University of Missouri
Arizona
#23 Mizzou Finishes Third at Arizona Invitational
1/15/2005 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 15, 2005
Tucson, Ariz. - Adapting to the new pre-Olympic scoring system adopted by the NCAA this season, the #23 Mizzou Tiger gymnastics team battled through a second uncertain meet to finish third at the Arizona Invitational scoring a 191.700. #21 Arizona led the meet scoring a 193.35 followed by #6 Michigan State (191.975), Missouri and Illinois-Chicago (189.600).
"The scoring was tight," Head Coach Rob Drass said. "Until the judges get things together with the new scoring, it's going to be hard to compare teams unless they're competing on the floor with you. As coaches, we don't know what to think. Different judges are taking different deductions so we don't know what is going to be scored ad what isn't. I think the judges are trying to do a good job, but they need to find a standard soon so we can get things fixed."
Opening the meet on the floor, Mizzou scored an impressive 48.750 including meet 9.850 performances from Kelley Andersen and Alisha Robinson. Lauren Schwartzman was second on the team scoring a 9.725. The Tigers also saw solid routines from the freshman class. Julie Abaray kicked off the rotation scoring a 9.700 career high, while Ashley Khederian tied her career mark mirroring her floor performance last weekend scoring a 9.625.
Moving onto vault, the Tigers put up a sturdy 48.450. Robinson, the 2004 Big 12 Vault Champion, led the field scoring a 9.850, while Khederian pulled out a career high 9.750 performance. Also bolstering Mizzou's efforts, Andersen scored a 9.650 while Schwartzman vaulted to a 9.625.
Seeing trouble on the uneven bars for the second straight meet, Mizzou was forced to count a fall dropping its score to 46.450. Despite the low mark, the Tigers saw strong performances by several athletes including Robinson (9.625), Sarah Zigler (9.600) and Abaray (9.500).
Rounding out the meet on the balance beam, the Tigers topped their opponents scoring a 48.050. Schwartzman, the 2004 Big 12 Beam Champion, shined for Mizzou tying to win the event with a 9.825 performance. Robinson followed scoring a 9.700 while Andersen and Abaray both put up well executed 9.525 routines.
Winning the all-around title, Robinson scored a 39.025 including a first-place performance on vault and a second-place floor presentation. "Career wise, Alisha's all-around performance was one of the best of her career," Drass said.
Joining Robinson in the all-around, Khederian tallied a 38.225 to finish fourth overall. In addition, Andersen made her way back into the Mizzou all-around lineup scoring a 37.300.
Finishing first on beam and second on vault and floor, the Tigers were pleased with their performance. "Overall we had a good meet," Drass said. "The scores signify that we didn't do a good job, but in actuality we put up some of the best routines I've seen. In the past our performance tonight would easily have score a 195 or higher. The new system is an adjustment for both the coaches and athletes. As a coach, our 191.700 tonight is one of the best I've been associated with."
The Tigers' third-place finish takes Mizzou to a 1-4 season record heading into home season action next weekend on Fri., Jan. 21 at 7:00 p.m. Mizzou welcomes Centenary to the inaugural Pink Out Meet supporting Ellis Fischel Cancer Hospital's fight to cure breast cancer. The Missouri Athletic Department will donate $1 of each ticket sold toward breast cancer research and awareness efforts. Join the Tigers dress the Hearnes Center in pink!
Players Mentioned
