University of Missouri
Southeast Missouri State
Mizzou Tops Southeast Missouri State
1/25/2004 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 25, 2004
Columbia, Mo. - While only about 300 Mizzou fans braved the ice storm to see the Tiger gymnastics team face in-state rival Southeast Missouri State, spectators can agree the trip was worth the effort. Raising the bar yet again this season, Mizzou topped the Otahkians scoring a 196.500-its second highest all-time mark. On their way to defeating SEMO (194.300), the Tigers scored a record setting 49.400 on the floor exercise and a 49.275 to top their all-time high on balance beam.
Helping the Tigers set their marks, various members of the Mizzou squad stepped up to make contributions. Competing without an individual all-arounder, the Tigers utilized their depth to overshadow SEMO in the meet.
Opening on vault, freshman Whitney Crater stole the spotlight winning the event with a career-high 9.900. Competing in just her third collegiate meet, her score ties Missouri's fourth all-time highest mark on the apparatus. Also showing some freshman flare, Amanda Pezzullo recorded a 9.850 vault to tie her career-high and post her third consecutive vault of a 9.8 or above this season. Pezzullo tied for third on the event with fellow teammate Rachel Bridges whose 9.850 ties her career-mark as well.
Moving onto bars, Missouri standout Andrea Nervig won her second meet title on the apparatus topping the competition with a 9.900 performance. It is her second 9.9+ mark on the year, including her record setting 9.925 score against Iowa State.
Maintaining her momentum from last week, sophomore Katie Roets helped boost the Tigers again this week scoring a 9.850 on bars to bolster Mizzou and set a new career standard on the event.
Setting Missouri's top team score on the balance beam, five of Missouri's six competitors scored a 9.800 or above. Winning her third beam victory of the season, Lauren Schwartzman handily won the event posting a 9.900. The mark brings her season average on the apparatus to a 9.925.
Following up Schwartzman, Davis and Roets each posted career-high marks performing 9.875 routines, while freshman Miranda Boeckman scored a career-high 9.825 to nitch the Tigers 49.275 team record.
Leading the charge on the floor exercise, Rachel Bridges and Nervig posted career-high 9.900s to tie for second-place. Helping the two seniors blaze the trail for Mizzou's 49.400 team mark, Pezzullo rounded out her meet scoring a career-high 9.875. Schwartzman mimicked the mark while senior Lindsay Davis scored a 9.800.
Just three meets into the season, the Tigers continue to set a powerful precedent. Scoring three of the programs highest scores and rewriting the recordbooks from the start, the Missouri Tigers are eager to continue their success next week when they face national powerhouse Nebraska. MU faces NU in Lincoln, Neb., on Sat., Jan. 31 at 7:00 p.m.
Players Mentioned
