March 13, 2015
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Mizzou gymnastics team recorded its highest score in more than three seasons as the squad closed the regular season with a 196.150-196.000 win over North Carolina State on Senior Night at the Hearnes Center Friday. The meet marked the first time the Tigers eclipsed the 196 mark since 2012 and was the highest team score since a 196.250 against Bowling Green on Feb. 24, 2012.
The Wolfpack held slight leads after the first three rotations, with edges of 49.900-48.800, 97.900-97.875 and 146.925-146.900. The score stood tied at 196.000 all after North Carolina State's final beam competitor and just sophomore Alyson Heimsath left to go for Mizzou on floor. The sophomore closed out the rotation with a 9.850 to give the Tigers the comeback 196.150-196.000 victory. Freshman Becca Schugel claimed the all-around crown with a career high 39.300, propelled by a win on bars after a personal best 9.850. Also winners during the meet were senior Laura Kappler on beam, with a career high 9.900) and freshman Kennedi Harris on floor, with a personal high 9.925.
The Tigers also scored over 49.000 on three events, with tallies of 49.250 on floor, 49.075 on bars and 49.025 on beam, all of which were the second best totals on the respective apparatus' this year.
Missouri opened the meet with a 48.800 on vault, paced by Schugel's team high 9.825 on the event. Kappler and redshirt senior Katelyn Trevino scored identical 9.775s and sophomore Angie Kern posted a 9.750.
On bars in the second rotation, four of six Tigers scored 9.800s or above as the squad went 49.025. Schugel again led Mizzou with a career best 9.850, while Trevino and Kappler tied for second with scores of 9.825, which marked a new personal high for Trevino. Senior Becca Johnson had a 9.800, her eighth score of 9.800 or higher this year.
Kappler's 9.900 was a big part of the team's 49.025 team score on beam. The tally was good enough to give Kappler her third event title of the year and her first crown on beam. Senior Briana Conkle tied her personal best with a 9.825, Schugel had a 9.800 for her fourth score of that mark of the meet, and freshman Kelli Martin added a 9.775.
Mizzou closed with a 49.250 on floor, the squad's second week reaching that mark on the event. Harris claimed her third event title of the year with her personal best 9.925 on floor. Conkle and Heimsath both scored 9.850s to tie for third, Schugel received a 9.825 and Kern notched a 9.800.
Missouri travels to Duluth, Georgia, for the 2015 Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 21. The Tigers will compete in the afternoon session at 2 p.m. ET.