Jan. 2, 2001

In his second year as head gymnastics coach at the University of Missouri, Rob Drass faces what he considers the best and biggest challenge a head coach can have. After leading the veteran 2000 squad, which featured five seniors (Shannon Brown, Allison Akers, Meggan Smiley, Chandra Harlow and Katie Cole) to the program's first NCAA Regional appearance since 1994, the Tiger squad will have a completely new look for the 2001 campaign. This season's roster features only one senior, Ann Gietler, six sophomores and eight freshmen.

"Youth is definitely our most obvious weakness when you look at our team this season," Drass said. "But it could also turn out to be our biggest strength. In women's gymnastics, a lot of times young doesn't mean untalented. It just means inexperienced, and we're going to need to grow up quick."

To help the team mature, Drass has brought in former Nebraska All-American Marshall Nelson and Illinois-Chicago standout Kira Atkinson as assistant coaches. Nelson will be working on bars while Atkinson will be focusing on balance beam and floor exercise.

The maturation process hopefully will lead to a repeat and eventual eclipse of last year's NCAA regional appearance, where Mizzou placed sixth.

"I think our talent level is very high, which will hopefully make up for lack of experience at the collegiate level," Drass said. "These are all very talented gymnasts who will make an impact for us."

Vault

As the team matures, several of the questions as far event lineups go will work themselves out. On vault, Hamm and freshmen Lindsay Davis and Andrea Nervig will look to be major competitors for Mizzou. Drass believes the vault has a chance to be a very strong event for the Tigers.

"We have four or five individuals on the team that are capable of throwing 10.0 vaults, which is promising and also exciting."

Look for a balanced attack from the freshmen and sophomores on the vault with a good mix of newcomers and experienced gymnasts on the apparatus at any time.

"I think we have the ability to score 49 points on any given night, which is about a 9.8 average, so it (vault) should be a very strong, consistent event for us," Drass said.

Bars

Assistant coach Nelson said there is also a lot of excitement surrounding the uneven bars, an event in which the Tigers placed second at last year's Big 12 Championships with a 49.0 point total. "We have good potential on bars this year," Nelson said. "The strength of line-up is going to come from the experience and leadership of (senior Ann) Gietler and from a core group of sopomores including (Alina) Hamm, (Laura) Anson and (Leah) Gremaud. Consistency is going to be the key to our success.

Balance Beam

On balance beam, coach Atkinson looks for the young, deep freshman class to step in and make an immediate impact with the loss of several key beam competitors to graduation. Hamm, Davis and sophomore Leah Gremaud are three of the top competitors out of the gate for the Tigers. "We have great potential on beam, we're just a little inexperienced," Atkinson said. "As a program, we're doing everything we can to get a good balance of the techincal and physical aspects. We are trying to find the perfect mix of confidence and athleticism."

Floor

Gietler will be looked to as the team leader and will be the Tigers' most solid competitor on the floor exercise. "I think we are going to have one of the best floor teams here in a long time," Drass said. "We have a new choreographer (coach Atkinson) and a great attitude about the routines."

The floor will be a strong closing event with sophomores Laura Forbes and Alina Hamm, Gietler and a whole slew of newcomers that are going to challenge for a lineup spot.

The schedule for the Tigers is, as coach Drass said, "brutal." Facing foes such as Nebraska, who placed in the top four last year, and BYU, Iowa State and Oklahoma, who all were in the top 10 at some point during the 2000 season, the Tigers definitely face some fierce competition.

"Each meet, we are going to be tested," Drass said. "Our goal this year is to keep improving our score, and I think this team is capable of finishing in the top 25 nationally."