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Jan. 4, 2001
Tigers Gymnasts Set to Get the Ball Rolling Against Ball State
The University of Missouri gymnastics team opens the 2001 season this
Sunday, Jan. 7 as they travel to Muncie, Indiana, to take on the Ball State Cardinals. Mizzou brings an 11-11 all-time record in season opening meets into Sunday's tilt. The Tigers look to improve on last year's NCAA Regional appearance, their first since 1994. Second-year head coach Rob Drass is looking forward to firing up competition and said Ball State is an excellent early-season test for Mizzou.
"This should be a great meet," Drass said. "These two teams are both pretty even. We have youth and potential while they have experience and the home court advantage."
A Look at the Falcons
Riding the wave of back-to-back record setting campaigns, head coach Mary Roth's roster will be bolstered by the return of 12 letter winners from her 2000 squad, which had a school record 22 wins and winning percentage of .786 (22-6). Last year's team spent the entire season ranked among the top 40 --as high as 10th at one point--before finishing the season with a 23rd-place ranking in the final national poll. Veteran all-arounders Amy Bodus and Renee Planck will return and provide a solid nucleus.
The Cardinals own a 4-2 lead in the all-time series and defeated the Tigers on their home turf last year at the Corvette Cup on March 5. With the Tigers seemingly on their way to a school-record score in its final rotation - floor exercise, disaster struck its two best floor performers, seniors Shannon Brown and Alison Akers. Both suffered falls on tumbling passes and Akers was unable to complete her routine after suffering a bruised tailbone. The result was that the Cardinals were able to hang on for the Corvette Cup championship, winning with a score of 193.05. Missouri was second at 192.775, and Iowa took third at 190.275.
Head Coach Rob Drass
Now entering his second year at the helm of the University of Missouri Gymnastics program, Rob Drass looks to continue the upward trend he has set in motion during his time here at Missouri.
Winning a second consecutive Cat Classic championship and returning as a team to the NCAA Regionals for the first time since 1994 made Drass' first season as the University of Missouri's gymnastics coach a successful one. The program effectively transitioned from its first 20 years under the direction of the program's creator, Jake Jacobson.
Under Drass' tutelage, the Tigers broke 16 school records, accumulated 22 individual titles, and had three Academic All-Big 12 selections in the historic 2000 campaign. Mizzou's average meet score and Regional Qualifying Score were the highest in school history. The Tigers finished the year at 8-10.
Before taking the reins at Missouri, Drass was the top assistant for the University of Nebraska's nationally ranked gymnastics team for eight years. He served as a graduate assistant coach from 1991-92, and was elevated to his a full-time role in 1993.
Mizzou Gymnastics Team Receives Votes in GymInfo 2001 Pre-Season Coaches Poll
The University of Missouri Women's Gymnastics squad appeared in the "other teams receiving votes" category of the pre-season 2001 GymInfo coaches poll on Monday. The Tigers begin the season with the No. 32 ranking in the land as they travel to Muncie, Indiana, on Sunday to take on the Ball State Cardinals. The Cardinals also appeared in the "receiving votes" category with the Tigers. Coach Rob Drass said that the squad is excited to be ranked and will turn some heads as the season progresses.
"I think this is a good starting point for us," Drass said. "As our experience level increases, I think our ranking will improve. We have a lot of great potential and as our freshmen and sophomores prove themselves, we'll begin to turn some heads."
The Tigers truly do have one of the most brutal schedules in the nation as nine of their 10 2001 opponents also appeared in the pre-season poll. The highest-ranking Tiger opponent is No. 6 in the GymInfo coaches poll and defending NCAA Region 3 Champion Nebraska. The Huskers will visit the Hearnes Center on Jan. 28 for the AT&T Cable Classic. Drass said that the competition for Mizzou will be fierce, but it is necessary to grow into one of the top teams in the nation.
"The people of Columbia should definitely be entertained when they come out and watch our team," Drass said. "These opponents will provide good tests for our kids and will prepare them for regional and national competition."
Youth Movement
For several Mizzou gymnasts, the trip to Muncie will be their first taste of competiton at the colligiate level. The Mizzou roster features seven freshman, seven sophomores and one senior. With trips to national powers such as Oklahoma, Utah State and BYU and visitors to the Hearnes Center such as No. 6 Nebraska and No. 17 - defending Big 12 Champion Iowa State slated for the Tigers this season, the emphasis will definitely lay on preparing the freshman for battle.
Gietler the Great
Providing a solid leadership base for the Tigers this season will be lone senior Ann Gietler. Gietler holds the record for bars by a sophomore (9.825) and will once again be one of the top bar workers for the Tigers during the 2001 campaign.
However, Geitler's true strength is in the floor routine. She averaged 9.598 last season and knows how to work the crowd. Gietler also knows how to provide a clutch final performance which will be critical for the Tigers when the meet comes down the final event.
Super Sophs
One of the major strengths of the Tigers 2001 squad is the outstanding sophomore class. The class includes four 2000 letter winners who were able to pick up a wealth of experience. Alina Hamm will be one of the Tigers featured all-arounders while Leah Gremaud looks to improve on last years record setting beam work. She set the Mizzou freshman record on beam with a 9.85 mark in the opening meet of the season against Iowa State.
Columbia native Laura Forbes also looks to make a major contribution for the Tigers as she assumes the leadoff spot once again on floor. Forbes put up a 9.655 average on floor in 2000 and provided a valuable spark.
Laura Anson will be a valuable asset on three events (vault, floor, and beam). She put up a personal season-high 9.9 last year against Texas Woman's on beam and looks to continue to improve. Also returning from injuries will be Shannon Brett and Terri Baker. Baker looked to be off to a solid start last season, but was side-tracked by a knee injury. Look for transfer Rachel Bridges to also make a big impact for the Tigers. Bridges is a strong gymnast and will provide depth in several events.
Floor Music...You Name It...We're Using It
The 2001 Tigers have a new choreographer as first-year assistant coach Kira Atkinson assumes the controls. Gymnasts will feature everything from the Beastie Boys to music from the soundtrack of "The Last of the Mohicans." Here is a run down of some of the artists the Tigers will feature on floor this season.
Laura Forbes: Mark Anthony's "I Need To Know"
Ann Gietler: DMX's "Party Up"
Andrea Nervig: The Verve's "Bittersweet Symphony"
Alina Hamm: Beastie Boys' "Slow Ride"
Laura Anson: Lenny Kravitz' "American Woman"
Lindsay Davis: Rusted Root Medley
(Sorry, No Neal Diamond)
Tiger Tidbits
-The Tigers are 11-11 all-time in season opening meets and 0-1 during the Rob Drass Era.
-Mizzou was 0-3 in duals on the road in 2000
-MU looks to eclipse the highest opening season score by an MU team of 190.925 at Michigan State in 1999.
-The Tigers enter their 22nd season of competition.