Tigers prepare for regional
No. 15 Missouri looks to earn its second-ever NCAA National Championship berth this Saturday at the Hearnes Center.
The Tigers will play host to five other teams in the South Central Regional, all of which are competing for two spots out of 12 reserved for a visit to Gainesville, Fla., for the 2010 NCAA National Championship.
The participating teams include No. 36 North Carolina (19-6), No. 30 Iowa (11-13), No. 25 Minnesota (7-14-1), No. 8 Oregon State (17-5) and No. 5 Georgia (10-7).
Missouri’s only championship appearance occurred in 1981 and since then the Tigers have not made a return trip.
Under head coach Rob Drass, the Tigers almost punched their ticket to the national championships in the Tuscaloosa, Ala., regional last year. They did, however, record the highest overall score in an NCAA Regional in the program’s history with a 196.000.
In order for Drass’ squad to qualify this year, they will have to upset either Georgia or Oregon State.
The Beavers, who finished third in this year’s Pac 10 Conference Championship meet, boast a top-15 gymnast in the all-around in senior Mandi Rodriguez.
The Bulldogs most versatile gymnast is senior Courtney McCool, who GymInfo ranks in the top-20 in uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise.