The Missouri gymnastics team defeated the University of Denver 194.725 to 194.625 on Friday night in its first meet against the Pioneers since 2002.
The No. 22 Tigers entered the meet having won their first two meets of the season against Iowa State and Southern Utah. The No. 16 Pioneers lost their first two meets of the season, against Georgia and Nebraska, but had averaged 194.463 points to Missouri’s 194.1.
After the first rotation, with Missouri competing in the vault and Denver on the uneven bars, the Tigers carried a lead of 48.825 points to Denver’s 48.550. Freshman Rachel Updike won the event with 9.875 and sophomore Katelyn Trevino followed close behind with 9.775.
Denver was hurt on the bars by Louise Mercer’s fall, which left her with a score of 9.225. The senior from Nottingham, England, averaged 9.813 in the discipline in the Pioneer’s first two meets.
The second rotation featured the Tigers on the uneven bars and Denver on the vault. Seniors led the Tigers on the bars. Allie Heizelman won the event with 9.800 and senior Mary Burke marked 9.750.
Denver accumulated 48.825 points in the vault, led by Moriah Martin’s 9.800.
The Tigers exited the second rotation with a lead of 97.375 to 97.225.
Missouri stumbled in the third rotation, scoring 48.175 on the beam to Denver’s 49.000 on the floor exercise. Burke stumbled while mounting the beam, a misstep that knocked her score down to 9.275. Updike won the event with 9.800 and junior Tori Howard followed close behind with 9.775.
“The beam was rough, obviously, but I knew that for the team, I had to come out and hit the rest of my routine and come back strong on floor,” Burke said. “That’s what we practice every day, just finishing strong.”
Denver’s lowest score on the floor exercise was Simona Castro’s 9.650, and it exited the third rotation with a lead of 146.225-145.725.
The Tigers needed a group of stellar performances in the fourth rotation to win the meet, and that is just what they received.
“We don’t really pay attention to the other team at all…after beam, we got all pumped up, did a little cheer and just went out there and did the best we could do,” Updike said.
Howard (9.875), Updike (9.925) and Burke (9.900) provided the boost on the floor the Tigers needed to top the Pioneers. Denver’s highest score on the beam was Simona Castro’s 9.725.
“Our kids responded tonight,” coach Rob Drass said. “We needed 9.9’s at the end on the floor and man, they responded. I’m really proud of how we finished that meet out.”
For their next meet, the Tigers travel to Lincoln, Neb. on Jan. 28 to face No. 1 Nebraska.
“(In terms of) rankings, you throw them out the window and you just go out there,” Drass said. “Just hit routine after routine, apply pressure and see if they can crack. That’s what we’re going to try to do next week and that’s been our goal all year.”