March 17, 2011
Big 12 Championship Meet Notes 
COLUMBIA, MO.--The University of Missouri will host the 2011 Big 12 Gymnastics Championship this Saturday, March 19 in the Hearnes Center. The competition begins at 2 p.m. and tickets can be purchased at the door. Tickets cost $8 for lower level reserved seating, $5 for adult general admission seating and $3 for youth or senior citizen general admission.
Last Time Out
Missouri traveled to Columbus, Ohio, for a meet against the Buckeyes of Ohio State and the Panthers of Pittsburgh. The Tigers took second place with a score of 193.325. Junior Mary Burke took the vault title with a score of 9.825, and Lauren Swankoski hit her second-highest score of the season in the all-around (38.475).
Last Time at Big 12s
Last year's Big 12 Championships saw Sarah Shire taking home the all-around title for the second time in her career. She was also named Big 12 Gymnast of the Year for the second straight year. As a team, Missouri finished in third at the meet. It's team score of 195.900 kept it above Iowa State who put up a 194.850. The Sooners took the title, scoring a 197.175 and Nebraska came in at No. 2.
Scouting The Opponents...
The 20th-ranked Cyclones (7-5-2) come into the Big 12 Championship after a tough loss to Nebraska in their final meet of the season. Junior standout Michelle Browning is the league's highest ranked all-around competitor and has been named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week three times this season. With close margins in the outcomes of nearly all of their events, the Cyclones will be a competitive team in this year's Championship.
The No. 11 Cornhuskers (9-7) come in off a win at home against Iowa State to enter the Big 12 Championship. Ranked third nationally in team vaulting, the Huskers are led by senior Erin Davis with an RQS of 9.935, ranking first in the nation as an individual. The Huskers look to use this strength to their advantage in the Championship.
Coming in at No. 4 in the nation, the Oklahoma Sooners (15-0) are coming off of a perfect regular season, the only NCAA team to do so this year. The Sooners will be competing for their fourth straight Big 12 title. Redshirt Sophomore Natasha Kelly scored a 9.900 on the beam last week, twice being named Big 12 Specialist of the Week for this apparatus. After posting their third highest score of the season in their last competition, the Sooners are prepared for a strong tournament showing.
Six Tigers Earn Academic Honors...
Five Tigers have been named to the 2011 Academic All-Big 12 first team and one to the second team. Juniors Mary Burke and Allie Heizelman earned first team honors along with sophomore teammates Sandra Ostad, Lauren Swankoski and Tori Howard. Senior Alex Gold was named to the All-Big 12 second team as well. This is Gold's third appearance on the academic teams, and both Burke and Heizelman have been named to the first team for the second consecutive year.
Mary Burke is an All-Big 12 Selection...
Junior Mary Burke has been named to the 2011 All-Big 12 Gymnastics team as announced Wednesday (Mar. 16) by the league office. The honor marks Burke's second year on the regular season all-conference team. Burke is one of five gymnasts in the conference to be recognized in multiple events. She received all-conference honors for her beam and all-around achievements this season. With a season and career-high score of 9.900, which she earned twice this season, Burke sits at No. 3 in the conference on the balance beam. She is one of only two gymnasts in the conference honored for her all-around competition, and the only gymnast to have received the honor for two consecutive years.
Event Rotations Announced for Big 12 Championship...
Missouri will begin the Big 12 Championships on beam this year. The Tigers will continue the meet in Olympic order, moving then to floor, vault and finishing on bars. Iowa State will start the meet on vault, Nebraska on bars and Oklahoma on floor. The Tigers set their season-high beam score last meet with a 49.150. Mary Burke and Allie Heizelman matched their career-high scores to take first and second on the event.
Missouri Leaves a Mark on Senior Night..
Missouri welcomed Centenary, SEMO and Temple to the Hearnes Center for a quad meet on Mar. 4. The Tigers posted a score of 194.775 to take first at the meet. Sophomore Lauren Swankoski hit a career-high all-around score (39.225) to tie for the title with junior Mary Burke. Missouri recorded a season-high team score on beam (49.150) and several Tigers hit season-high scores throughout the meet. Missouri took all four event titles in addition to the all-around title as well.
Tigers Top Southern Utah...
The Tigers hosted the Southern Utah Thunderbirds in February, picking up another win for the season. Missouri won the meet 194.925-193.750 to improve to 2-8 on the season. Missouri took all four event titles at the meet, and freshman Taylor Medrea and Cathryn Aliceaacosta both set career high scores on bars and vault, respectively. Tori Howard also improved on her career-high floor score.
Alex Gold Nominated for AAI Award...
Senior gymnast Alex Gold has been chosen as one of the top 16 finalists nationally for the 2011 AAI Award. The award, distributed by American Athletic, Inc., is presented to recognize outstanding athletes competing for championships at all levels. Gold is one of two gymnasts in the Big 12 Conference who are among the top 16 finalists.
Mizzou in the National Polls...
The Tigers hit their highest ranking of the season on Feb. 21, coming in at No. 23 in the nation on GymInfo's national top 25 poll. The poll is based on the team's regional qualifying score (RQS), which is an average of the team's six best regular-season meet scores. Currently the Tigers boast an RQS of 194.620 and are positioned at No. 32 in the nation. Missouri also sits at No. 28 in the nation on vault, No. 33 on bars, 31st beam and No. 28 on floor. Individually Missouri's Mary Burke is ranked 24th in the nation and first in the Big 12 conference. She boasts an RQS of 39.155 after recording a career-high 39.450 at the Tiger's home meet against Nebraska.
Career Achievements...
The Tigers may have had a hard-to-beat season in 2010, but the 2011 Missouri Gymnastics team is on its way to greatness this season. Each of the 13 gymnasts on the squad have set new and improved career-high marks this season. Sophomore Sandra Ostad has improved her personal-bests on all four events, and junior Mary Burke has topped an already superb career-high all-around score in addition to setting a new career-high on beam.
Mary Burke Earns Fifth career Big 12 Weekly Award...
Junior Mary Burke has been named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week four times this season. The most recent nomination was on Feb. 22 after Burke took the all-around title at Oklahoma. She set a career-high score on beam when she earned a 9.900 at the meet as well. Previously Burke earned the weekly shout-out on Feb. 7 after taking first in the all around at Missouri's home dual against Nebraska. She put up a 39.450 career-high score and helped contribute to the teams's highest score of the season (195.400). Burke was also named Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Jan. 25 and Jan. 18 by the Big 12 Conference. On Jan. 25, the award came after Burke earned her second all-around title this season. Burke scored a 39.200 to top Iowa State's Michelle Shealy who put up a 39.125. The conference nod marked the third of Burke's 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."
Tigers Score Big Against Sooners...
Missouri traveled to Norman, Okla., to face the Sooners on Feb. 18. The Tigers put up one of their highest team scores of the season despite falling 196.425-195.225 to Oklahoma. Junior Mary Burke took the all-around title with a score of 39.275. She improved on her career-high beam score with a 9.900 on the event. The Tigers put up a season-high score on beam, recording a 49.175 on the event.
Media Advisory...
For any members of the media attending a gymnastics meet at the Hearnes Center, please contact Jenny Dewar for credential information. Seating is located in section A16, above the stage used for march-in. Photographers are permitted on the floor, and there will be a map provided as a guideline for permitted areas. Rosters and team information will be provided in the media seating area, and interviews will be conducted after the meet in the media room on the ground floor of the Hearnes Center. Please inform Jenny Dewar of any interview requests at the end of the meet.
Missouri Hosts Illini at Pink Out...
The Tigers welcomed No. 17 Illinois to Columbia for the seventh annual Pink Out on early February. Missouri put up a tough competition, taking the lead early on. Sandra Ostad started the meet off on the right foot for the Tigers with a 9.875 career-high on vault. The Tigers scored a 48.975 on the event to put them above the Fighting Illini who scored 48.925 on bars. The Tigers scored 48.925 on bars in the second rotation to keep the lead. Their 48.425 on beam in the third rotation, however, was not enough to stay on top. The Illini put up a 48.800 on floor to take the lead. The Tigers finished with a score of 195.000 just under Illinois' 195.400.
Tigers Perform against Nebraska...
Missouri hosted Big 12 foe Nebraska at the season's first home dual meet. The Tigers put up most of their best scores this season, earning a team total 195.400. It wasn't enough to come out above Nebraska who scored a 196.075, but Missouri junior Mary Burke took the all-around title with a career-high 39.450. She also took the bars title with a 9.875, and she earned a 9.850 on beam to take second. Burke tied for the floor title with sophomore teammate Lauren Swankoski. The two earned season-high scores of 9.900. The Tigers earned season high team scores on vault (49.050), beam (48.925) and floor (49.250) to finish with one of their best team totals yet.
Metroplex Challenge...
The Tigers escaped the cold at the end of January 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.
Tigers from Texas...
Just under half of Missouri's gymnasts headed home this season 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.
Competing for a Cause...
The Tigers competed for a good cause at the annual Pink Out meet. For the past six years Missouri has teamed up with the University of Missouri Health Care Ellis Fischel Cancer Center to support breast cancer awareness and research. One dollar from each ticket sold went to benefit the cancer center, and the first 500 fans who arrived received a free Pink Out t-shirts. The team also honored several breast cancer survivors at the start of the meet to show their support for the cause. The survivors also served as celebrity judges for the event.
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 host 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.
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.
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.
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 Updike 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.