Aug. 17, 2007
Columbia, Mo. - The Missouri Gymnastics team just got a little stronger in their preparations for the 2008 season. Head Coach Rob Drass has announced that Sarah Shire (Columbia, Mo.), a freshman standout at Utah, the national runner-up from last season, has decided to transfer to Missouri. Shire, a member of the U.S. National Team since 2002 saw herself as a better fit with the Tigers. Utah head coach Greg Mardsen will release her from her scholarship, granting her immediate eligibility for the upcoming 2008 season.
Shire, a top recruit coming out of high school, specialized on the beam and vault while at Utah, tallying career highs of 9.95 in both events. She will likely fit into an all around role with the Tigers, as she is also a specialist on the floor, with a career high of 9.8. Proving her pedigree, Shire took home ninth place at the 2005 USA Championships in the all-around competition, and has never finished lower than 16th in the national competition.
The 4-foot 11-inch Shire was a key performer for last years Ute team at the NCAA Championships, and will bring that experience to the Tiger squad. She tallied a 9.85 and 9.875 on the vault and a 9.8 and 9.85 on the beam during the preliminary and super six rounds last season at the championship.
Shire's choice to transfer to Mizzou was influenced heavily by her prep years. As a member of Great American Gymnastics Express club team during high school, Shire competed with current Tigers Adrianne Perry (Columbia, Mo.) and Alicia Hatcher (Blue Springs, Mo.) while at GAGE, heavily influencing her decision to transfer to Mizzou. She will also fit into a larger role with the Tigers and get a chance to make an immediate impact. In addition to those reasons, Shire's family lives just 20 minutes from Columbia and the University of Missouri campus while her mother Robyn is a Missouri graduate, which contributed to her decision to join the Tigers.
Heavily recruited by the nations top programs, Shire chose Utah due to their programs prestige and history, but cited differences with Mardsen and his expectations for her as her reason for leaving Utah.
Shire, who is known for her difficult routines, will likely make an immediate impact for Drass and the rest of the coaching staff. Shire has proved herself on the collegiate, national and international stage since joining the US National Team in 2002, and will now look to prove herself as a Tiger.
