Feb. 5, 2004
#12 Mizzou Hosts the 2004 Cat Classic
The #12 ranked Mizzou Tigers host their signature event bringing the 2004 State Farm Cat Classic to the Hearnes Center. Savoring a taste of the NCAA National Championship in Mid-Missouri, the Tigers welcome #21 Penn State, #28 Brigham Young and Kentucky to compete in the Tigers' two-day venue.
Friday, Feb. 6, Missouri hosts the team competition followed by an individual championship on Sat., Feb. 7. Both sessions begin at 7:00 p.m.
Cat Classic Promotions
The Tigers are offering discounted $3 adult/$2 youth tickets to various organizations including: University of Missouri faculty and staff, Columbia bank employees, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, the Boys and Girls Club and the MU Alumni Association
Scouting the Opposition
The Tigers host the BYU Cougars, Kentucky Wildcats and Penn State Lions in the 2004 Cat Classic this season.
BYU joins the fray ranked 28th in the nation owning a 194.533 season average. The Cougars recorded their highest mark of the season with a 196.275 victory over **. Last season, the Tigers bested BYU to win the 2003 Cat Classic team title.
Kentucky looks to contend with the Tigers on vault. The Wildcats are ranked 15th nationally owning a 48.940 season vault average. Kentucky also vies for the Cat Classic uneven bars title leading the field as the 20th ranked team with a 48.790 season average.
Rounding out the cat competitors, Penn State is ranked 21st backed by a 195.087 season average. The Lions look to be the meet's strongest competitor on the balance beam. Penn State is ranked second nationally posting an impressive 49.275 average and a season high 49.425 beam total. In addition, the Lions are also ranked 17th on floor (49.050) and 23rd on vault (48.837).
Mizzou's Grand Opening
MU kicked off the year scoring its highest season opening scores in the program's 25-year history.
The Tigers opened 2004 posting a 195.350 against Iowa State. While the score wasn't enough to edge the Cyclones, it made history as the highest season opening mark.
Typically working up their skill level throughout the year, the Tigers first 195+ mark wasn't scored until the last dual meet of the 2000 season. Last year, the Tigers' didn't post a 195+ score until its fourth meet proving Mizzou is a step ahead of where it was in 2003.
Taking a step further...
Continuing their opening stanza, the Tigers took their feat a step further scoring a 196.500 against Southeast Missouri State and a 196.050 against New Hampshire to record the program's second and fourth highest all-time totals.
Prior to that, the Tigers' had only tallied two 196+ team scores in program history during the 2003 season.
Tiger Tidbits
* In four meets this season, Rachel Bridges, Lauren Schwartzman, Alisha Robinson and Amanda Pezzullo have yet to score below a 9.8 on vault hitting 15-of-15 vaults in 2004.
* Although Mizzou's 195.850 team score wasn't enough to push past Nebraska, the mark ranks in as Missouri's eighth-highest team total.
* In four consecutive meets in 2004, Missouri has recorded one of the program's top-12 vault totals. The Tigers recorded Mizzou's highest all-time mark against Nebraska (49.350).
* The Tigers set two Missouri event records against Southeast Missouri State when they scored a 49.275 on beam and a 49.400 on floor.
Mizzou in the Big 12
* Missouri is currently ranked third in the Big 12 Conference owning a 2-2 season record and 0-1 league mark. Iowa State leads the conference with a perfect 4-0, 3-0 record.
* In individual event highs, Lauren Schwartzman is the only gymnast in the conference to score a 10.000 on beam. Likewise, Alisha Robinson is tied for second on vault scoring a 9.975.