In the Zou to the Lou meet, Missouri gymnastics faced off against Illinois, Lindenwood and most importantly, No. 6 Florida. Missouri placed second with a score of 197.475 behind the Gators with a score of 197.925. Illinois and Lindenwood followed behind with scores of 196.550 and 194.825 respectively. 

Despite the meet being at a neutral site, Missouri entered as the home team, beginning on vault. Graduate Sienna Schreiber earned the only stuck landing of the rotation and put up a clean 9.825 score to begin. She was followed by two 9.8 routines with large steps and hops on landings. Freshman Hannah Horton put up the second highest score with a 9.875 and junior Amari Celestine closed out the rotation with a clean 9.900. 

Meanwhile on bars, Florida got their meet off to a strong start with two 9.900 routines from freshman Anya Pilgrim and junior Leanne Wong. Illinois started off strong on beam and Lindenwood followed suit on floor.  

Florida took the lead over Missouri 49.425-49.200. as Illinois and Lindenwood brought up the rear with 49.050-48.925 scores. 

Throughout the last few meets, Missouri has significantly improved on the uneven bars. Against Kentucky, Missouri set the second-highest team bars score but this meet, they earned the highest ever with a score of 49.500. This was headlined by senior Mara Titarsolej earning a perfect 10 in the final routine for the Tigers. Not only was this the first 10 by a Missouri Tiger ever on the uneven bars, but it was the only 10 of the entire meet. Titarsolej was supported by three 9.9 routines, all with stuck landings and clean handstands.

Florida had as much success as the Tigers on the beam, putting up three more 9.9 routines. Wong showed off her Olympic-level gymnastics again and earned a 9.975. Illinois had an excellent floor rotation, earning a 49.225. 

Florida still extended their lead over Missouri 98.975-98.700. Illinois and Lindenwood were behind at 98.275-97.725. 

Riding on a high note, the Tigers’ biggest challenge was still ahead: the beam. Celestine opened with a strong 9.875 score. Senior Amaya Marshall redeemed herself from a shaky 9.500 bars routine with a 9.875 beam score and textbook-quality leaps. The nerves seemed toaffect junior Grace Anne Davis, as she fell on her double acrobatic series. Davis earned many more balance checks after that and scored a 9.200. Schreiber was steady once again, sticking her dismount and scoring a 9.900, allowing Missouri to drop Davis’s score.

The Gators kept the high scores rolling on the floor with all five scores counted being 9.900 or above. This was headlined by Wong scoring a clean 9.950, her third 9.9 or above score of the night. Illinois struggled on the vault, and Missouri was able to lengthen their lead over the Illini as a result.

Florida still led over the Tigers, 148.575-147.950. Lindenwood caught up a bit to Illinois but still trailed 147.325-146.475. 

The final rotation had the “Fab Floor” stepping up to the plate. The floor squad produced their fourth 49.5 or above score of the season with a 49.525. Schreiber, freshman Rayna Light and Horton all put up 9.825 scores or above with clean tumbling passes and leaps throughout. Celestine was a breath of confidence throughout her whole routine, securing a 9.950. The Tigers finished out with two more 9.9 or above routines from freshman Kennedy Griffin and junior Jocelyn Moore. 

Despite one shaky landing and a 9.650 score from Florida gymnast Skylar Draser, the Gators finished as strong as they started. Wong put up her fourth 9.900 routine of the meet, supported by two other 9.9 and 9.8 or above routines. The Illini picked up a clean 49.225 team score on the bars and Lindenwood had multiple falls on beam resulting in a 48.350. 

Wong won the all-around quite easily with a score of 39.725. She was followed by two teammates and Schreiber who earned a 39.525. Celestine tied Wong for the floor individual title while Titarsolej’s 10 grabbed her the bars title easily. The team score of 197.475 is highest of the season so far and Moore’s floor score of 9.900 puts her as one of two gymnasts in the SEC to score a 9.900 or above in all routines competed. 

After losing to Auburn the following week, Missouri hopes to see success again back in the Hearnes Center against Arkansas. 

Edited by Michael Stamps

Copy edited by Grace Knight