Tigers Primed for 2002 Season
11/27/2001 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Nov. 27, 2001
The Fountain of Youth is a mystical enterprise promising to invigorate and restore vibrancy to the body. It is a fable that has been sought after by nearly every generation of man throughout history. But, here at the University of Missouri, the search is over.
When gymnastics coach Rob Drass stepped onto the Missouri scene in 1999, his job was to rejuvenate a withering program. Armed with a fresh perspective, innovative ideas and proven talents, Drass set upon the task of restoring the Mizzou gymnastics program from the ground up and the 2002 season is no exception.
"I am so very excited about this year's team," Drass says. "It gets to the point where I can't sleep at night because I'm thinking about how good this team could be. A lot of that success is going to rely on how the team gels, how they work together and their consistency. We have upgraded our skill level and our consistency during practice. I really don't think we have a weak point on the team," he adds.
Entering his third season at the helm of the Tiger team, the 2001-02 season looks to have limitless potential. Missouri returns eight letterwinners, including two regional qualifiers and adds seven promising newcomers to the roster. The combination of raw talent from the underclass mixed with the seasoned experience and skills of MU's returning squad creates the potential to advance the strides made last season.
"Gelling as a team will determine our success this year," Drass predicts. "We have a fairly young team, and as they to come together, learn to compete, trust and believe in each other the rest of our goals toward consistency will be there."
Building on 2000-01, Missouri looks to once again have a record-breaking year. Last season, the Tigers recorded three of the top-15 team scores, five of the top-10 team bars scores and the top team floor exercise score in school history. In addition, Mizzou had 13 individual event champions in 2001.
"Basically I think the goal we have set for the 2002 season is to be consistent in our routines," Drass says. "Without a doubt, this is the best Missouri team since I have been here. The season will all depend on how we perform in the clutch, but if we bring the promise we show in practice to the competitive floor, there is no limit to what we can do."
Growing into a solid team dynamic, the Missouri junior class leads the Tigers into the arena this season toting a winning enthusiasm. Leah Gremaud, Alina Hamm and Laura Forbes all look to advance the amazing strides acquired last season.
Gremaud had a tremendous year developing an award-winning balance beam routine. She recorded four of Missouri's top-10 beam scores in school history and set the MU school and sophomore record posting a 9.925 in the event at the Cat Classic. Her spectacular season performance on the apparatus garnered her berth to her first NCAA Region III competition.
"Leah could have a great year, it will be whatever she wants to make it," Drass predicts. "She worked hard in the preseason and if she continues, she will have a wonderful year--her best season yet."
An impressive all-around competitor, Hamm gave Tiger fans reasons to pack the stands last season as she recorded five of the top-11 all-around scores in Mizzou program history. She set the sophomore record scoring a 39.225 against Nebraska and led the team averaging a 9.692 on the vault during 2001.
"I think the theme for this year is that you will only get out what you put in," Drass says. "Alina could be a solid all-arounder for us as she has the ability to improve on her record setting performances from last year."
Forbes shined for the Tigers scoring a school-record setting 9.925 on the floor exercise at the Corvette Cup. In addition to a heart stopping floor routine, Forbes also competed on the balance beam for the first season and recorded a career-high 9.75 at the Cat Classic.
"Laura is one of our leaders," Drass compliments. "She was a walk-on that has worked hard every year and always rises to the challenge. Her hard work and dedication fuels the team."
Joining the ranks of "veterans" this season, are 2001 freshmen phenoms Lindsay Davis and Andrea Nervig. In their inaugural season, both athletes helped the Tigers make tremendous strides. Embodying the verve of Mizzou's team spirit, Davis and Nervig's spectacular season brought a fresh outlook and vigor to the goals compelling the 2001 squad.
In her first collegiate year, Davis broke through as one of Missouri's top athletes. She posted the highest all-around marks scored by a freshman in school history with a 38.975 against Iowa State. She also topped the podium in the balance beam at the Cat Classic and the all-around at the Missouri Cup. She rounded out her freshman season scoring a 37.975 in the all-around at the NCAA Region III Championship.
"Lindsay is a very consistent gymnast, once she has something it is very solid," Drass says. "We have upgraded her skill level a bit and once she gains consistency she will be a much stronger gymnast than she was last year," he predicts.
"She has a great attitude and drive," Assistant Coach Kira Atkinson adds. "She was our 'sleeping giant.' She came in as a walk-on and ended up being our most consistent all-around athlete. Lindsay has taken that this year and has provided some very valuable leadership."
Nervig showed her brass as a freshman winning the uneven bars event at the Missouri Cup. She developed throughout the season to become one of Mizzou's most consistent contributors averaging a 37.958 in the all-around competition overall.
"Andy is going to be a contributor on two events and possibly a third-bars and floor are where she is going to make an impact," Drass foresees. "She was hampered by a shoulder injury during the preseason, so she is working from behind the eight ball back into the lineups. She gained a lot of experience last year and her growing strength and consistency will be valuable to her performance."
Bolstering the lineup, Mizzou reclaims several athletes that were plagued with injuries last season including Terri Baker, potentially one of the Tiger's top competitors on the bars and beam. The Tigers also add Rachel Bridges, a 2001 transfer redshirt, to the competitive roster. Bridges is a solid all-around competitor and will be looked upon to contribute particularly on the vault and uneven bars this season.
Adding another fresh perspective to the Tiger program, Drass brings in six newcomers to augment Missouri's talented roster. Looking to make an immediate impact, freshman Alisha Robinson brings a wealth of international experience and skill. The Bates City, Mo., native was a three-time member of the U.S. National and World Tumbling teams. She took top honors at the 2001 U.S. Championship and went on to finish fifth in the world competition in Brussels, Belgium, over the summer.
"Alisha is a super talented athlete that should really do a great job for us," Drass says. "She is extremely strong and powerful. Vault, bars and floors are going to be her strengths. We expect some great things out of her this year."
"I think once Alisha gets into season, once she competes in artistic gymnastics versus power tumbling, she'll realize her talent and ability and it will spark her toward bigger and better things," Assistant Coach Paul Scardina also predicts.
Joining the Tiger "green team," freshmen Ashley Asraf and Rachael Dombart are also poised to make an impression as rookies this year. Asraf and Dombart look to be a complimentary pair for the Tiger lineup as each athlete's talents round out MU's competitive regimen.
Asraf comes to Missouri specializing in the vault and floor exercise. Competing for Tom's River High School (NJ), she claimed the New Jersey state title in both events in 2001. She also finished third on the vault at the USAG Level 10 competition and 12th in the floor exercise.
"Ashley is a very hard worker, she is going to surprise a lot of people," Drass says. "She is extremely powerful and will definitely help us out on beam and floor and has the opportunity see action on vault and bars."
Evening out the other end of the spectrum, Dombart masters the balance beam and uneven bars. The Woodstock, Ga., native was the two-time runner-up in the balance beam at the Georgia state meet in both 2000 and 2001.
"Rachael is definitely going to help us on our two skill events-bars and beam," Drass says. "Her consistency on those two events should be a dominant force for us."
Bolstered by a corps of fine tuned veterans and youthful exuberance, the key to the Tiger campaign rests in the team's ability to come together toward a solid goal. As an attempt to create a unified front, the team has voted against nominating a team captain for the 2002 season and has instead focused on the group dynamic to guide its efforts.
"Last year was the first time we had a team captain and I don't think it works out as well." Drass says. "I think everyone looks to one person for responsibility and accountability and that is a lot for one person to bear. It is so much easier for that load to be shared and it adds to the team's strength," Drass reflects.
"I also think not having a team captain has encouraged different individuals to step forward as leaders," Atkinson adds. "Without designated people, the entire team shares the load as both a leader and follower."
Working through the preseason, the Missouri coaching staff has emphasized the need for team unity, respect for the program and the need for an undying work ethic if Mizzou is to reach its goals of an NCAA Regional appearance. Building upon the success of the previous season and incorporating the newcomers into the team dynamic, the coaching staff feels the 2002 Tigers have laid a solid foundation for insuring the season's success.
"The girls have definitely noticed some of the things we are trying to do this year and because of that have recognized the value of it," Atkinson says. "Where our unity was lacking in the previous year, we can now find strength in what we have built during the preseason. They have had a more unified feeling in the gym. Through the bumps we have gone through, we have worked the kinks out. The emphasis we've put on team work and respect will serve as a source that they can tap into down the road."
In addition to stressing a solid and unified team effort, the Tigers have spent the preseason upgrading its competition regimen. Several of Mizzou's top athletes, and several of the newcomers, have increased their skill level for the upcoming competition. Increased skill combined with evolving consistency is what the MU coaching staff sees as the propelling force toward advancing to the national level.
"Our depth is what we need to work the most on, but I think it is emerging," Drass says. "We are looking to see different lineups each meet as the team progresses and we become stronger. The team is going to set its own goals and limitations as to how far it can go. We have the skill level to compete with top-20 teams in the country and anytime you are in the top-20 good things can happen," he says.
Adding to the improved skill level, growing team energy and increasing consistency, Missouri's coaches eagerly anticipate competition as one of the catalysts that will drive the team toward its potential.
"Once we get into season and get some competition in our potential will be realized," Scardina says. "The team realizes where they are and what they still need to work on, but once we get some meets under our belt I think that will spark the realization in our athletes that hey, 'we are this good and we have the potential to be even better than what we thought we could be.'"
Drass concurs, "Each day confidence is growing in the gym. As we have the intra-squad and the first month of competition, I think we will see this team gain confidence and start to reach for new heights and goals that they thought were unachievable in the past," he says.
Continually searching for new conquests and the ability to overcome new challenges, Drass leads the 2002 Tigers into the next phase of Missouri gymnastics. Mixing a blend of rich talent, growing team unity, weathered skill and innovative coaching techniques, Mizzou jumps into the 2001-02 season looking to fuse together just the right concoction to continue revitalizing the reborn Tiger program.
