University of Missouri
SEMO
Missouri Soars over SEMO at Beauty and the Beast
1/15/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Jan. 15, 2011
Columbia, Mo--The Missouri gymnastics team opened their home season with a win at the Fifth Annual Beauty and the Beast meet. The Tigers topped the Southeast Missouri State Redhawks 194.925-192.825. With a strong start on vault the Tigers were able to hold on to the lead through all four rotations.
"I thought we did a much better bars set, and beam was way better since we didn't have to count a fall," Head Coach Rob Drass said. "I thought we were solid all the way through, we did much better. I think we are 95 percent fixed and now we need to work on that last five percent. It has been a learning process for the freshman and we are trying to speed it up and make sure that the lesson sticks before we head to the next event."
Junior Mary Burke improved on her scores from last week, taking the all-around title just over Senior Alex Gold. Both athletes helped to set the tone in the first rotation, Burke scoring 9.800 on her vault and Gold finishing with a 9.775. Freshman Brittani Price is making an impression in the vault rotation earning a 9.650 at today's event. The Tigers finished the first rotation with a 48.800 on vault, leading SEMO who scored 47.625 on bars.
Mizzou held the lead after the second rotation, totaling 48.875 on bars to SEMO's 48.425 bars total. Both Lauren Swankoski and Gold tallied scores of 9.725 on bars and the score stands as a career high for Gold. Sandra Ostad put up a 9.775, matching the career high she set at the Cancun Classic, and Taylor Medrea set her career high bars score at 9.750, improving on her previous score of 9.650 at the Cancun Classic. Burke and Allie Heizelman closed out the second rotation scoring a 9.800 and 9.825, respectively.
After a much improved beam set, the Tigers led the Redhawks 146.250-144.500. Burke led off the rotation earning a 9.775. Freshman Alex Skinner followed with a 9.700, setting a new career high. Tori Howard and Heizelman each earned a 9.750 and Gold put up a 9.600. Lauren Swankoski scored a 9.100.
The final rotation saw a new career high for Howard who posted a 9.850. Burke scored a 9.850 as well, and Medrea earned a 9.675. The Tigers posted 48.675 on floor to bring their final tally to 194.925.
"I'm very happy with that score," Drass said. "I'd rather lose with a good score like that than to win without scoring so well."
The Tigers will be heading to another Beauty and the Beast next week, this time at Iowa State. Mizzou matches up with the Cyclones at 7 pm. on Jan. 21 in Ames, Iowa. Fans can keep up with Mizzou Gymnastics on MUTigers.com or on the team's twitter account, TigerGymnastics.
Players Mentioned
