No. 28 Ranked Missouri Hosts No. 10 Iowa State
3/14/2002 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
March 14, 2002
Coming Up
The No. 28 ranked University of Missouri women's gymnastics team hosts its final home meet of the season welcoming No. 10 ranked Iowa State to the Hearnes Center. The Tigers and the Cyclones face off on Sun., March 17 at 2:00 p.m.
Missouri runs down the end of the 2002 dual meet season with a competition in Denton, Texas. The Tigers take on the Texas Woman's Pioneers on Wed., March 20 at 7:00 p.m.
Rounding out a busy week, Mizzou once again hits the arena on Fri., March 23 when it competes in the 2002 Big 12 Championship. The Tigers join top-10 nationally ranked conference opponents, Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa State in Lincoln, Neb., for the season finale.
Tickets for Mizzou gymnastics are available by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS (884-PAWS in Columbia), or at the Hearnes Center Ticket Office. Group rates are also available. Please contact the ticket office for more information.
Iowa State Cyclones
No. 10 ranked Iowa State is 8-6 overall with a 1-3 record in the Big 12 Conference. The Cyclone's only league victory of the season was a 195-875-194.100 win over Missouri. ISU has fallen to Oklahoma once and Nebraska twice during 2002. ISU averages a 195.817 meet score and owns a 196.140 regional qualifying mark.
Senior co-captain Sissy Huey leads ISU after taking two first-place finishes in the Cyclones' last meeting with the Cornhuskers. She tied for first place with Nebraska's A.J. Lamb on floor exercise (9.950) and with Cornhusker Julie Houk on uneven bars (9.925). Her score on floor exercise ties her season best. Huey earned Big 12 Gymnast of the Week honors after a record-breaking performance at Oklahoma on March 3.
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, the Tigers continue to hold strong as the No. 28th ranked team in the nation. Missouri owns a 194.395 regional qualifying score and averages a 194.319 team score.
In addition, the Tigers top the field as the No. 16th ranked team in the country on the balance beam with a 48.725 RQS. The Tigers average 48.469 as a team on the beam-including Mizzou's 49.050 record high against No. 9 ranked Iowa State.
Mizzou is also ranked 29th on the uneven bars with a 48.655 RQS and a 48.622 meet average. The Tigers set an MU team record throwing a 49.225 on the bars against Ball State.
On the floor exercise, Missouri comes in 31st with a 48.910 RQS and a 48.841 team average. The Tigers are also ranked 38th in the nation on the vault with a 48.460 RQS and a 48.397 team average.
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 third in the region on the balance beam, fifth on the floor exercise and sixth on the uneven bars and vault.
Robinson Rewrites the Records
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.
In her most recent meet, 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.
Robinson in the Rankings
Robinson has earned a place among the nation's elite after another 9.9+ meet during the 2002 season. In 35 events, the freshman has only scored below a 9.8 on nine apparatus and has recorded 9.9+ on ten. Robinson owns six of MU's top 10 all-around scores, including all five of the programs top scores. She also owns the school record on the vault, bars, beam and floor.
Robinson highlights as the nation's 15th finest all-arounder with a 39.285 regional qualifying score. The freshman is also ranked 19th in the NCAA Division I on the uneven bars with a 9.880 RQS. She is ranked 23 on the vault (9.865) and 53rd on the floor exercise (9.860).
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, 11h on the floor exercise and is 19th 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 seven of her ten meets this year, including a career-record 9.900 against Ball State.
Previous to her Cardinal 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 duplicate mark.
The sophomore recorded a fourth 9.875 on bars of the 2002 season at the Tiger Showdown. She went on to help Mizzou set a new team floor exercise score hitting a 9.875 on the event to record a career-high. Nervig then set a new career-mark nailing a 9.900 on the against BYU.
Nervig is currently ranked 62nd in the NCAA Division I on the uneven bars with a 9.825 regional qualifying score. In the South Central Region, Nervig is ranked 11th averaging a 9.833 on the apparatus. She also tops the field ranked 47th (9.655 RQS) on the floor exercise and is 58th on the vault (9.430 RQS).
All About Asraf
Freshmen 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 an MU season-high 9.875. The mark tied Asraf with Alisha Robinson with the highest Missouri freshman mark on the apparatus, prior to the Cat Classic.
At the 2002 Cat Classic, Asraf highlighted the night scoring a 9.825 on the floor exercise. She also put up a 9.600 as Mizzou's lead off on vault.
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.
In the South Central Region, Asraf is ranked 39th on the balance beam with a 9.630 regional qualifying score. She also stands 32nd on the floor exercise (9.780 RQS) and ranks 47th on the vault (9.615 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 highlighted the MU-NU meet scoring a 9.675 on the balance beam.
Dombart capped off a solid Cat Classic showing 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 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.
Dombart is ranked 23rd in the South Central Region with a 9.750 regional qualifying score on the balance beam. She is ranked 40th on the uneven bars with a 9.625 RQS.
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 height against SEMO scoring 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 averages a 9.784 and ranks 29th in the country with a 9.850 regional qualifying score on the balance beam. She has scored a 9.8+ in seven of ten appearances, including three 9.0+ scores. In the region, Gremaud is tied for fifth on beam, is 47th on the uneven bars (9.520) and 50th on the floor exercise (9.615).
Injury Report
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.
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 on the apparatus. Bridges topped her career-performance for the second time during the 2002 season when she helped Mizzou to a program record 49.300 floor exercise score. The junior started the Tigers off with a 9.825.
In her most recent performance, 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 is a new career-high for the junior.
Bridges is tied for 31st in the South Central Region with a 9.730 regional qualifying score on the balance beam. She also ranks 46th on the floor exercise (9.660 RQS) and 49th on the vault (9.600 RQS).
Dishing on Davis
Sophomore Lindsay Davis tied the MU sophomore record when she threw a 9.850 on the uneven bars against SEMO. The score is a new career-mark for Davis who also scored a 9.800 against Nebraska.
She 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.
Against Ball State, Davis scored a 9.675 on the vault and a 9.525 on the uneven bars. Competing as an exhibitionist, she also recorded a 9.700 on the balance beam-it was her first three-event meet of the year on the road to returning to the all-around rotation.
Davis worked her way back into the all-around lineup at the Tiger Showdown. In her first four-event meet, the sophomore recorded a career-high 39.075 to finish fourth. She recorded a 9.750 on vault, 9.775 on bars, 9.725 on beam and a 9.825 on floor. Since then, Davis has appeared as an all-arounder in two consecutive meets. She recorded a 38.850 against at the Corvette Cup and a 38.350 against Brigham Young.
Davis is ranked 30th in the South Central Region with a 9.720 regional qualifying score on the vault. She is also ranked 39th on the uneven bars with a 9.645 RQS.
The Forbes Forecast
Junior Laura Forbes nailed a 9.900 floor routine against 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 where she led the Tigers with another 9.900 mark.
The scores comes on the heels of 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. In her most recent meet, Forbes recorded a 9.825 to help boost the Tigers at the 2002 Corvette Cup.
Forbes ranks 25th on the floor in the South Central Region posting a 9.810 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.
The junior has been sidelined during the last five meets due to a hand injury sustained in practice. While she has been participating in practice and working her way back into the competitive lineup, her status will be made on a meet-by-meet basis.
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.
* 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 tore her ACL 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.
