March 22, 2002

Coming Up
The No. 25 ranked University of Missouri women's gymnastics team runs down the 2002 season on Sat., March 23 at 7:00 p.m., when it competes in the 2002 Big 12 Championship. The Tigers join top-10 nationally ranked conference opponents, No. 6 Oklahoma, No. 7 Nebraska and No. 8 Iowa State in Lincoln, Neb., for the regular season finale.

Tigers vs. the Nation
Missouri made a little history starting 2002 with its highest season opening score (193.275) in program history. The mark ranked Mizzou 20th in the NCAA GymInfo standings-MU's highest opening position to date. After increasingly solid performances, including a school record setting 195.425 against Ball State that was later topped when Mizzou scored a 195.575 against Iowa State, the Tigers continue to hold strong with the nation's top teams. After a solid 195.450 performance against Texas Woman's University on March 20, the Tigers jump up as the No. 25th ranked team in the nation owning a 194.890 regional qualifying score and a 194.536 average team score.

Mizzou is also ranked 18th on the uneven bars with a 48.985 RQS and a 48.723 meet average. The Tigers set an MU team record throwing a 49.225 on the bars against Ball State. Missouri was able to boost its RQS adding a 49.200 team score against Texas Woman's.

In addition, the Tigers top the field as the No. 20th ranked team in the country on the balance beam with a 48.720 RQS. The Tigers average 48.450 as a team on the beam-including Mizzou's 49.050 record high against then No. 9 ranked Iowa State in Ames, Iowa.

On the floor exercise, Missouri also comes in 20th with a 49.150 RQS and a 48.915 team average. The Tigers set a new program record on the floor exercise throwing a 49.300 at the Corvette Cup this season. Mizzou came back to top the feat nailing a 49.350 against Iowa State in Columbia.

The Tigers are also ranked 35th in the nation on the vault with a 48.570 RQS and a 48.493 team average. Missouri toppled the program record throwing a 49.150 against Texas Woman's. The Tigers also recorded the second-highest vault score in Missouri history landing a 48.700 against ISU during the 2002 season.

Mizzou in the South Central Region
After rounding out the 2001 season ranked 10th overall in the GymInfo South Central Region, Missouri has opened the new season taking a dramatic step in the standings to rank fifth in 2002. Mizzou sits behind Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona and Arizona State in the regional rankings.

In event rankings, the Tigers are fourth in the region on the balance beam and the uneven bars, fifth on the floor exercise and sixth on the vault.

Robinson Rewrites the Records
After knocking down all five-freshman records and establishing a new Missouri all-around pro-quo, Alisha Robinson has continued to dazzle Tiger fans with her athletic and aggressive performance style.

Throughout the 2002 season, Robinson has continued to strike down the marks set in her first trouncing at Bowling Green-she became the first MU gymnast under Coach Rob Drass to be named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week.

In her inaugural State Farm Cat Classic, Robinson showed spectators why gymnastics is an awe-inspiring sport. After rounding out her first three events in grand fashion, throwing a 9.825 on vault, a 9.875 on bars and a 9.850 on beam, Robinson stunned the crowd with a nearly flawless floor routine. The freshman nailed a 9.925 routine to tie the Missouri and Cat Classic floor record and set a new freshman record in the event for the third time this season. The routine pushed Robinson to top the all-around podium with a 39.250-the Cat Classic's second-highest all-around score to date. She came back for the individual finals only to top her floor exercise feet for a second consecutive night, winning the event with a record-setting 9.950.

Against Ball State, Robinson once again pummeled the MU record books hitting a 9.925 on both the vault and uneven bars. Her vault score ties her previous record set against Bowling Green and her bars score ties with the school record set in 2000 by Shannon Brown. Robinson struggled on the balance beam after her first two stunning events, but cleaned up the meet with a 9.900 on the floor and a 39.300 all-around score to win three events and the all-around title.

Robinson topped the charts scoring a 39.125 against Brigham Young to record Mizzou's 10th highest all-around score in program history. The freshman threw a 9.900 vault score and received a 9.800 on her floor routine.

Not ready to close the books yet, Robinson pulled through with another heart stopping floor routine to tie her career and MU's program mark when she scored a 9.950 against Iowa State. The freshman tied for the meet title with ISU's Tanya Huey.

Robinson in the Rankings
Robinson has earned a place among the nation's elite after another 9.9+ meet during the 2002 season. In 43 events, the freshman has only scored below a 9.8 on 12 apparatus and has recorded 9.9+ on 11. Robinson owns all five of MU's top five all-around scores, including the program record at 39.575. She also owns the school record on the vault, bars and floor.

Robinson highlights as the nation's 18th finest all-arounder with a 39.285 regional qualifying score. The freshman is also ranked 20th in the NCAA Division I on the uneven bars with a 9.880 RQS. She is ranked 30th on the vault (9.865) and is tied for 39th on the floor exercise (9.885).

In the South Central Region, Robinson leads the field as the sixth all-around competitor. In individual events, Robinson is ranked third on bars, sixth on vault, seventh on the floor exercise and is 20th on beam (9.775).

Nervig 'Nocks the Records
Sophomore Andrea Nervig has shined for Mizzou on the uneven bars this season. She has recorded a 9.825 or higher on the apparatus in nine of her 12 meets this year, including scoring a career-record 9.900 against both Ball State and Iowa State this season.

Previous to her current marks, Nervig scored an impressive career tying score with a 9.875 to finish second against Southeast Missouri State. Nervig again repeated the feat at the 2002 Cat Classic and the Corvette Cup where she finished third and second, respectively, with a duplicate mark. The sophomore recorded two other 9.875 scores on bars at the Tiger Showdown and against Texas Woman's University.

Nervig helped Mizzou set a new team floor exercise score hitting a 9.875 on the apparatus to record a career-high. She then set a new career-mark nailing a 9.900 on the floor against Brigham Young. In her last home meet of the season, the sophomore posted a 9.875 on the floor exercise in addition to her record-tying bars routine against ISU.

Rounding out the 2002 regular season, Nervig cracked another career-mark nailing a 9.850 on the vault to top the Tigers and tie for meet honors.

Nervig is ranked 42nd in the NCAA Division I on the uneven bars with a 9.860 regional qualifying score. In the South Central Region, Nervig is tied for fourth averaging a 9.843 on the apparatus. She also tops the field ranked 20th (9.830 RQS) on the floor exercise and is 57th on the vault (9.565 RQS).

All About Asraf
Freshman Ashley Asraf, a Tom's River, N.J., native, scored a 9.550 on vault and a 9.775 on the floor exercise in her first collegiate meet against Bowling Green. She came back to take top honors in the floor exercise against Southeast Missouri State scoring a season and career high 9.875. The mark tied Asraf with Alisha Robinson with the highest Missouri freshman mark on the apparatus, prior to the Cat Classic.

Continuing to improve throughout her freshman season, Asraf recorded a career-high mark on the balance beam scoring a 9.850 to finish fourth at the Corvette Cup. She also duplicated her career-high nailing a 9.875 on the floor exercise against Brigham Young. Keeping up her momentum, Asraf once again tied her career score on the floor against Iowa State-marking her second back-to-back meet with the tally.

Asraf summed up a successful regular season with her best meet during 2002 against Texas Woman's. The freshman topped her career-mark on the vault taking second-place honors with a 9.825. She also scored a 9.850 to tie her career-high as runner-up on the balance beam competition. She then posted a 9.825 to tie for third on the floor exercise.

In the South Central Region, Asraf is ranked 18th on the floor exercise with a 9.830 regional qualifying score. She also stands 22nd on the balance beam (9.770 RQS) and ranks 47th on the vault (9.635 RQS).

Dishing on Dombart
Rachael Dombart, of Woodstock, Ga., put up solid marks during her first collegiate showing helping the Tigers with a 9.600 on the uneven bars and a 9.700 on the balance beam. In her second time out, the freshman opened the MU bars rotation landing a 9.675. She then highlighted the MU-NU meet scoring a 9.675 on the balance beam.

Dombart capped off a solid Cat Classic performance scoring a 9.750 on the balance beam to advance to the individual finals where she posted a career-high 9.800 on the apparatus.

After putting up solid marks during Big 12 Conference competition throwing a 9.675 bars routine and nailing a 9.750 beam performance against nationally ranked Iowa State, Dombart set a career-record scoring a 9.850 on the uneven bars against Ball State.

Continuing to progress during the 2002 season, Dombart led the Tigers scoring a 9.800 on the balance beam at the Tiger Showdown to post another career-mark. The freshman ended the regular season in grand fashion topping her previous balance beam mark nailing a 9.850 against Texas Woman's.

Dombart is ranked 19th in the South Central Region with a 9.780 regional qualifying score on the balance beam. She is ranked 42nd on the uneven bars with a 9.635 RQS.

Breaking Down Bridges
Transfer Rachel Bridges opened the 2002 season leading the Tigers off scoring a 9.775 on beam against Bowling Green. She also threw a 9.575 on the vault against both BGSU and Southeast Missouri State.

The junior set a career-high scoring a 9.800 on the balance beam against Nebraska to help the Tigers. Bridges came back to set a new career-high on the apparatus scoring a 9.825 at the 2002 Corvette Cup.

At the Cat Classic, Bridges set a career-mark scoring a 9.800 to start Mizzou on the floor exercise during the Cat Classic team competition. She returned against Ball State for a 9.800 repeat performance before topping her career-mark for the second time during the 2002 season when she helped Mizzou to a program record 49.300 floor exercise score starting the Tigers off with a 9.825.

Helping to boost Missouri once again, Bridges led the lineup with another 9.825 to help Mizzou record a 49.350 floor record against Iowa State. It is the sixth of eight routines the junior has recorded a 9.800 or above, including five straight performances.

Bridges highlighted MU's dual meet against Brigham Young recording a 9.800 on the vault and a 9.800 on the floor exercise. Her mark on the vault was a new career-high for the junior who also tied the mark against Texas Woman's.

Bridges is ranked 23rd in the South Central Region with a 9.765 regional qualifying score on the balance beam. She also ranks 34th on the floor exercise (9.785 RQS) and is 47th the vault (9.635 RQS).

Dishing on Davis
Lindsay Davis has proven herself yet again this season highlighting the year with her finest meet as a Tiger. The sophomore scored a 39.200 all-around score to record Missouri's seventh highest all-around score in school history. Davis opened the meet tying a career high 9.825 on the vault. She then tied another career mark with a 9.850 on the uneven bars. She scored a 9.725 on the balance beam and hit third career high scoring a 9.800 on the floor exercise.

Prior to her Cyclone performance, Davis tied the MU sophomore bars record when she threw a 9.850 on the apparatus against SEMO. The score was the first time in 2002 that Davis established her career-mark.

Davis highlighted the 2002 Cat Classic recording a 9.725 on the vault and a 9.750 on bars during team competition. Performing in the individual championship, Davis finished fourth on vault throwing a 9.825.

In her last regular dual meet of the season, Davis once again put forth a record setting effort. The sophomore posted a career high 9.850 to tie for top honors on the vault and scored a 9.875 to tie for first-place on the uneven bars. Davis danced away with the all-around victory scoring her second-highest mark of her career with a 39.100.

Davis is ranked 17th in the South Central Region with a 9.790 regional qualifying score on the vault. She also comes in tied for 15th on the uneven bars with a 9.805 RQS.

The Forbes Forecast
Junior Laura Forbes nailed a 9.900 floor routine against then No. 4 ranked Oklahoma and Centenary at the 2002 Tiger Showdown. The mark tied her with OU's Alison Mayberry for the Showdown title and set a new Missouri junior floor exercise record. She came back to duplicate the score against Brigham Young and Texas Woman's where she led the Tigers with another 9.900 mark.

The scores comes on the heels of a similar record-breaking routine when Forbes scored a 9.850 on the floor against Southeast Missouri State to finish second in meet standings and tie the previous junior record in the event.

At the 2002 Cat Classic, she scored a 9.800 during the team competition and came back to record a 9.850 to tie for third in the individual championship. Also adding to her season tally, Forbes recorded a 9.825 to help boost the Tigers at the 2002 Corvette Cup and against Iowa State in MU's final home meet.

Forbes has scored a 9.8+ on the floor in eight of 12 appearances-including five straight meets. She ranks 14th on the floor in the South Central Region posting a 9.855 regional qualifying score.

Hamm Hits the Mark
Junior Alina Hamm took home her first all-around title topping the podium with a 39.100 against Southeast Missouri State. Hamm scored solid marks in the meet finishing second on the vault (9.725) and beam (9.775), third in the floor exercise (9.825) and fourth on bars (9.775).

Against Nebraska, Hamm finished fourth in the all-around scoring a 38.800. She topped the meet throwing a 9.800 on the uneven bars and a 9.775 on the floor. The junior highlighted the 2002 Cat Classic recording a 9.825 on the floor exercise during both the team competition and during the individual championships.

Hamm stepped back into the competitive rotation after a five meet reprieve while recovering from a hand injury against Iowa State. Against the Cyclones, she scored a 9.725 on the vault and a 9.850 on the balance beam to set a new career mark. The junior rounded down her season with one of her finest performance of 2002. Against Texas Woman's, Hamm scored a 9.775 on the vault and a 9.800 on the uneven bars.

Keeping up with Gremaud
Junior Leah Gremaud proves that history can often times repeat itself. At the 2002 Cat Classic, Gremaud became Missouri's first two-time beam champion scoring a 9.925 to mirror her record-setting mark from last season and win the team competition on the apparatus. She is the first Mizzou gymnast to win the same back-to-back event title at the Classic since 1991-92 when Jennifer Sand was the two-time floor exercise champion. Gremaud followed up her record-tying performance recording a 9.850 to finish second in the individual championship.

In Missouri's second premier event of the season, Gremaud duplicated her previous marks winning the 2002 Corvette Cup title with another 9.925 on the balance beam. The victory is Gremaud's fifth individual event title on the year as she also took top honors on beam against Bowling Green, Southeast Missouri State and No. 9 ranked Iowa State.

The junior reached new personal heights against the Southeast Missouri State Otahkians scoring and a 9.875 to finish fourth in the floor exercise and establish a new career-high mark in the event. Against ISU, the junior scored her third 9.900+ mark on the balance beam tying with Cyclone Stephanie Sweitzer for first-place honors.

Gremaud's junior season will be cut short due to an injury to her hand suffered during a fall on the uneven bars against Brigham Young. Gremaud has broken several bones in her left hand and will consequently be sidelined for the remainder of 2002 competition.

Gremaud averaged a 9.784 and ranks 38th in the country with a 9.850 regional qualifying score on the balance beam. She scored a 9.8+ in seven of ten appearances, including three 9.0+ scores. In the South Central Region Gremaud is currently tied for fifth on beam, is ranked 53rd on the uneven bars (9.520) and 59th on the floor exercise (9.615).

Tiger Tidbits
* Sophomore Lauren Owca earned a 9.625 leading off the Tigers on the vault against Bowling Green. She came back against Brigham Young to score a duplicate mark and record her third-highest career mark in the event for the second time in 2002. Against Iowa State, Owca established a new career high on the uneven bars throwing a 9.800. She came back to contribute a 9.775 to help boost the Tigers against Texas Woman's.

* Junior Laura Anson returned to the Tiger lineup after taking a redshirt season while recovering from post concussion syndrome. In her first meet of the 2002 season, Anson scored a 9.725 on the vault against Iowa State. Anson broke into her second meet of the year scoring a 9.775 on the vault to set a new personal record against Ball State. In her most recent appearance, Anson recorded a season high 9.800 on the uneven bars at the Tiger Showdown.

* 2001 medical redshirt Terri Baker made her way back into the Mizzou competitive lineup as one of the team's most competitive balance beam contenders. In her first meet since her ACL injury, Baker scored a 9.875 on the beam to tie Leah Gremaud for the meet title. After a brilliant recovery, Baker once again hurt her knee during practice. Following a successful season working her way into the MU competitive lineup, Baker's second injury looks to be career ending. The junior will be recognized during her final meet as a Tiger on Sun., March 17 against Iowa State.