Tigers Ranked Ninth in WCGA Preseason Poll
12/10/2024 4:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Mizzou’s No. 9 ranking ties its best in last 10 seasons
MARLBORO, N.J. – The University of Missouri gymnastics team has been selected as the ninth-ranked team in the nation by the members of the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association, it was announced on Tuesday afternoon.
This preseason ranking ties the program's highest in the last 10 years and is the second time in the last three years the Tigers have cracked the top 10. They also slotted at No. 9 ahead of the 2023 season.
The Southeastern Conference combined for seven of the top 10 in the poll. Ninth-ranked Mizzou is joined at the top by No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 2 LSU, No. 3 Florida, No. 6 Alabama, No. 7 Kentucky and No. 8 Arkansas. All nine programs in the SEC were featured in the top 17 in the country.
All but two of the Tigers' 15 opponents for the upcoming season were featured in the ranking in either the selected 1-36 or receiving votes.
The approaching campaign sees the team competing against No. 1 Oklahoma (Jan. 17), No. 2 LSU (Jan. 31), No. 3 Florida (Feb. 28), No. 6 Alabama (Feb. 14), No. 7 Kentucky (Jan. 26), No. 8 Arkansas (March 14), No. 12 Denver (Jan. 12), No. 14 Georgia (Jan. 12 and Feb. 21), No. 17 Auburn (March 9), No. 22 Illinois (Feb. 9 and Feb. 14), No. 29 Iowa (Feb. 14), Ball State, the first team left out of the poll (Jan. 3) and receiving votes Illinois State (Jan. 3).
The Tigers will compete in their annual Black and Gold intrasquad at Hearnes Center on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 11:30 a.m. The event, which will also serve as Youth Day, is free to attend.
Mizzou's first meet of the regular season, a quad meet against Ball State, Illinois State and SEMO, will see the return of Beauty and the Beast, during which the gymnastics and wrestling teams compete simultaneously inside Mizzou Arena on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m.
In Coach Welker's 12th season leading the program, the Tigers landed four transfers and brought in a star-studded freshman class of five. In addition, two-time All-American and three-time All-SEC gymnast Helen Hu has returned to the roster and will use her final year of eligibility for the upcoming campaign. MU returns 12 members of the 2024 squad that ended its season in the NCAA Regional Final.
SEASON TICKETS ON SALE NOW
Season ticket renewals for the 2025 Mizzou gymnastics season are on sale now at MUTigers.com/Tickets. In addition to hosting "Beauty and the Beast" for the team's regular-season opener, the Tigers will host SEC home duals against Kentucky, Georgia and Auburn.
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For all the latest on Mizzou gymnastics, stay tuned to MUTigers.com and follow the team on Facebook, X, and Instagram.
WCGA PRESEASON POLL
1: Oklahoma (1963 points) (42 first place votes)
2: LSU (1871 points) (6 first place votes)
3: Florida (1806 points) (5 first place votes)
4: California (1785 points) (1 first place votes)
5: Utah (1733 points) (1 first place votes)
6: Alabama (1641 points)
7: Kentucky (1455 points)
8: Arkansas (1453 points)
9: Missouri (1407 points)
10: UCLA (1406 points)
11: Michigan State (1397 points)
12: Denver (1341 points)
13: Michigan (1338 points)
14: Georgia (1264 points)
15: Stanford (1144 points)
16: Ohio State (1117 points)
17: Auburn (1069 points)
18: Minnesota (1062 points)
19: Oregon State (966 points)
20: Arizona State (902 points)
21: Penn State (853 points)
22: Illinois (681 points)
23: Nebraska (645 points)
24: Maryland (630 points)
25: North Carolina State (598 points)
26: Washington (592 points)
27: BYU (591 points)
28: Clemson (564 points)
29: Iowa (531 points)
30: Arizona (520 points)
31: Southern Utah (389 points)
32: Iowa State (375 points)
33: Boise State (341 points)
34: Towson (250 points)
35: Kent State (166 points)
36: North Carolina (143 points)
Also receiving votes: Ball State (136 points), San Jose State (109 points), Pittsburgh (82 points), George Washington (59 points), Central Michigan (52 points), Utah State (46 points), Illinois State (35 points), Pennsylvania (22 points), West Virginia (19 points), Western Michigan (19 points), Rutgers (15 points), Bowling Green (12 points), Alaska (10 points), New Hampshire (9 points), Eastern Michigan (6 points), Temple (5 points), UC Davis (5 points)
Players Mentioned
