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March 22, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The No. 18 Missouri gymnastics team closes out the regular season with a quad meet against No. 12 Arkansas, Southeast Missouri State and Texas Women's in Fayetteville, Ark., on Friday, March 23 at 7 p.m. Mizzou then returns to the Hearnes Center to host the 2007 Big 12 Conference Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, March 31 at 7 p.m.
Mizzou in the rankings
Missouri held steady at 18th in this week's GymInfo Top 25, based on a team's Regional Qualifying 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.
Looking ahead to Regionals
A total of 36 teams will qualify for six different NCAA Regionals, with Alabama (Central), Arizona (South Central), California-Berkeley (West), Denver (North Central), Michigan (Northeast) and West Virginia (Southeast) serving as hosts. The top 18 teams will be seeded as shown:
1 2 3 4 5 6
12 11 10 9 8 7
13 14 15 16 17 18
Joining the three seeded teams in each Regional will be the top three unseeded teams from that region. The top two teams from each Regional will then qualify for Nationals. Based solely on this week's rankings, Missouri would be in a Regional with No. 6 LSU and No. 7 Nebraska. Because none of the three seeded teams are hosting this season, the Tigers would either travel to Cal-Berkeley for the West Regional or West Virginia for the Southeast Regional. The NCAA will announce the official Regional pairings on Monday, April 2.
Last time out
The Tigers upset No. 11 Michigan on Friday, March 16 in Ann Arbor, Mich., with a season-best 196.675. The meet marked the first time all year Mizzou scored at least a 49 on each event. The squad also managed season-highs on floor (49.350) and vault (49.225).
Sophomore Adrianne claimed the all-around, vault and floor titles and finished second on bars and beam. Her scored of 39.550 in the all-around and 9.925 on floor set career-highs
Tigers sweep weekly awards
Sophomore Adrianne Perry and senior Amanda Pezzullo swept this week's Big 12 Conference weekly awards after helping Missouri upset No. 11 Michigan on March 16. Perry was tabbed the Gymnast of the Week for the second time this season and Pezzullo earned Specialist of the Week honors for the first time in her career.
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.
The rotation order for the championship was announced by the league office on Tuesday and is listed below:
Vault: Missouri
Bars: Nebraska
Beam: Iowa State
Floor: Oklahoma
Career day for Tigers individually... Six different Tigers set or tied personal bests in Mizzou's win over Michigan on March 16. Sophomore Adrianne Perry recorded a 39.550 in the all-around and a 9.925 on floor for new marks and tied her best on beam with a 9.875. Also setting new highs were junior Julie Abaray with a 9.900 on floor, and freshman Danielle Guider with a 9.850 on vault. Tying their marks were senior Amanda Pezzullo with a 9.875 on floor, freshman Becky Scholle with a 9.850 on bars and junior Nikki Bowman with a 9.750 on beam.
And as a team...
Mizzou posted season-highs on both floor and vault against Michigan on March 16. The Tigers' score of 49.350 on floor tied the fifth-highest total in program history and the best score in three years. With a 49.225 on vault, Missouri tied the program's seventh-best score. Additionally, the team score of 196.675 was the sixth-highest score ever for the Tigers and the best total since Mizzou notched a 196.700 at the 2003 Big 12 Championship.
Perry back among nation's best
After a somewhat slow start to the season, sophomore Adrianne Perry has put up solid performances the last month to return among the country's elite in the national rankings. This week, she clocks in at 18th on vault (9.880 RQS), tied for 24rd on beam (9.845), 25th in the all-around (39.140), tied for 52nd on floor (9.830) and tied for 78th on bars (9.790).
No growing pains for Guider
Over two months into her freshman campaign, Danielle Guider has evolved into one of Mizzou's most consistent competitors. Guider started the season in and out of the vault and beam lineup but is now a constant on those two events and floor. At the Tigers's recent meet against Iowa, Guider notched a then career-high 9.825 on vault and won the floor title with a 9.800. One week later at Michigan, Guider upped her personal mark on vault to a 9.850. She also has personal bests of 9.800 on beam (vs. Centenary; at Pittsburgh) and 9.825 on floor (at Oklahoma, vs. Centenary).
Crater continues her comeback
Senior Whitney Crater continues to astound with her lightning quick recovery from an Achilles injury. Crater ruptured her Achilles in the last practice before Mizzou left for the 2006 NCAA Southeast Regional and has not missed a meet during her senior season. She's been in the vault lineup all 10 meets and entered the floor lineup against SEMO on Feb. 9. On March 9 Crater tied her career-high on vault as she recorded 9.900 for the first time since 2005.
Gilmore grabs the spotlight
In an event lineup for only the fourth time in her career, senior Alicia Gilmore posted a personal best 9.875 on bars at Pittsburgh to tie two teammates for the event title. It was the first event crown of her career and the score bettered her previous career-high by a full tenth of a point.
And away we go
Due to the ranking system, away meets are especially important in gymnastics. A team's RQS (explained earlier) requires at least three scores from away meets. The trip to Arkansas marks Mizzou's final away meet of the season. With a good score against the Gym'Backs, the Tigers can drop a 195.025 received at Iowa State from their RQS.
A beaming success
After nearly two months of competition the Tigers finally put together a successful beam lineup at the Cat Classic. The squad's Achilles' heel all season, Mizzou recorded a 49.175, the team's highest score on any event this season, which also bested its previous season high by over six-tenths of a point. The lineup was highlighted by a career-high shattering 9.925 for junior Julie Abaray.
Tigers ranked nationally...
Six Tigers are ranked among the nation's elite this week. Sophomore Adrianne Perry is 11th in the all-around and vault, tied for 25th on beam, tied for 37th on floor and tied for 44th on bars. Junior Julie Abaray is 39th on beam, tied for 69th on floor and 71st on bars; senior Amanda Pezzullo is tied for 50th on beam, 92nd on vault and tied for 95th on floor; sophomore Alicia Hatcher is 75th on bars; freshman Becky Scholle is tied for 84th on bars and senior Whitney Crater is tied for 99th on vault.
...and regionally
In addition to their national rankings, eight Tigers are ranked in the top-30 in the South Central Region. Perry is the region's top-ranked all-around competitor and is second on vault, sixth on floor and seventh on bars and beam. Abaray is 10th on beam, 12th on bars and 17th on floor; Pezzullo is 12th on beam, tied for 14th on floor and 18th on vault; Hatcher is tied for 13th on bars and tied for 24th on beam; Scholle is tied for 17th on bars; Crater is 20th on vault; freshman Danielle Guider is tied for 21st on floor and junior Ashley Khederian is tied for 30th on vault.
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.
Tiger Tidbits
Julie Abaray
Notched a career-high 9.900 on floor to tie for second at Michigan ... picked up the beam crown with a 9.900 against Iowa ... tied for third on beam with a 9.850 and posted a 9.825 on bars at Pittsburgh ... won the Cat Classic bars title with a 9.850 ... also won the bars and beam titles in the team competition, highlighted by a career-high 9.925 on beam ... 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 ... 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 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 9.800 on floor at the Cancun Classic to finish in fourth place ... Ranks 39th on beam, tied for 69th on floor and 71st on bars nationally.
Nikki Bowman
Tied her career-high with a 9.750 on beam against the Wolverines ... stepped into the floor lineup and scored a 9.675 against the Hawkeyes ... recorded a 9.700 on vault at Pittsburgh ... scored a 9.700 on vault at the Cat Classic ... 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
Recorded a 9.875 on vault to tie for third ... tied her career-high on vault with a 9.900 to take second against Iowa ... finished second on vault and floor with season-high 9.850s at the Cat Classic individual event finals ... tied for second on vault atin the team competition ... 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 9.700 on bars for the second week in a row ... posted a 9.700 on bars against the Hawkeyes ... won her first career event title with a career-high 9.875 at Pittsburgh ... scored a then career-high 9.750 on bars against SEMO in only her second time in the event lineup this season.
Danielle Guider
Notched a career-high 9.850 on vault and posted a 9.800 on floor against Michigan ... collected her first event title with a 9.800 on floor against Iowa ... also set a career-high on vault with a 9.825 against the Hawkeyes ... tied her career-high with a 9.800 on beam at Pittsburgh ... finished fifth on beam in the Cat Classic individual event finals ... 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
Tied for third on beam with a 9.825 against the Wolverines ... finished second on bars with a 9.850 against Iowa ... tied two teammates for the bars title with a personal best 9.875 at Pittsburgh ... also led off the beam lineup and scored a 9.825 ... tied for second on bars (9.800) and third on beam (9.750) in the Cat Classic individual event finals ... in her first meet since Feb. 2, competed on bars and beam in the team competition ... 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 .. ranked 75th on bars nationally.
Ashley Khederian
Notched a season-high 9.850 on floor against the Wolverines ... did not compete against Iowa due to a sore knee ... posted a 9.750 on vault and a 9.700 on floor at Pittsburgh ... scored a 9.800 on bars for the second meet in a for in the Cat Classic to tie for second ... 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.
Katie Kluga
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
Set career-highs on floor and in the all-around with scores of 9.925 and 39.550, respectively, against Michigan ... took home the all-around, vault and floor titles against the Wolverines ... claimed the all-around, vault and bars titles against Iowa ... took the all-around and tied for the bars and floor titles at Pittsburgh ... won the vault and floor titles in the Cat Classic team competition and individual event finals ... 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 11th in the all-around and vault, tied for 25th on beam, tied for 37nd on floor and tied for 44th on bars nationally.
Amanda Pezzullo
Tied her career-high with a 9.875 on floor at Michigan ... posted a 9.800 on vault against the Hawkeyes ... recorded a 9.800 on beam at Pittsburgh ... won her first event title of the year as she tied for first on floor with a 9.850 in the team competition ... 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 ... tied for 50th on beam, 92nd on vault and 95th on floor nationally.
Becky Scholle
Tied her career-high and finished second on bars with a 9.850 against Michigan ... was in both the vault and bars lineups against Iowa posted a 9.800 on bars at Pittsburgh ... scored a 9.750 on bars for fifth place at the Cat Classic individual event finals ... 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 ... ranked tied for 84th on bars nationally.
