Missouri Hosts Illinois State
1/28/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 28, 2003
On the docket...
No. 24 ranked Mizzou gymnastics launches into its second of a three-week home stanza, hosting Illinois State on Thurs., Jan. 30 at 7:00 p.m., in the Hearnes Center.
Following their last home dual of the year, The Tigers welcome Brigham Young, New Hampshire and Arizona to the 23rd annual State Farm Cat Classic Feb. 7-8. Both evenings of Cat Classic competition 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.
Marking up Mizzou
After starting the year ranked 20th in the GymInfo Pre-Season Coaches Poll, the Tigers have slipped into the 35th-place spot this week.
Mizzou's season opening victory against then No. 18 ranked Iowa State gave MU its first Big 12 Conference victory since the 1996 season. Following up their record setting victory, the Tigers have suffered back-to-back losses at the hands of No. 18 ranked Pittsburgh and No. 4 ranked Nebraska.
In their second meet of the year against the Panthers, the Tigers inched up the rankings to the No. 24 spot after pulling up their team score with a season-high 194.100. Last week, Missouri recorded a 193.000 in a loss to the Cornhuskers to slip into their present spot as the 35th-ranked team in the nation.
Tigers in the Rankings
With three meets and a No. 35 ranking under their belt, the Tigers continue to rank near the top the nation on all four apparatus. Missouri is ranked 19th in the country on the floor exercise with a 48.817 average. The Tigers are also 33rd on the uneven bars (48.117), 38th on the balance beam (48.067) and 39th on vault (48.225).
In the South Central Region, Missouri is ranked seventh with a 193.225 team high. The Tigers are also ranked sixth on the floor, eighth on bars and beam and ninth on vault.
Understanding the Ranking System
The Tigers have opened the season on a soft note--posting smaller scores while 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 however, gymnastics fans can anticipate the development of many more 10.0 routines in Mizzou's lineup.
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.
Nervig on a Roll
Bolstering the Tigers to their first Big 12 victory in six years and a follow-up 194.100 score against Pittsburgh, junior Andrea Nervig put up another big meet for the Tigers against No. 4 ranked Nebraska.
Once again foreshadowing great things for the rising Missouri program, Nervig scored a 9.825 on the uneven bars and helped the Tigers record their eighth-highest team floor score in program history, nailing a 9.875 routine for the second straight meet. She also boosted Mizzou early, opening the meet with a 9.500 vault.
Topping the charts against Pittsburgh, Nervig won both the uneven bars and floor exercise titles. She scored a 9.875 to tie for first on floor and posted a 9.850 to top the competitors on bars. She also scored a 9.650 on the vault for Mizzou.
Prior to her pouncing of the Panthers, Nervig won the uneven bars competition scoring a 9.875 against the ISU Cyclones. She also put up a 9.725 on the floor and a 9.575 on vault to boost the Tigers over Iowa State. Nervig's 9.875 bar score also ties as Missouri's 11th-highest all-time mark on the apparatus.
Nervig is currently ranked 22nd in the nation on the uneven bars. In the South Central Region, Nervig tops the charts as the sixth-finest bars competitor. She is also tied for 20th on floor.
Davis Gears Up
All-Around competitor Lindsay Davis scored a 9.900 on the uneven bars to tie Mizzou's junior record on the event and set a new personal career high against No. 4 ranked Nebraska. In addition to her record tying bar routine, Davis also posted a 9.725 on the balance beam and a 9.750 on the floor exercise. She scored a 9.35 on the vault to score a 38.725 as the only all-around competitor during the meet.
Prior to her record-setting meet against the Cornhuskers, Davis also helped Mizzou topple the Cyclones, scoring a 38.400 all-around mark to finish second overall as a quad-event competitor. She scored 9.775 on bars, 9.750 on floor, 9.625 on vault and 9.250 on beam.
This week, Davis is ranked 27th in the South Central Region in the all-around. She also ranks 35th on the floor exercise, 45th on beam and 49th on the bars.
Bridges Breaks Barriers
Coming in as one of Missouri's most consistent athletes, junior Rachel Bridges held her ground against Nebraska, scoring a 9.775 on the balance beam and recorded a 9.800 on the floor to boost Mizzou.
The performance came on the heels of Bridges' record-setting meet against Pittsburgh. The junior bested the vault competition against the Panthers, scoring an event-winning 9.850 on her way to setting a new career high mark on the apparatus. In addition, it ties as Mizzou's fifth-highest all-time vault score in program history.
Overall, Bridges is ranked 23rd in the South Central Region on the balance beam and is 60th in the region on vault.
Schwartzman Comes on Strong
Lauren Schwartzman gave Mizzou fans a glimpse of what they'll see from her this season with triple successes against Iowa State, Pittsburgh and Nebraska. The freshman opened her inaugural season scoring a 9.775 on the beam and a 9.725 on the floor exercise against the Cyclones. She then came back to top the feat, winning the floor title with fellow Tiger Andrea Nervig at Pittsburgh scoring a 9.875. She also scored a 9.825 to top Mizzou on the balance beam against the Panthers.
Turning in her third meet against a ranked opponent, Schwartzman performed with her signature poise, posting a 9.850 to round out Missouri's floor lineup.
With her few collegiate meets under her belt, Schwartzman is already seeing recognition in the rankings. She is currently ranked 23rd in the South Central Region on the floor exercise, is ranked 25th on vault and 38th on beam.
Hamm Makin' it Happen
Never discounting the influence of Mizzou's seniors, Alina Hamm has continued to ground Mizzou with consistency. Opening the season, she pulled out a 9.800 floor routine to finish second on the event after scoring a 9.500 on vault to rally the Tigers against the Cyclones. She went on to improve her vault score against the Panthers posting a 9.650 and scoring a solid 9.750 on the floor exercise. Working her magic against Nebraska, Hamm scored a 9.725 on the vault and opened Missouri's floor lineup with a 9.825.
The senior's marks rank her 28th in the region on the floor exercise and tie for the 43rd -place slot on the vault.
Robinson Revs Up
After sitting out Mizzou's first meet of the season due to a foot injury, All-American Alisha Robinson continues to work her way into the Tiger lineup. Competing in two events in her first meet out against Pittsburgh, Robinson scored a disappointing 9.275 on bars before scoring a solid 9.800 on the balance beam.
Upping her competition against Nebraska, Robinson scored a solid 9.775 on her first vault of the year. The feat ranked the sophomore 13th in the South Central Region on the apparatus. As Robinson continues to rehabilitate, she is expected to make her way back into the Tiger all-around lineup.
Dombart Digs In
Returning from a successful freshman season, Rachael Dombart has once again came in to assist the Tigers with consistently solid contributions. Helping advance Missouri over Iowa State, the sophomore scored a 9.775 to open MU's bar lineup and went on to score a 9.675 on beam pushing Mizzou to its first conference victory in nearly a decade.
The two-event competitor persisted in her stability against Pittsburgh scoring a 9.725 on bars and 9.700 on beam. Backing up her performance, Dombart came out scoring a 9.725 on the beam against Nebraska.
Dombart is ranked 30th in the South Central Region on the balance beam and 43rd on the uneven bars.
Asraf on the Assist
Sophomore standard Ashley Asraf struggled thru her first meet of the year against Iowa State. Despite jitters in her first two events, she pulled out a 9.775 floor routine to help the Tigers best the Cyclones. Performing as a two-event competitor against Pittsburgh, Asraf redeemed her pervious score on the balance beam scoring a solid 9.725. Bolstered by her improvements, the sophomore recorded a 9.775 on the floor to help Mizzou post its 11th-highest all-time floor score.
Roets on the Rise
Austin, Texas, native Katie Roets likewise opened her NCAA career in grand fashion scoring a 9.775 on bars to help Mizzou best Iowa State. Helping the Tigers against Pittsburgh, Roets scored a 9.625 on bars. Keeping in tune with her previous notes, Roets scored a 9.675 on bars against Nebraska in her last meet out. Overall, she is ranked 23rd in the South Central Region on bars with a 9.692 average.
Harping on Heinicka
Freshman Jodie Heinicka jump-started her collegiate career leading the Tigers with a 9.800 on vault against the Iowa State Cyclones. In her inaugural meet, she finished third on the event. Building upon her resume, she also scored a 9.700 on the apparatus against the Cornhuskers.
