Missouri gymnastics made this season count like no other, qualifying for NCAA National Championships and earning a fifth place finish in the NCAA Championship Semifinal.
Missouri had great wins, including markable victories such as its third ever win against Georgia in its home finale on March 4 in Stegeman Coliseum.
Missouri concluded its 2022 regular season with a quad meet against Illinois, Iowa and Lindenwood on March 12. The Tigers recognized their two senior athletes, Hannah McCrary and Alisa Sheremeta, prior to the meet.
During McCrary’s time at Missouri, she tallied her career-high on vault and on the floor and won two event titles, while Sheremeta competed in 10 meets during the 2021 season. Both McCrary and Sheremeta were named to the Fall SEC Academic Honor Roll for the 2021 season.
In the midst of all the greatness, head coach Shannon Welker was honored as 2022’s SEC Coach of the Year, becoming the first Missouri coach to earn the title.
“I think our two biggest goals are we want to be top eight in the country to be able to make it to the NCAA Championship, and the other goal is to be in the top half of the SEC,” Welker said.
And sure enough, the Tigers qualified for the NCAA Championship.
The progression of Missouri remains unmatched. For the first time since 2010, Missouri competed in the NCAA Championship semifinals on April 14. The Tigers wrapped up their 2022 season at the NCAA Championship Semifinal scoring 197.200 points to finish in fifth place.
Junior Sienna Schreiber and freshman Amari Celestine earned NCAA National runner-up titles for beams and vault, respectively.
Schreiber finished the semifinal with an all-round score of 39.500, including a tie for the highest beam score at 9.95. Celestine notched a 9.950 on vault, which was the second-highest overall score.
The Missouri gymnastics 2022 season was one for the books as Welker watched his team check off several goals en route to Missouri’s highest-ever finish. The progress of this year gives more promise going into next season and beyond.
Edited by Brandon Haynes | bhaynes@themaneater.com
