University of Missouri
Iowa State
Mizzou Falls to Iowa State in Season Opener
1/11/2004 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 11, 2004
Columbia, Mo.-Despite dropping its season opener to Iowa State, the Missouri gymnastics team has much to be proud of. Foreshadowing what the team is capable of during the upcoming 2004 season, the Tigers' 195.350 team score is the highest season opening score in the history of the Mizzou program.
Keeping pace where they left off last season, the Tigers' performance against Iowa State is right where Mizzou needs to be as they strive toward a national championship berth. Missouri opened the meet scoring a 49.175 on vault. The Tigers faltered on bars scoring a 47.725, but Mizzou kept their focus to close the meet scoring 49.125 and 49.325 on beam and floor, respectively.
Adding to the impressive start, Missouri scored a 49.125 on the balance beam highlighted by a 10.0 performance by sophomore Lauren Schwartzman. Appropriately marking the 25th Anniversary of Missouri gymnastics, it is the first time in the history of the Mizzou program a gymnast has scored a perfect 10 on any event. Further bolstering her feat, Schwartzman also scored a 9.825 on vault and led the Tigers with a 9.925 floor routine.
Freshman Kelley Andersen lived up to her expectations in her collegiate opener scoring a 39.300 to finish second in the all-around. In her inaugural meet, she scored an impressive 9.900 on the floor exercise and a 9.875 bars routine.
Giving her senior season a good start, Andrea Nervig pulled out a 9.925 routine on the uneven bars and rounded out the meet with a stunning 9.875 performance on the floor exercise to once again shoulder Mizzou as one of its most consistent competitors.
Missouri looks to continue building momentum on the road next weekend when the Tigers face New Hampshire in Durahm, N.H., on Friday, January 16 at 7:00 p.m. EST.
