University of Missouri
Michigan State
Tiger Gymnasts Take Third at Michigan State
6/21/1999 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
January 9, 1999
E. LANSING, MICH. -- Led by senior Jessica Haag, the Missouri Tigers placed third in their opening meet of the 1999 season, Saturday night. Their score of 188.725 was the second highest season opening road score in the program's 20-year history.
Michigan State, ranked 24th in the nation, won the meet with a score of 190.925, and was followed by Ball State (188.95), Missouri, and Iowa (188.275).
"I was very pleased with how well we competed," MU Coach Jake Jacobson said. "We put up a pretty good score for our first meet of the year on the road."
Haag won the vaulting competition, tying her career high with a score of 9.825. She placed third in the all-around with the second highest score of her career, 38.55. It was a tight race for the all-around title. Michigan State's Melissa Green and Carolyn Hecht went one-two with respective scores of 38.6 and 38.575, just ahead of Haag.
Tiger senior Amanda Peterson took second on the uneven parallel bars (9.675).
Junior Alison Akers, still bothered by a sore elbow, did not compete. Mizzou bars standout Chandra Harlow clipped the bar with her chin and received three stitches.
The Tigers will compete at home the next four weeks, starting with the 9th annual Shakespeare's Festival, Sun., Jan. 17. Centenary, Illinois State and Southeast Missouri State will join the Tigers for the Hearnes Center contest that begins at 2 p.m.
