Jan. 18, 2001
For Immediate Release
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Mizzou Gymnastics Team Opens Three-Weekend Homestand, Welcomes SEMO for Missouri Cup
After a two-week hiatus, the University of Missouri gymnastics team will welcome the Southeast Missouri State Otahkians to the Hearnes Center for the coveted Missouri Cup on Sunday. The Tigers are 0-1 overall and will begin a three-weekend homestand on Sunday. After taking on the Otahkians, Mizzou will take on No. 6 Nebraska on Feb. 28 before hosting the 21st annual Cat Classic Feb. 2-3.
Coach Rob Drass said with the tough upcoming schedule will definitely give the Tigers a chance to get the season going in a positive direction.
"First and foremost, we have to get healthy and gain some confidence. If we do those two things, the upcoming task will be much easier," Drass said. "We need to go out there and put routines up. Starting and finishing routines is crucial against the quality competition we'll be facing."
A Look at the Otahkians
The 2001 edition of the Southeast Missouri State Otahkian gymnastics team, which enters Sunday's competition with a 2-3 record is led by second year head coach Patty Stotzheim. Stotzheim, a 1991 graduate of Hamline University, posted a 5-15 record at Southeast last season. Last year, despite a losing record, Southeast had two athletes, including talented junior Stephanie Furman, make individual NCAA appearances. Although five seniors are gone from last season's squad, four talented newcomers (Jacklyn Doebler, Ashley Godwin, Kasey Karban, and Alicia White) are poised to make a big impression.
This will be the 18th meeting between the two schools, with Mizzou holding a 11-6 lead in the all-time series. Two of those 11 wins came last season as Mizzou defeated the Otahkians at the Cat Classic, and then in dual competition, 193.525-191.225.
Head Coach Rob Drass
Now in his second year at the helm of the University of Missouri gymnastics program, Rob Drass looks to continue the upward trend he set in motion during the 2000 campaign.
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 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.
A Look Back...
Tigers Gymnasts Drop Season Opener at Ball State
The University of Missouri gymnastics team opened the 2001 season in Muncie, Indiana on Jan. 7, falling to the Cardinals, 188.675-184.575.
The Tigers struggled through their opening routine of the season on bars. The rotation saw three falls with Mizzou coming away with a 44.950.
Mizzou was able to regain composure in the second rotation on vault. The Tigers put up a 46.625 and finished just .025 points behind the Cardinals. Freshman Lindsay Davis continued her strong career-opening performance with a team-high 9.5, good for second place. Through two rotations, the Tigers trailed BSU, 94.275-91.575.
Making their debut under a new choreographer, assistant coach Kira Atkinson, MU was solid on floor. In the third rotation Freshman Andrea Nervig was outstanding grabbing a 9.45, Mizzou's highest floor score. Sophomore Laura Anson and senior Ann Gietler were also solid with scores of 9.3 and 9.275 respectively.
On beam, freshman Heather Holden and sophomore Laura Forbes opened beautifully for Mizzou putting up scores of 9.35 and 9.45, respectively, in the opening two spots on beam. Davis concluded her solid all-around performance with a 9.425. However, Alina Hamm recorded the best Mizzou routine of the night slating a 9.60.
Nervig Puts Up All-Around Good Performance
Freshman Andrea Nervig (Colorado Springs, Colo.) had a solid opening meet performance on Jan. 7 at Ball State. She had an early fall on bars and received a 8.900 on her first rotation as a collegiate gymnast. However, Nervig showed nerves of steel, posting a team-high 9.45 on floor and 9.475 on vault. The frosh's performance was good enough for a third place in the all-around (36.875) and was the best Tiger performance of the evening.
Tigers Display Excellent Balance on Beam
Despite dropping their season opener, Mizzou showed promise, especially on balance beam. The Tigers scored a 47.000, their highest mark of the evening on the 4 inch wide apparatus. Leading the charge for Mizzou was sophomore all-arounder Alina Hamm, who put up a team-high 9.600 while freshman Lindsay Davis recorded 9.425 in her first collegiate meet.
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. Tiger floor routines 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)