Senior Whitney Crater scored a 9.900 on vault to tie her career-high
  
 
No. 18 Tigers Score a 195.425 in Win Over Iowa on Senior Night

Seniors Crater, Gilmore and Pezzullo honored before meet

March 9, 2007

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COLUMBIA, Mo. - Closing out the home portion of the regular season, the No. 18 Missouri gymnastics team picked up a 195.425-192.875 win over Iowa on Senior Night at the Hearnes Center on Friday. After the meet, the Tigers honored seniors Whitney Crater, Alicia Gilmore and Amanda Pezzullo for their contributions to the gymnastics program inside and outside the gym.

Missouri (10-6) swept the team, all-around and all four event titles, led by sophomore Adrianne Perry, who claimed the all-around crown with a 39.300 and won vault and bars. Also winning event titles were junior Julie Abaray on beam and freshman Danielle Guider on floor.

"We were solid tonight," said Missouri head coach Rob Drass. "We weren't spectacular but sometimes the emotion of senior night gets to you and we were without Ashley Khederian. We did it the hard way but we were solid all the way through."

Opening the night on vault, Perry kept up her vaulting streak with a 9.925 to claim first place honors and lead Mizzou to a 49.000 on the event. Crater tied her personal best with a 9.900 to finish second and Guider posted a 9.825 for a new career-high as she took fifth.

The Tigers swept the first five finishers on bars in the second rotation to post a team score of 48.950. Perry won her second consecutive bar title as she tied her career-high of 9.875 set last week. Finishing second on the event was sophomore Alicia Hatcher with a 9.850 and Abaray claimed third place with a 9.800.

Mizzou did not count a fall on beam for the third meet in a row and posted a 48.825 on the event. First place went to Abaray who scored a 9.900 and Perry tied for second place as she recorded a 9.850. Tying for fourth place were Guider and Pezzullo with 9.750s apiece.

In the final rotation, the Tigers notched a 48.650 on floor. Guider picked claimed her first career event title as she notched a 9.800 from the lead-off spot to tie Hawkeye Jennifer Simbhudas for first. Abaray tied Iowa's Amanda Rudolph for third with a 9.775 and Pezzullo scored a 9.750 for fifth.

"The emotions of senior night always affect you somehow," Drass Said. "Sometimes the high scores come out and some people are a little flat because they're emotional. But to do solid in such an emotional meet just shows the maturity of the team. We grew a little bit tonight."

"Tonight was really exciting, it's a little different this year because we do have Big 12's at home but it's still very emotional," Pezzullo said.

The Tigers begin a two-meet road trip as the squad travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., on Friday, March 16 for a dual meet against No. 12 Michigan at 7 p.m. Mizzou then closes out the regular season at No. 11 Arkansas on Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m.

 

 

Brittany Haines' Gymnastics Journal

12/12/2008 - W. Gymnastics

The freshman is ready to start the competitive season with the Black and Gold meet on Saturday.

Brooke Boehmer's Gymnastics Journal

12/03/2008 - W. Gymnastics

The junior fills us in on the Tigers' hard work after the Thanksgiving break and preparing for the Black and Gold intrasquad meet on Dec. 13.

Missouri Ranked 19th in Preseason Poll

11/24/2008 - W. Gymnastics

The Tigers are looking forward to starting an exciting season behind the talents of seniors Adrianne Perry and Alicia Hatcher, and junior Sarah Shire.

2009 Squad to Debut in Black and Gold meet

12/12/2008 - W. Gymnastics

The Black and Gold intrasquad meet at 7 p.m. on Sat., Dec. 13, is a key warm-up for the Tigers before they take on a difficult 2009 schedule.

Gymnastics Signs Three Talented Recruits

11/17/2008 - W. Gymnastics

Head Coach Rob Drass, with the help of recruiting coordinator and assistant coach John Figueroa, has signed Brittany Bendoff, Tori Howard and Lauren Swankoski to national letters of intent.