Jan. 15, 2003
On the docket...
Mizzou gymnastics travels to Pittsburgh, Penn., to take on the Pittsburgh Panthers on Sat., Jan 18 at 7:00 p.m. The Tigers then return home for a three-week home stanza hosting Nebraska on Fri., Jan. 24, Illinois State on Thurs., Jan. 30 and the State Farm Cat Classic Feb. 7-8. All three home meets begin at 7:00 p.m., in the Hearnes Center. Tickets are still available by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or on meet night from the Hearnes Center Ticket Office.
A Look at Pittsburgh
The Panthers opened the year finishing fourth in a home quad meet against West Virginia, Kent State and Ball State. Pittsburgh scored 190.95 to open the season with a 0-3 record. Despite the loss, junior Diandra O'Connor finished second in the all-around competition scoring a 39.025 in her first meet of the year.
Last year, Mizzou was able to top Pittsburgh during Cat Classic competition outscoring the Panthers 194.475 to 193.050 to extend Missouri's all-time series lead to 11-2. Overall, Pitt rounded out the 2002 season with a 10-16 record going 3-9 to finish sixth in the East Atlantic League. The Panthers summed up the season with a 35th-place ranking by GymInfo.
Ranking up Mizzou
After starting the year ranked 20th in the GymInfo PreSeason Coaches Poll, the Tigers have slipped into the 27th-place spot this week despite Mizzou's season opening victory against Iowa State. Missouri bested the Cyclones 192.575 to 192.000 to take its first Big 12 Conference victory since the 1996 season. The win was also the Tigers first over the Cyclones since 1994.
Coming out with a win, the Tigers still consider their season opening a soft one. Working their way into the competition season, most teams stray from throwing many of their most difficult skills during the beginning stanza. As the year progresses, gymnastics fans can anticipate the development of many more 10.0 routines in Mizzou's lineup.
Understanding the Ranking System
Gymnastics rankings are based on meet score averages. Regardless of season record, the teams that continually score well top both the rankings and regional qualifying charts. In order to qualify for NCAA Regional competition, teams must maintain a certain scoring average. To obtain a fair average both the team's highest and lowest scores are dropped leaving the median scores to find the average.
Standout Performers
Bolstering the Tigers to their first Big 12 victory in six years, juniors Lindsay Davis and Andrea Nervig once again foreshadow great things for the rising Missouri program. Davis helped Mizzou topple the Cyclones scoring a 38.400 to finish second overall in the all-around competition. She scored 9.775 on bars, 9.750 on floor, 9.625 on vault and 9.250 on beam. The mark ranks her fifth in the Big 12 Conference in the all-around. Likewise, she is ranked 66th in the nation.
Nervig topped the charts winning the uneven bars competition scoring a 9.875. Her opening mark ranks the junior 15th in the nation and third in league competition. Nervig also put up a 9.725 on the floor exercise and a 9.575 on the vault to boost the Tigers.
Freshman Influence
In their inaugural meet freshman Jodie Heinicka, Katie Roets and Lauren Schwartzman gave Mizzou fans a glimpse of what they'll see this season in grand fashion. Heinicka jump-started the meet leading the Tigers with a 9.800 on vault to finish third on the event overall. Roets scored a 9.775 on bars to help Mizzou and Schwartzman had back-to-back success scoring a 9.775 on the beam and a 9.725 on the floor exercise during her first meet out.
Relying on Veterans
Never discounting the influence of Mizzou's seniors, Alina Hamm pulled out a 9.800 floor routine to finish second on the event. Hamm also scored a 9.500 on vault to rally the Tigers.
Additional Support
Returning from a successful freshman season, Rachael Dombart came in to again assist the Tigers with consistently solid contributions. The sophomore scored a 9.775 to open Mizzou's bar lineup and went on to score a 9.675 on the balance beam.
Likewise, Rachel Bridges reasserted herself as a solid Missouri standby scoring well in three events for the Tigers. The junior recorded a 9.625 on vault, a 9.675 on beam and rounded out the meet with a 9.775 on floor.