Feb. 3, 2011
COLUMBIA, MO.--Mizzou Gymnastics will face a familiar foe this weekend, hosting The Nebraska Cornhuskers. Missouri and Nebraska both took part in the Metroplex Challenge last weekend at the Fort Worth Convention Center, and Mizzou looks to come back against the Huskers this weekend. The Tigers and the Huskers face off at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 4 in the Hearnes Center.
Last Time Out
The Tigers escaped the cold last weekend to travel to Dallas, Texas where the team competed in the Metroplex Challenge. Held at the Fort Worth Convention Center, the meet put Missouri up against some of the nation's top teams, No. 24 LSU, No. 10 Nebraska and No. 6 Alabama. Missouri put up a final team score of 193.400 to take fourth in the meet. Mary Burke matched her career high 9.875 on beam, and freshman Katelyn Trevino posted a 9.750 on her first career bars routine. Alabama took first at the meet, posting a 196.825. Big 12 foe Nebraska came in at No. 2 with a 195.600.
Scouting Nebraska...
Coming in at No. 10 in the national poll for the second week in a row, the Cornhuskers are sitting on a 3-3 record after taking second to Alabama at the Metroplex Challenge. The Huskers also fell to Utah at their home opener. The team started off their season in Gainesville, Fla. where they dropped 196.925-194.95 to the No. 1-ranked Gators. Like Missouri, Nebraska also opened the conference season against Iowa State, defeating the Cyclones 195.45-194.725. Nebraska Senior Erin Davis is second in the nation on vault with a 9.925, and junior Laura Evenstad comes in at No. 12 in the all-around. The Tigers and the Huskers have met up 77 times in program history, and Missouri holds a regular season record of 4-33-0 against Nebraska.
Mary Burke Earns Second Big 12 Weekly Award...
Junior Mary Burke was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 25 and Jan. 18 by the Big 12 Conference. The most recent award comes after Burke earned her second, consecutive all-around title this season. Burke scored a 39.200 to top Iowa State's Michelle Shealy who put up a 39.125. The award marks Burke's third of her career as she previously earned the award in January of 2010 as well. Burke led the Tigers to a 194.925-192.825 victory over SEMO on January 15 with a 39.225 all-around score. Burke took the all-around title at the event, and was named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 18. "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."
Mizzou in the National Polls...
The Tigers clocked in at No. 22 in the nation on vault this week with an average of 48.688. Missouri recorded their highest score of the season on vault (48.900) against West Virginia at the Cancun Classic. The Tigers also sit at No. 20 in the uneven bar rankings. Missouri boasts a season high score of 48.875 on bars with a season average 48.731. Junior Mary Burke sits in a five-way tie for No. 22 in the nation on balance beam. She holds a season high 9.875 and a season average of 9.813.
Tigers from Texas...
Just under half of Missouri's gymnasts headed home last weekend when the Tigers traveled to Dallas, Texas for the Metroplex Challenge. Freshmen Cathryn Aliceaacosta, Alex Skinner and Katelyn Trevino all come from the Lone Star State as well as junior Allie Heizelman and senior Alex Gold. Gold was the closest to home as she hails from Plano, Texas where she trained at the Metroplex in the early days of her career. Gold qualified for the Junior Olympics in 2001, 2002 and 2006 and was the Texas State Level 10 Champion on vault in 2005.
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...
The Fighting Illini will travel to Columbia for the annual Pink Out meet next weekend. One dollar from each ticket sale will go to benefit cancer research, and the first 500 fans to enter the Hearnes Center will receive a free t-shirt. The Tigers head to Norman, Okla. to take on the Sooners Friday, Feb. 18 before hosting Southern Utah on Feb. 25.