March 15, 2008
Corvallis, Ore. - The No. 16 Missouri Gymnastics squad finished third at the Salbasgeon Suites Invitational as it posted a 195.325, finishing behind host-school, eighth-ranked Oregon State and 19th- ranked Boise State. Junior all-arounder Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.) and senior Ashley Khederian (Carlisle, Mass.) finished fourth and fifth, respectively, in the all-around. Perry finished with a 39.175, while Khederian scored a 39.000, her second highest all-around score of the season.
The Tigers began the quad-meet competing on the floor, starting with sophomore Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J.). Guider, fresh off of her best meet of the season at Illinois, got things started with a 9.700 on the floor, tying her third-highest mark of the season. Freshman Alex Gold (Plano, Texas) followed Guider's lead by posting a 9.750, also her third highest score of the season.
The Tigers last three competitors on floor completed a solid rotation, highlighted by Perry, who tallied a 9.875. Both Khederian and Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) closed with a 9.800, giving the Tigers their fourth best floor score of the season at 48.925.
As the Tigers went from floor to vault, they trailed first place Boise State, who posted a 49.200 on bars, by .275. Guider, just like on floor, kicked off the vault for Mizzou as she posted a 9.725. Becky Scholle (Chesterfield, Mo.) who has worked her way back into the vault lineup in the last two meets, posted a 9.750, her second highest of the season. Her season and career high was set in the 2008 opener at Bowling Green when she tallied a 9.775.
Rounding out the last three spots were Khederian, Perry and Shire, who just like floor, posted big scores to help the Tigers to a 49.000, giving them a vault score of 49.000 or better in the last two meets. Perry and Khederian both posted a 9.825 while Shire scored a team high 9.850.
In third, behind both Oregon State and Boise State, heading to bars the Tigers were in need of a big score to help them keep chase. Alicia Hatcher (Blue Springs, Mo.) posted a team high, while a trio of 9.725's from Perry, Scholle and Liz Straatmann (Washington, Mo.) followed, giving the Tigers a 48.625 on bars.
Unable to close the gap on bars, the Tigers headed to the fourth and final rotation where they would compete on beam. Event specialist Brooke Boehmer (Overland Park, Kan.) led things off with a 9.700. Boehmer is one of only two Tigers to not fall off beam this season. Hatcher posted a 9.850, giving her seven out of 10 meets with a 9.800 or better this season on beam. Shire tallied a 9.750, as did Perry, as both tied for the second highest team score on beam.
The third place finish moves the Tigers to 9-5 on the season. Returning to action on Friday, the Tigers say farewell to four seniors as they face Arizona State on senior day at the. The meet starts at 6:30 at the Hearnes Center. $1 tickets will be sold and anyone with a "10 Sign" from the Cat Classic will receive free admission. For all the latest on Mizzou Gymnastics, check in with www.mutigers.com.