University of Missouri
Black & Gold
@MizzouGym Impresses at Black & Gold Exhibition
12/9/2018 5:57:00 PM | Gymnastics
COLUMBIA, Mo. – The Missouri gymnastics team gave Tiger fans a preview of the upcoming 2019 season with the annual Black & Gold exhibition Sundary afternoon at the Hearnes Center. The meet also featured celebrity guest judges and in-meet interviews with student-athletes and coaches.
The Tigers opened the event with great vaults in the opening rotation. Freshman Hannah McCrary (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) anchored the lineup with a team-best 9.9 on her Yurchkenko 1.5. Additionally, junior Aspen Tucker (Lehigh Acres, Fla.) earned a 9.85, senior Madeleine Huber (St. Louis, Mo.) and redshirt junior Morgan Porter (Overland, Mo.) each went 9.8, and sophomore Gabrielle Gottula (Spring, Texas) posted a 9.75.
In the second rotation, Huber had a near-perfect routine to earn a team-high 9.900 on the apparatus. Also with a standout performance was redshirt senior Becca Schugel (Eagan, Minn.) in her first competition since a season-ending injury last season. Schugel went 9.75 on the event in her return to action. Tucker added a 9.7 as well.
A total of seven different Tigers earned a 9.75 or higher on beam in the meet, led by a 9.900 from senior Britney Ward (Ozark, Mo.). Both Tucker and and junior Mary Nicholson (Richland Hills, Texas) claimed 9.85s and Gottula went 9.8. Senior Allison Bower (Mesa, Ariz.), sophomore Lauren Clevenger (Catoosa, Okla.) and McCrary all earned 9.75s.
On floor, Tucker led a contingent of six gymnasts with at least a 9.7, as the junior posted a 9.85. Nicholson led off the event with a 9.8, while Porter went 9.8 as well. Bower claimed a 9.75 and McCrary and Huber each recorded 9.7.
Missouri officially opens the 2019 season on Friday, Jan. 4 in Tempe, Ariz., in a quad meet against host Arizona State, Minnesota and UIC. The team returns to Columbia for the Beauty and the Beast on Saturday, Jan. 19 at 1 p.m., where the gymnasts face off against Auburn and the wrestling team faces Central Michigan. That event will be held at Mizzou Arena.
Players Mentioned
