University of Missouri
Ball State
Missouri Tops The Record Books
2/17/2002 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Feb. 17, 2002
Columbia, Mo.-The Missouri Tiger women's gymnastics team continues to climb the ranks as one of the teams to beat during the 2002 season. Mizzou defeated Ball State 195.425-194.750 setting a new MU all-time team score.
"It was a complete team effort tonight," MU Head Coach Rob Drass said. "We had a lot of people step up. We usually rely on one or two solid performers, but tonight didn't have just one-person stand out, we had everybody step up. But even still, I think the most impressive thing about our performance tonight is that we are still better than that."
Hitting its new program mark, Mizzou scored a program high 49.225 on the uneven bars to set a new record on the apparatus for the second time this year. The Tigers also nailed a 48.600 vault score to post a new season high and record MU's fourth-highest team score. Missouri summed up the tally scoring a 48.750 on the balance beam and a 48.850 on the floor exercise.
"One of the best testaments to our team's strength this season is our beam results," Drass explains. "We had our first kid fall and but our next six kids shook it off and hit their routines. Terri Baker competed for the first time since her ACL injury, and recorded one of the team's top marks. It was unbelievable."
Missouri's record breaking night was made possible by solid routines across the board.
Freshman Alisha Robinson led the pack scoring a back-to-back 9.925 on the vault and bars-her vault score is a new career and freshman high and ties the Missouri school vault record while her bars routine ties her own freshman and MU all-time mark. Robinson rounded down the night with her characteristically stunning floor exercise that earned a 9.900. She has recorded a 9.850 or above in six of seven meets as a freshman. Robinson won the all-around for Missouri scoring a 39.300.
"If we could have had Alisha's Cat Classic beam routine tonight, she would have been up there scoring in the 39.6's," Drass predicted. "She is an outstanding athlete. For a gymnast to go 39.300 with a 9.550 on an event is amazing."
Sophomore Andrea Nervig continues to dominate on the uneven bars. She scored a 9.900 to set a new career-mark on the apparatus to boost her season scoring over a 9.8 in five of seven meets. On her final event of the evening, Nervig scored a 9.750 to tie her season mark on the floor exercise.
"Andy has a routine that is outstanding," Drass said. "Her routine is very impressive and very consistent. She is a rock on bars and the entire team knows it. Having both Andy and Alisha at the end of the rotation, we can always count on solid marks to boost our event."
Freshman Rachael Dombart had a stand out meet posting two solid marks on the uneven bars and balance beam. The Georgia native opened the meet nailing a 9.850 on bars to set a new career-high and followed up the routine with a 9.775 on beam-her second highest beam score as a Tiger.
"Our bars record started with Rachael hitting a career best," Drass said. "She went on and did an awesome job on beam. Rachael is one of our athletes that doesn't get all of glamour, starting off at the top of the rotation and competing in just two routines, but tonight she started off big with both routines and set the pace for us," he added.
Beam specialist Leah Gremaud once again topped the podium winning the event title with a 9.875. She has scored a 9.800 or above with her beam routine in six of seven meets this season. In addition to her beam mark, Gremaud scored a 9.850 to set a new career-high on the uneven bars. In her final event of the evening, she scored a 9.725 on the floor exercise.
"Leah did an awesome job tonight, this is one of the best meets she's had at Missouri. Having someone that can nail so many events for us is huge. She is just a junior, but she is stepping up to fill a senior roll for the team this season," Drass said.
In her first official meet back this season, Terri Baker shattered her career balance beam record scoring a 9.875. The junior has competed as in exhibition during the 2002 season before breaking into Mizzou's official beam lineup against the Cardinals.
Southern Utah transfer Rachel Bridges posted a career-high floor exercise score for the second time in 2002 nailing a 9.800 routine. She also helped Mizzou with a 9.625 on the vault-her second highest on the year.
In her second meet of the season, junior Laura Anson recorded top marks. She scored a 9.775 on the vault to set a new career-high on the apparatus. She went on to score a 9.725 on the uneven bars.
Freshman Ashley Asraf had another solid performance scoring a 9.600 on the vault and a 9.675 on the balance beam.
As an exhibitionist, sophomore Lauren Owca scored a 9.525 on the vault and a 9.475 on her first uneven bars appearance this year. Also leading in the exhibition category, sophomore Lindsay Davis performed on the balance beam for the first time this season scoring a
"Lindsay is doing well," Drass said. "Once she gets a C dismount she's going to be up there. From week to week it is going to be a tough decision to who will be in the rotation on beam."
Missouri resumes its two-meet home stand on Fri., Feb. 22 when the Tigers host the Boone County Bank Sooner Showdown. Oklahoma and Centenary face the Tigers in the Hearnes Center at 7:00 p.m.
