Jan. 3, 2003
Columbia, Mo.-The Mizzou gymnastics team opens the 2003 season ranked 20th in the GymInfo Pre-Season Coaches Poll announced yesterday. After finishing the previous campaign with its highest post-season ranking in history, coming in 17th, Missouri made its first appearance in the pre-season top-25 in almost a decade.
Kicking off 2003, the Tigers invite members of the media to get an inside peak at the upcoming season when they host media day on Wed., Jan. 8 at 2:00 p.m., in the Hearnes Center Fieldhouse. Missouri coaches and athletes will be on hand for interviews at this time.
Showcasing some of the talent on exhibition, the Mizzou lineup returns its entire competitive roster from the 2002 season. All-American Alisha Robinson joins the Tigers looking for her second consecutive appearance in the NCAA Championships. In addition, seniors Laura Forbes, Alina Hamm and Leah Gremaud look to round out their Mizzou careers making a third team appearance in the 2003 NCAA Regional competition that is hosted by Missouri this season.
The well-rounded and seasoned Mizzou squad looks for continued support from junior all-arounder Lindsay Davis, uneven bar specialists Andrea Nervig and Lauren Owca, beam and floor specialist Rachel Bridges and vault powerhouse Katie Myers. Sophomores Rachael Dombart and Ashley Asraf also look to bolster the Missouri roster on the bars, beam and floor exercises.
Rounding out the Tiger lineup, freshmen Jodie Heinicka, Katie Roets and Lauren Schwartzman also look to contribute during their inaugural year in at least two events. Unfortunately, freshman Kelley Andersen will forgo competition during the 2003 season following an injury suffered during the Tigers' exhibition meet on Dec. 15. Andersen underwent reparative surgery to repair a snapped Achilles tendon and will consequently take a medical redshirt season while healing.
To learn more about what the 2003 Mizzou gymnastics season has to offer, check out the official website of the Tiger gymnastics team at www.mutigers.com. For more information concerning gymnastics media day, please contact Whitney Vernieuw in the Mizzou Media Relations Office at (573) 882-2531.
To access the 2003 GymInfo Pre-Season Coaches Poll log onto: http://www.troester.com/gym/WRankings/2003/WPreSeason.htm