missouri Tigers (7-2) were not able to spoil the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners (10-0) current perfect season. Oklahoma was able to tally the hard fought win against the Tigers 197.050-195.500.
Senior All-American Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) once again set a new career high in the all-around with a 39.625. That score earned her a fifth all-around title this season to make it the 18th of her career. Sophomore Mary Burke (Inverness, Ill.) finished second in the all-around with a 39.075.
The Tigers started the night on vault with a 9.725 from senior Becky Scholle (Chesterfield, Mo.). The scores just went up from there with a 9.775 from both freshman Lauren Swankoski (Chadds Ford, Pa.) and senior Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J.). Junior Alex Gold (Plano, Texas) went next for Missouri and received a 9.825 for her vault. Burke tied her career high (a new season high) with a 9.85, followed by another season high of 9.925 from Shire. After the first rotation Missouri held the lead over Oklahoma 49.150-49.100.
Missouri moved to bars where they had a few stumbles in the beginning but got back on track with a 9.575 from sophomore Allie Heizelman (Cypress, Texas). Scholle earned a 9.700 making way for a 9.800 from Burke. Shire closed it out for the Tigers on bars with a 9.925. At the halfway point Oklahoma had taken the lead 98.375-97.325.
Guider gave the Tigers a great start in the beginning part of the beam lineup with a new career high of 9.825, which set up a new season high of 9.800 for senior Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.). Gold held it down with a 9.725 along with Burke who scored a 9.825. Shire closed out the rotation with a 9.900 to give the Tigers their highest beam score of the season of a 49.075. Going into the final rotation the Sooners still held the lead 147.650-146.400.
Freshman Tori Howard (Chesterfield, Mo.) started it off for the team on floor with a 9.800, followed by Gold who received the same score. Freshman Brittany Bendoff (Long Grove, Ill.) made her first official competition appearance a memorable one posting a 9.825 on the event. Swankoski kept it going for Missouri in the fourth rotation with a 9.800, which was capped by an outstanding routine by Shire that scored a 9.875.
In the end it was the Oklahoma Sooners that earned the win, but Shire was not to be outdone as she inched herself even closer to the Missouri all-around record of 39.650, which was set by Alisha Robinson in 2004. Shire also won the vault and bars titles on her way to the all-around title.
The Tigers remain at home next week as the Illinois State Redbirds are set to come to Columbia next Friday (Feb. 26). The meet is scheduled to get under way at 6:30 p.m.
Players Mentioned
