Feb. 25, 2006
COLUMBIA, Mo. - One night after taking the team and all-around titles, the No.9 Missouri Tigers swept all four individual event titles at the 26th Annual The Callaway Bank Cat Classic Saturday night at the Hearnes Center. In front of a two-day crowd of 4,175, four different Tigers claimed the event titles. Mizzou's sweep marks only the second time in the 26 year history of the event that one team claimed the team, all-around and event titles, as Arizona also accomplished the feet in 1997.
A duo of seniors and juniors claimed top honors Saturday night for Missouri. Senior Jodie Heinicka won the vault, senior Sarah Zigler earned the bars title, junior Amanda Pezzullo finished first on beam and junior Whitney Crater won the floor exercise.
"We added some new skills tonight and some were successful and some weren't," said Missouri head coach Rob Drass. "We're excited about trying new things and the opportunity to win the event titles. Luckily we came away with all four."
"The other really fascinating thing to me was it wasn't exactly who I expected to win all the event titles but we have depth and we have quality depth," said Drass. "It just shows on any given day anybody can beat anybody on this team. I think that's exciting for the rest of the team as well because they all know they'll have their day at some point."
Following Heinicka, who scored a 9.800 on vault, was Crater, who notched a 9.775. Senior Lauren Schwartzman finished fifth with a 9.675. On bars, Zigler paced the pack with a 9.850, followed by a 9.800 from Heinicka. The Tigers also claimed fourth and six place as freshman Alicia Hatcher and sophomore Julie Abaray scored a 9.750 and 9.625, respectively.
In a near sweep of all six places, the Tigers claimed the first five places on beam. Pezzullo and freshman Adrianne Perry both recorded a 9.825 on beam but Pezzullo was awarded the event title through tie-breaker procedures. In third place was Hatcher with a 9.750, Heinicka finished fourth with a 9.650 and sophomore Katie Kluga scored a 9.600 for fifth.
Crater earned the floor title over Schartzman with a tie-breaker as both gymnasts scored a 9.875 on the event. Missouri also took home fourth and fifth place as Hatcher scored a 9.725 for fourth and Pezzullo notched a 9.700 for fifth.
"I can't say enough about the seniors," said Drass. "Sarah started as a walk-on, earned a scholarship and now is a Cat Classic champion. Jodie is our cheerleader and is always there for everyone else. If any of our athletes has trouble in the gym, Jodie is the one there picking them up and making my job easier. Bunny really does it with performance. She paves the way and shows people how to do things. She's small in size but big in heart and drive. These three athletes work so well together in taking the team to new heights."
"Tonight was hard because you competed the night before so your body is sore and you're drained," said Schwartzman. "Because tonight really doesn't matter, I tried to have as much fun as I could. Today was a good judge for the girls to know where their adrenaline needs to be because next week we do have two real meets in one weekend, a Friday and a Sunday meet. So this helps our mindset.
Next weekend, the Tigers host Centenary on Friday, March 3 at 7 p.m. in the Hearnes Center. Mizzou then travels to Cape Girardeau, Mo. for a meet against Ball State, Centenary and host Southeast Missouri State on Sunday, March 5 at 2 p.m.
Vault
1. Jodie Heinicka (MU)
2. Whitney Crater (MU)
3. Andrea Arlotta (Pitt)
4. Jenna Tarkington (BSU)
5. Lauren Schwartzman (MU)
6. Victoria McGuigan-Carl
Bars
1. Sarah Zigler (MU)
2. Jodie Heinicka (MU)
3. Andrea Arlotta (Pitt)
4. Alicia Hatcher (MU)
5. Alix Croop (Pitt)
6. Julie Abaray (MU)
Beam
1. Amanda Pezzullo (MU)
2. Adrianne Perry (MU)
3. Alicia Hatcher (MU)
4. Jodie Heinicka (MU)
5. Katie Kluga (MU)
6. Lauren West (BSU)
Floor
1. Whitney Crater (MU)
2. Lauren Schwartzman (MU)
3. Andrea Arlotta (Pitt)
4. Alicia Hatcher (MU)
5. Amanda Pezzullo (MU)
6. Lauren West (BSU)