Jan. 20, 2011
Live Stats: http://www.cyclones.com/fls/10700/gymnastics_live/isu_miz2011.htm
COLUMBIA, MO. - The Tigers look to bring home another win this weekend when Mizzou heads to Ames, Iowa. Missouri Gymnastics will go up against the Iowa State Cyclones at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 21 at the Hilton Coliseum. Fans can follow along on the team's twitter page, TigerGymnastics, for live scoring updates during the event.
Series History vs. Iowa State...
The Tigers and the Cyclones have gone head to head a total of 86 times in program history. After the last meeting in 2010, the regular season series record stands and 26-26-0. In post season meetings the Tigers lead 21-13.
Last Time vs. Iowa State...
Missouri hosted the Cyclones at last year's Pink Out meet on January 22. Coming off of a win at the Lady Luck Invitational, the Tigers continued their winning streak scoring a 196.400 to top Iowa State's 196.000. Sarah Shire and Mary Burke swept the awards ceremony, Shire taking home the vault, beam, floor and all-around titles and Burke clinching the bars title and a second place all-around finish. The all-around title marked Shire's first of eleven all-around wins last season.
Scouting Iowa State...
The Iowa State Cyclones started the 2011 season off with a strong win over the Auburn Tigers. The No. 21 Cyclones posted a 193.475 at their season opener to top the Tigers' 192.775. The team's score was it's highest season-opening score since 2007. Junior Michelle Browning won the all-around title with a 39.175. The team also earned two out of the three weekly awards given out by the Big 12 on Jan. 11. Michelle Browning was named Gymnast of the Week for her all-around title, and freshman Michelle Shealy earned the league's first-ever Newcomer of the Week title. Shealy put up a 9.850 to win the beam title against Auburn. Last week the Cyclones opened their conference season with No. 9 Nebraska. The Cornhuskers edged past Iowa State 1195.450-194.725. Michelle Browning took her second all-around title of the season with a 39.125, and Michelle Shealy tied with Browning for her second beam title of the season.
Mary Burke Earns Big 12 Weekly Award...
Junior Mary Burke was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 18 by the Big 12 Conference. The award marks Burke's second of her career as she previously earned the award in January of 2010. With a 39.225 all-around score, Burke led the Tigers to a 194.925-192.825 victory over SEMO. Burke took the all-around title at the event. "It's an honor to be recognized because there are so many good gymnasts in this conference," Burke said. "The Big 12 is a tough conference and to be recognized in the second week of the season is an awesome achievement."
Tigers Take Beauty and the Beast...
Missouri rebounded from its season opener with a victory over SEMO at Beauty and the Beast. In their home arena the Tigers scored a 194.925 to top SEMO's 192.825. Junior Mary Burke took the all-around title scoring a 39.225, just over Alex Gold's 38.875. The Tigers took the lead in the meet after the first rotation, holding it the entire meet. Tori Howard and Taylor Medrea earned career high scores on floor, and Gold set hers on bars.
A Look at Beauty and the Beast...
The Tigers are 5-0 in Beauty and the Beast history. The event draws in an average of over 5, 000 people each year. Last year's Beauty and the Beast meet saw the Tigers hosting New Hampshire, while wrestling matched up against Oklahoma. The Tigers came out on top with a 195.125-192.975 victory. Shire earned her third all-around title of the season, the 16th of her career, and Mary Burke took the bars title while finishing second in the all-around. Lauren Swankoski took the third place spot.
Date Opponent Score Attendance 2/9/07 SEMO W: 194.775-192.700 6, 197 2/8/08 Centenary W: 195.800-192.325 6, 308 2/13/09 Illinois W: 196.625-195.000 4, 147 2/6/10 New Hampshire W: 195.125-192.975 4, 041 1/15/11 SEMO W: 194.925-192.825 2, 553
Tigers look to come back from Cancun Classic...
The first meet of 2011 found Missouri across the border in Cancun, Mexico for the Cancun Classic. After taking an early lead after the first rotation, the Tigers struggled to keep up with the Mountaineers. Missouri held off West Virginia until the third rotation when the Mountaineers took the lead by one point. Alex Gold placed third in the all-around with a score of 38.150. Sophomore Sandra Ostad topped her career high on bars with a score of 9.775. The score earned her a first place spot in the meet.
Black Outshines Gold...
The Tigers' annual Black and Gold Intrasquad meet was held on Dec. 10 to give Mizzou a chance to get out of the gym and compete in front of judges before the regular season begins. The Black Squad took the win with a 151.750-151.225 final score. Missouri's only senior, Alex Gold, led the Black Squad with her 38.325 all-around total. Gold led the Black Squad in three out of the four rotations. She finished with a 9.875 on vault, 9.650 on bars and a 9.700 on beam. She closed out her fourth rotation with a 9.100 on floor. Sophomore Lauren Swankoski shone for the Gold Squad at the Black and Gold Meet. She came in just under Alex Gold on the vault with a 9.800. She recorded the same on beam, and she finished the evening with a 9.850 on her floor routine. Sophomore Lauren Swankoski shone for the Gold Squad at tonight's meet. She came in just under Alex Gold on the vault with a 9.800. She recorded the same on beam, and she finished the evening with a 9.850 on her floor routine.
Preseason Progress...
The Tigers clocked in at No. 13 on GymInfo's 2011 Women's Preseason Coaches Poll released on Dec. 1. Missouri will face nine ranked opponents this season including No. 12 LSU, No. 10 Nebraska, No. 2 Alabama, and No. 4 Oklahoma, among others. Mizzou sits above Big 12 opponent Iowa State, who came in at No. 22 in the poll. Missouri finished the 2010 season at No. 12, their highest end-of-season ranking in program history.
Looking Ahead...
Mizzou will hit the road for the next two weeks, first heading to No. 21 Iowa State on Jan. 21 then to Dallas, Texas for the Metroplex Challenge on Jan. 29. The Challenge will put the Tigers up against No. 9 Nebraska, No. 11 Alabama and No. 25 LSU. Mizzou will return to the Hearnes Center for another match-up against Nebraska as well as for the annual Pink Out meet. The Fighting Illini will travel to Columbia for the event. The Tigers can also look forward to the Big 12 Championships which will take place in the Hearnes Center this season. The meet is scheduled for March 19 at 2 p.m. Missouri is preparing for a tough schedule with nine nationally ranked opponents to look forward to this season.
Banner Season...
Mizzou Gymnastics had one of the most decorated seasons in program history in 2010. The Tigers finished third at the Big 12 Championship and advanced to NCAA Regionals where they snagged a first place finish. Missouri continued on to the NCAA National Championship for the first time in program history. Sarah Shire also finished the 2010 season with a lot of hardware. The four-time All-American stands as Missouri's most decorated gymnast after taking home two straight Big 12 All-Around titles, a second place floor finish at Nationals and a fifth place finish on vault at Nationals as well. She was named NCAA South Central Region's Gymnast of the Year and Co-Big 12 Gymnast of the year for the second consecutive year. Shire holds the school record of 11 All-Around titles in a single season and is also the only gymnast to earn a spot on all five all-conference teams. Throughout her career, Shire was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week 13 times, which is the most in conference history.
Senior Solo...
Senior Alex Gold is holding down the fort as Mizzou Gymnastics' only senior this season. She had a promising start to the year, leading the Black Squad to a win over the Gold at the annual Black and Gold Intrasquad meet. She pulled in a 38.325 all-around score, which was the highest at the meet. The Tigers graduated four seniors after the 2010 season to leave the leadership position to Gold. The Plano, Texas native stands as one of Missouri's top vaulters. At one point in the 2010 season Gold sat at No. 9 in the Big 12 and No. 43 in the nation on vault. She has a 9.925 career high on the event, which she tallied during her sophomore season. She earned a tie for a second place finish on vault at the Columbia Regional in 2010 where she also earned a season high 9.900 on the event.
Continuing the Success...
Junior Mary Burke is looking to continue her success this year. As one of two juniors on the team this season, Burke will prove a strong competitor. She was ranked at No. 27 in the nation in the All-Around last season and held the No. 2 spot in the conference behind Sarah Shire. At NCAA Regionals Burke matched her career-high 9.850 score on vault and finished tied for third on beam. With a long list of achievements under her belt already, Burke hopes to continue her success in 2011.
Tigers Welcome Three...
Missouri Gymnastics welcomes three new additions for the 2012 season. Evansville, Ind. native, Laura Kappler, will join the Tigers as a walk-on next season. Kappler trained at Revolution Gymnastics under coach Carly Cresswell-Watson. Rachel Updkike and Colleen Mulcahy have signed National letters of Intent to join the Mizzou Gymnastics family. Updike is a native of Olathe, Kan. where she trained at Kansas Gymnastics, and Cheer. She competed as both a Level 10 and Elite gymnast. Mulcahy comes to Mizzou from Orland Park, Ill. where she trained at Arena Gymnastics under the direction of Dan and Beth Miller.