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Feb. 22, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - In the final weekend of their three-meet homestand, the No. 17 Tigers hosts the 27th Annual The Callaway Bank Cat Classic on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 23-24 at 7 p.m. Friday's action features the team and all-around competition with Missouri squaring off against Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and William and Mary while individual event finals take place on Saturday.
Last season, the Tigers swept the team, all-around and individual event competition as Mizzou grabbed its fourth consecutive team title.
Mizzou All-Access will stream a live feed of the meet to online for subscribers and live results will also be available. Both features can be found at mutigers.com.
Mizzou in the rankings
Missouri moved up three spots to 17th in this week's GymInfo Top 25. Starting this week, team and individual polls for the remainder of the season will be ranked by Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) and not average score. An RQS is calculated by taking the six-highest scores of the season, of which at least three must be from an away meet. The highest overall score is dropped and the remaining five scores are averaged to get an RQS. Mizzou's RQS is below:
195.325 Home (dropped)
195.025 Away
195.000 Home
194.775 Home
193.825 Away
+192.625 Away
971.250
971.250 / 5 = 194.250 RQS
On individual events, the Tigers rank 12th on floor, tied for15th on vault, 20th on bars and 21st on beam.
Last time out
Against Centenary on Feb. 16, Mizzou recorded a 195.325-188.925 victory as the squad set a new team season-high. The Tigers also posted their highest scores of the year on floor (49.125) and vault (48.975). Junior Julie Abaray had a career day against the Ladies after picking up the bars, beam and floor titles, all on personal bests. She recorded a career-high on bars for the second meet in a row with a 9.850, set another mark on floor with a 9.875 and tied her personal best on beam with a 9.850. Sophomore Adrianne Perry took home the all-around and vault titles with scores of 39.325 and 9.925, respectively. Also impressing was freshman Danielle Guider, who finished second on beam with a career-high 9.800 and tied her best on floor with a 9.825.
Still not a beaming success
Now midway through the season, the Tigers are still struggling on the balance beam. Their season high is 48.550, which came against Illinois in the second meet of the year. Although on paper beam should be the squad's highest scoreing event, the team has suffered 13 falls in seven meets this year.
Scouting Bowling Green
Bowling Green enters the Cat Classic on the heels of a 193.700-192.225 loss to then No. 25 Kent State. The Falcons posted a season-high 192.775 a week prior in at loss to Central Michigan .
All-time series: MU leads 5-2
Last meeting: 2002, BGU 193.775, MU 193.275
Scouting Eastern Michigan
The Cat Classic marks only the fifth meet of the year for Eastern Michigan. At the State of Michigan Classic on Feb. 3, the Eagles finished fourth with a season-high 193.125 behind winner Michigan State, Michigan and Central Michigan and ahead of Western Michigan. Last time out, the team beat Ball State 191.900-189.450.
All-time series: MU 3-0
Last meeting: 2003, MU 195.925, EMU 194.600 (Corvette Cup)
Scouting Wlliam and Mary
Competing in the Eastern College Athletic Conference, William and Mary are coming off a season-high 186.225 at North Carolina State's Hearts Invite on Feb. 17. At the event, the Tribe finished fifth behind then No. 6 Nebraska, West Virginia, North Carolina State and George Washington.
All-time series: First meeting
Oh, what a night
Junior Junior Abaray set or tied her career-highs on all three of her events against Centenary en route to the bars, beam and floor titles. The Cincinnati, Ohio, native set new marks on floor (9.875) and bars (9.850) and tied her personal best on beam (9.850), which she previously set against Illinois in 2005.
Fantastic Floor
After struggling on the event much of last season, floor has proved to be Missouri's strongest event thus far this season. The squad scored a 49.125 on floor against Centenary, which marked the highest total for any event this season. Overall, the team ranks 12th nationally on floor.
Perry has company
For the first time in her collegiate career, sophomore Adrianne Perry had a teammate in the all-around competition against SEMO on Feb. 9. Junior Ashley Khederian made her first all-around apearance since 2005 against SEMO on Feb. 9 and finished second in the all-around with a 38.825 against the Redhawks. The junior also competed on all four events against Centenary on Feb. 16.
Talk about improvement
After falling on vault in the first meet of the season, sophomore Adrianne Perry has reeled off a five straight fantastic vaults. In three of the past four weeks, she scored 9.925 or higher on the event. Although her season average on the event is a 9.768, her average the past six weeks is a 9.888.
What a difference a year makes
Junior Julie Abaray and Senior Amanda Pezzullo are two big reasons for the Tigers' success on floor this year. Last season, Abaray suffered a severe ankle sprain, which limited her to competing on floor in only four meets, with a season-high score of 9.775. Pezzullo competed on the event all of 2006 but her high score of 9.750 was due in part to her early lineup order.
This year, Abaray is healthy and Pezzullo has moved up in the lineup, which is reflected in their scores. Pezzullo has an event average of 9.808 including a season-high 9.850 against SEMO and Abaray's average is a 9.757, with a career-high 9.875 against Centenary on Feb. 16.
Tigers ranked nationally...
Four Tigers find themselves ranked among the nation's elite this week now that rankings are based on RQS. Junior Julie Abaray is tied for 39th on floor and 57th on bars and sophomore Adrianne Perry ranks tied for 42nd on floor, tied for 56th on beam and tied for 92nd on vault. Additionally, senior Amanda Pezzullo is tied for 58th on beam and tied for 59th on vault and junior Ashley Khederian ranks 74th on bars, tied for 79th on vault and tied for 84th on floor.
With the RQS, gymnasts need at least three away meet scores to be ranked so Perry will be unranked on bars and in the all-around and Pezzullo will be unranked on floor until Mizzou travels to Pittsburgh next weekend.
...and regionally
In addition to their national rankings, eightTigers are ranked in the top-30 in the South Central Region. Abaray is tied for seventh on floor, ninth on bars and tied for 22nd on beam; Perry is tied for ninth on floor, 12th on beam and tied for 22nd on vault; Khederian is 12th on bars, 18th on vault and tied for 20th on floor; Pezzullo is 13th on beam and tied for 13th on vault; freshman Becky Scholle is 18th on bars; junior Katie Kluga is 22nd on bars; freshman Danielle Guider is 23rd on floor; junior Nikki Bowman is 27th on vault and senior Whitney Crater is 28th on vault.
Tiger takes Big 12 honor, finally
Sophomore Adrianne Perry was named the Big 12 Gymnast of the Week on Feb. 12, which marks the first time since 2005 that a Mizzou gymnast has received the honor. Perry earned the award after posting a career-high 39.500 in the all-around against SEMO on Friday.
Mizzou to host Big 12 Championship
For the first time since 2003, the Tigers will host the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship at the Hearnes Center on Saturday, March 31. The last time the meet was in Columbia, the Tigers finished third, which marked the first time since 1994 the squad finished better than fourth.
Beauty and the Beast a success
The Tigers joined together with the Mizzou wrestling squad on Feb. 9 as the two teams hosted the first annual Beauty and the Beast event in front of 6,197 fans at the Hearnes Center. Both squads picked up wins as the gymnasts recorded a 194.775-192.700 win over SEMO while the wrestlers claimed a 36-13 victory of Northern Iowa.
Tigers awarded for work in the classroom
For their efforts in the classroom, 11 Tigers were named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Honor Roll for posting a grade-point-average of 3.0 or higher during the previous semester. Seniors Ali Gilmore and Amanda Pezzullo, juniors Julie Abaray, Nikki Bowman, Katie Kluga and Lisa Puccio, sophomore Alicia Hatcher and freshmen Brooke Boehmer, Nicole Lovegreen, Becky Scholle and Liz Straatmann were all named to the list. Scholle was recognized for posting a 4.0 GPA.
Tigers sign two gymnasts for 2008 season
On Nov. 8, 2006, Head Coach Rob Drass announced the signing of Alex Gold and Lisa LaPerriere to national letters of intent to compete for the Tigers in 2008.
A former international elite, Gold is a three-time Junior Olympics National qualifier. She finished fourth in the all-around and vault and fifth on bars and floor at the 2006 Level 10 Regionals and came in sixth on vault in 2005. Gold qualified as an international elite after finishing first on vault and second in the all-around at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Classic in 2003. Gold, who hails from Plano, Texas, is coached by Larry McDonough at Plano Unlimited Sports Academy.
Coached by Lori Koch at Olympia Gymnastics Academy, LaPerriere finished 10th on floor at the 2006 Level 10 National Championships. She is a two-time National Tops team member and a five-time Level 10 Regional qualifier. In addition, LaPerriere was the 2003 Michigan state vault and bars champion at Level 10 and was the Level 9 national vault champion in 2000. The Macomb, Mich. native also was the 2000 United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs national all-around and beam champion.
Tiger Tidbits
Julie Abaray
Claimed the bars, beam and floor titles against Centenary with career-highs on all three events ... tied for second on bars with a 9.825 against SEMO in setting a new personal best ... recorded a 9.800 on bars at Iowa State ... also notched a 9.800 on beam and 9.775 on floor against the Cyclones ... scored a career-high 9.850 on floor against Nebraska to tie for fourth and posted a 9.800 on beam ... notched a 9.775 on floor and a 9.700 on bars against Oklahoma and Central Michigan ... tied for first on beam against Illinois with a 9.800 ... scored a career high tying 9.800 on floor at the Cancun Classic to finish in fourth place ... Tied for 39th on floor and ranks 57th on bars nationally.
Nikki Bowman
Finished fifth on vault with a 9.750 against SEMO ... notched a 9.650 on floor against the Cyclones ... tied her career-high with a 9.750 on vault against Nebraska ... led off the beam lineup with a 9.750 at Oklahoma ... recorded a 9.700 on vault against Illinois on Jan. 12 ... posted a 9.675 on bars and 9.625s on beam and floor at the Cancun Classic.
Whitney Crater
Finished second on vault with a 9.825 and scored a season-high 9.775 on floor against Centenary ... posted a 9.750 on vault for a fifth place finish against SEMO ... was in the floor lineup for the first time in 2007 against the Redhawks and scored a 9.625 ... recorded a 9.725 on vault at Iowa State ... had a 9.800 on vault against the Cornhuskers ... scored a 9.825 on vault to tie for second against Illinois ... in her first competition since suffering an Achilles tear in April, notched a 9.775 on vault at the Cancun Classic.
Alicia Gilmore
Scored a career-high 9.750 on bars against SEMO in only her second time in the event lineup this season.
Danielle Guider
Had third place finishes on beam and floor against Centenary ... set a personal best on beam with a 9.800 and tied her floor mark with a 9.825 ... finished third on floor with a 9.800 and notched a personal best 9.725 on beam against SEMO ... scored a 9.775 on floor at Iowa State ... recorded a career-high 9.825 on floor at Oklahoma to tie for third place ... competed on both vault and floor in her collegiate debut and did not disappoint with a 9.700 on vault ... entered the beam lineup against Illinois and notched a 9.575.
Alicia Hatcher
Sat out the against Centenary and SEMO due to a sprained ankle ... finished fourth on bars with a 9.825 at Iowa State ... tied for third on bars with a team season-high 9.825 against Nebraska ... scored a career-high 9.900 on beam to tie for third at Oklahoma ... also notched a 9.750 on floor against the Sooners ... finished second on beam against Illinois with a 9.700 ... recorded a 9.700 on floor at the Cancun Classic.
Ashley Khederian
Tied her personal best with a 9.800 on bars for third against Centenary ... also finished third on vault with a 9.775 ... competed in the all-around for the first time since 2005 against SEMO and scored a 38.825 ... also scored 9.775s on bars and floor ... notched a season-high 9.725 on bars against the Cyclones ... also scored a 9.775 on vault ... posted a 9.700 on bars against the Huskers ... had a 9.775 on vault at Oklahoma to tie for fifth place ... also posted a 9.725 on floor ... scored a 9.725 on vault, 9.675 on bars and a 9.600 on floor against Illinois ... competed on three events at the Cancun Classic and notched a 9.775 on vault ... ranks 74th on bars, tied for 79th on vault and tied for 84th on floor nationally.
Katie Kluga
Recorded a 9.700 on bars against Centenary ... led off beam against Nebraska and scored a 9.750 ... posted a career high 9.800 on beam at the Cancun Classic to tie for 10th place ... also notched a 9.675 on bars in Cancun.
Adrianne Perry
Claimed the all-around and vault titles against Centenary ... took the all-around, vault, beam and floor titles against SEMO with scores of 39.500, 9.950, 9.850 and 9.875, respectively ... all-around and vault scores against the Redhawks set career-highs ... finished second on vault with a 9.825 and floor with a 9.850 and scored a 9.825 on beam and a 9.800 on bars at Iowa State ... set a then career-highs on vault with a 9.925 and floor with a 9.900 against Nebraska ... the vault score set a new sophomore record on the event ... also scored a 9.825 on bars against the Huskers ... tied for the vault title with a career-high tying 9.875 at Oklahoma ... picked up the all-around crown against Illinois with a 39.150 on the night ... also won the bars, beam and floor titles against the Illini with scores of 9.775, 9.800 and 9.750, respectively ... notched a 9.825 on vault against Illinois to tie for second .. at the Cancun Classic, recorded a 9.825 on beam to tie for fifth place .. ranks tied for 42nd on floor, 56th on beam and 92nd on vault nationally.
Amanda Pezzullo
Took second place on beam and fourth on floor against Centenary ... finished second on vault and floor with scores of 9.800 and 9.850, respectively, against SEMO ... recorded a 9.825 on floor and a 9.800 on vault at Iowa State ... had a strong meet against Nebraska as she tied for second on beam with a 9.875 and posted a 9.825 on floor and 9.800 on vault ... recorded a 9.825 on floor to tie for third and posted a 9.800 on beam at Oklahoma ... in her first floor routine of the season, notched a 9.725 on floor to take second place ... scored a team meet high 9.875 on vault at the Cancun Classic to tie for second ... ranks tied for 58th on beam and 59th on vault nationally.
Becky Scholle
Finished second on bars with a 9.825 against Centenary ... won her first career event title with a career-high 9.850 on bars against SEMO ... notched a 9.800 on bars at Iowa State ... scored a on bars against Nebraska ... in the vault lineup for the first time at Oklahoma, did not disappoint with a 9.725 ... tied Julie Abaray for second on bars with a 9.700 against the Fighting Illini ... was in the bars lineup in her first collegiate meet at the Cancun Classic.
