University of Missouri
Illinois State
Mizzou Sets New All-Time Team Record
1/30/2003 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 30, 2003
Columbia, Mo.-The Mizzou gymnastics team slowly developed through the beginning of the 2003 season as it gradually primed itself for a spectacular break through performance tonight. Facing the Illinois State Redbirds, the Tigers solidly hit routines, set personal bests and came through with their highest all-time team score in the history of the Missouri program. For the second straight season, the Tigers have rocked the foundation of Mizzou gymnastics continually setting and resetting records. Ushering in Missouri's performance against ISU, it looks as though the Tigers are still hungry for more.
Foreshadowing what was to come, Missouri opened the meet scoring their second highest team vault score posting a 49.075. For the second time during the 2003 season Rachel Bridges tied the junior vault record and her own personal mark scoring a 9.850. Freshman Jodie Heinicka also scored her second double high on the year with a 9.800 vault. Following suit, junior Lindsay Davis put up a career high 9.875 to set her first of several records on the evening. Sophomore Alisha Robinson rounded out a quad of 10.0 valued vaults with a 9.850 exhibit of her own.
Leading the Tigers off with a personal season high performance on the uneven bars, sophomore Rachael Dombart set the stage for further Mizzou success scoring a 9.825. Succeeding with another round of consistent scores, Davis and Robinson each posted a 9.850 on the uneven bars to tie for top meet honors. In addition, Heinicka scored a career-high mark with a 9.825 routine. Together the Tigers scored a 49.125 to log the fifth-highest team mark on the apparatus in Mizzou's 23 years.
On a tear, the Tigers tackled the balance beam once, again rewriting the record books setting a new program high on the event with a 49.175. Bridges began the round scoring a 9.825, Dombart hit a 9.800 routine and Davis ensued with her second career-mark recording a 9.850 to boost Missouri. Summing up the lineup, Robinson scored a 9.825 and freshman Lauren Schwartzman merited the beam title scoring a 9.875.
Stepping onto the floor in the shadow of its most successful meet in history, Missouri left all timidity behind. Senior Alina Hamm got the Tigers off on the right foot performing a 9.800 routine and Davis scored a 9.850. Bridges and Ashley Asraf each put up solid 9.775 marks, Andrea Nervig scored a 9.800 and Schwartzman summed up Mizzou's record-breaking night scoring her third 9.875 on the year to win the event.
Topping the Tigers' success, Davis' two career-high marks along side two 9.850 routines on the floor and bars helped her to her highest career mark in the all-around competition with a 39.425. The score is also a new junior record.
Summing up the scoring average, Missouri pulled out a 196.475 to hit not only their highest all-time team record, but also one of the top-10 scores by a Division I program during the 2003 season. The mark bested the Redbirds 193.600 and ties up Mizzou's season record at 2-2.
Looking to take their success further, the Tigers host the 23rd Annual State Farm Cat Classic next weekend. Missouri welcomes the Arizona Wildcats, BYU Cougars and New Hampshire Wildcats to a mock NCAA Championship tournament in the Hearnes Center Fri.-Sat., Feb. 7-8. Team competition begins on Friday followed by an individual event championship on Saturday. Both events begin at 7:00 p.m. Tickets are still available by calling 1-800-CAT-PAWS or 884-PAWS or at the Hearnes Center Ticket Office.
