Nov. 11, 2005
COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri gymnastics program signed four high caliber student-athletes, announced Tiger head coach Rob Drass on Friday. Danielle Guider, Meghann Raub, Becky Scholle and Liz Straatmann all signed national letters of intent to compete for the Tigers in 2007.
"We're incredibly excited to bring these four gymnasts to Missouri," said Drass. "All four can make an immediate impact for us next season. We believe this class as a whole can help us in our goal to make it to the national championships and win a national championship. As athletes and as people, all four will be assets to our program."
Danielle Guider (Nutley, N.J. / U.S. Gymnastics Development Center)
A native of Nutley, N.J., Guider won vault at the Region VII championships in 2003 and 2005. Additionally, she finished third in the all-around at the Region VII championships in 2005, second in the 2005 New Jersey State championships and won the New Jersey State High School Championship title. Coached by John and Michelle Ribeiro and Suzanne Soto, Guider attends the U.S. Gymnastics Development Center.
Drass on Guider:
"Danielle can be an All-American on the vault and floor events here. We're excited to have her come in because she can make an immediate impact. She's an outstanding student and has great character."
Meghann Raub (West Lafayette, Ind. / Wright's American Gymnastics)
Coached by Casey Wright and Michelle Hart at Wright's American Gymnastics, Raub finished second on vault and bars in the 2005 Indiana state championships. The West Lafayette, Ind. native also was an all-around qualifier for the Region 5 championships.
Drass on Raub:
"Meghann is strong on all four events and has the ability to contribute on all four every meet. She's a great person with a great personality who will excel here."
Becky Scholle (Chesterfield, Mo. / GymQuarters)
A two-time Junior Olympic all-around qualifier, Scholle finished third on bars and seventh in the all-around in the 2005 Region 4 championships. At the Missouri State championships in 2005, Scholle earned first place on bars, second on vault and third in the all-around. A four-year high honor roll recipient, Scholle hails from Chesterfield, Mo. and is coached by Scott and Debbie Cusimano and Greg Stephan at GymQuarters.
Drass on Scholle:
"Becky is a Missouri product who will help strengthen our vault and bars routines. She can make an immediate impact in those two events plus is also very good on the floor and beam."
Liz Straatmann (Blue Springs, Mo. / Great American Gymnastics Express)
Straatmann joins Missouri from Great American Gymnastics Express (GAGE), where she competed under Al Fong and Armine Barutyan-Fong with current Tigers Alicia Hatcher and Adrianne Perry. The 2005 Missouri State bars and beam champion, she also finished third in the all-around behind Hatcher and Perry. In 2004, Straatmann earned the beam title and earned a third-place finish at the Missouri State championships. A Blue Springs, Mo. native, Straatmann is a member of the National Honors Society.
Drass on Straatmann:
"Liz is another Missouri product from Alicia Hatcher and Adrianne Perry's club. She's strong on the skill events like bars and beam and we believe she can be an All-American on those events. Liz is also good on vault and floor but we're looking to improve her on those events."
