January 5, 1999
Tigers Open Season on Saturday
The Missouri Tigers will open their 1999 season on Saturday, competing in East Lansing, Mich., against the 24th ranked Michigan State Spartans, Ball State Cardinals and Iowa Hawkeyes. The meet begins at 6 p.m., Central Standard Time. Mizzou, 8-13 a year ago, returns nine letterwinners, including 1998 NCAA Regional all-around qualifer Shannon Brown, all-Big 12 vaulter Jessica Haag, and school record-holders Alison Akers, Amanda Peterson and Meggen Smiley. The Tigers opened the 1997 season in East Lansing, too, and beat Michigan State that day, 189.475-189.0, while falling to Auburn which scored 192.025.
Series Records
Michigan State leads Missouri, 11-5, and Coach Kathie Klages' team won twice over the Tigers last season. MSU won the five-team Shakespeare's Festival in Columbia, then beat the Tigers and Iowa in a three-way meet in Iowa City, in February. Michigan State returns seniors Erin Mullen and Carolyn Hecht who paced 1-2 in the all-around in last year's Shakespeare's event. Mizzou holds the series advantage over both Ball State and Iowa. MU leads the Cardinals, 2-1, and will hook up with Ball State for the first time since 1994. MU leads Iowa, 14-3. The two teams split a pair of decisions last season, and will square off three times this year. Iowa will appear in the Corvette Cup in Columbia, March 7, and the Tigers travel to Iowa City on March 13. Iowa returns one of the nation's top all-arounders from last season, sophomore Giselle Boniforti, who was the Big 10 Freshman of the Year in 1998. She went into the NCAA Central Regional ranked first in the region and sixth in the nation in the all-around, but lost there to Mizzou's Shannon Brown, 38.45-38.325.
Jacobson Begins 20th Season at Ol' Mizzou
The only gymnastics coach in school history, head coach Charles "Jake" Jacobson began MU's gymnastics program in 1979. Now in his 33rd season overall, he has a career record of 352-211-1. He's in his 20th season with the Tigers where his mark is 220-186-1. In his career at MU, Jacobson has guided the Tigers to one Big Eight Conference championships (1992), three second-place conference finishes (1981-82-90) and a NCAA Central Region championship (1981). In addition, he has coached 29 all-conference gymnasts and five regional champions. In 1981, his team placed 16th at the national championships.
Shakespeare's Festival Will Begin 4-Meet Homestand
The Tigers return home next week to host the 9th annual Shakespeare's Festival at 2 p.m., Jan. 17. Centenary, Illinois State and Southeast Missouri State will provide the opposition. Tickets are available at the MU Athletic Ticket Office for $5 (adults) and $3 (students). Missouri then entertains conference opponents Iowa State (Jan. 22) and Nebraska (Jan. 29) before hosting the 19th annual Cat Classic. This year's field includes Auburn, BYU and New Hampshire. Cat Classic single-session tickets are $6 and $4, while two-day passes are $10 and $6. Season tickets are also on sale at $30 and $18. Call 1-800-CAT-PAWS or 884-PAWS (locally) to purchase tickets. Other home meets at MU this season include the 5th annual Corvette Cup (March 7) and the Big 12 Conference Championships (March 27).