March 26, 2008

Columbia, Mo. - As the 2008 gymnastics regular season comes to an end, several Tigers earned a spot on the 2008 Gymnastics All-Big 12 Conference Team announced by the Conference Office on Wednesday. Both Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.) and Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.) earned honors on vault while junior Alicia Hatcher (Blue Springs, Mo.) earned a spot on bars.

The top four Big 12 gymnasts with the highest regional qualifying score (RQS) in each event, excluding all-around, determine All-Conference honors. The RQS can be obtained from GymInfo.com.

Perry is a repeat All-Conference selection on vault this season. She has an RQS of 9.860 and a season high of 9.900 set at Nebraska and Illinois. She has also scored a 9.800 or highers in every meet except against UIC. Shire, a newcomer to the Big 12, earned her first All-Big 12 honor as she earned a spot on the vault team. Shire has an RQS of 9.875 and also has a season high of 9.900, matching her career best mark. She has hit that mark three times this season and been over a 9.850 five times, giving her a 9.850 or better in eight of 11 meets in 2008.

Both Shire and Perry have earned Big 12 Gymnast of the Week once this season. Perry won the honor hinging on her success at the Cat Classic, where she topped two top-10 all-arounders in Lindsey Bruck and Sarah Curtis of Michigan.

Hatcher earns back-to-back honors on bars as she was awarded the final spot in the bar lineup. Hatcher has been the Tigers most consistent performer on bars all season long as she holds an RQS of 9.850. Hatcher has been over 9.800 in nine of eleven meets and has tied her career high 9.875 five times this season. Hatcher was the Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week after hitting that mark on bars against Nebraska.

Hatcher and Perry were announced as Academic All-Big 12 first team selections yesterday, giving them two conference honors in as many days. The Tigers managed nine first team selections to the academic first team

The Tigers head to the Big 12 Championships on Saturday in Norman, Okla. At the championships, the All-Big 12 Championship team will be announced. The top-four finishers on each event, including the all-around, will earn All-Championship honors, which in the past is how the All-Big 12 selections were determined. Stay tuned to www.mutigers.com for all the latest on Mizzou Gymnastics.