Gymnasts drop Big 12 opener
Coach Rob Drass said the team needs more consistency.
Published Jan. 23, 2007
The MU gymnastics team opened Big 12 play on Friday night with a 196.125-193.825 loss to the Oklahoma Sooners. Central Michigan finished third with a score of 191.125. Coach Rob Drass said he was pleased with many aspects of his team's performance but disappointed by others.
"Time for us to put the whole package together," Drass said of the team's future direction.
The team lost more than a point because of falls on the beam by sophomore Adrianne Perry and junior Julie Abaray. Drass said the falls were uncharacteristic of his gymnasts.
"We really have a good beam team," he said.
Drass said the falls on the beam would be addressed, and his main goal is to improve the team's consistency.
"They just have to learn to relax," he said.
Drass said the team would not change its practice routine, but the continuous work would bring consistency. He said the key to team consistency is to have the right mindset.
Senior Amanda Pezzullo said some of the refined details of the team's performance were improved, but its consistency was down. She said many team members improved their scores, and the team must raise its standards.
Perry, a three-event winner during the team's win against Illinois on Jan. 12, tied for the vault title with a score of 9.875.
"I'm just going to have to work a little bit harder," Perry said.
Perry fell on the beam once and went out of bounds on her floor routine, but she said she thought the team's performance was mostly good.
"We had a few mistakes, but we actually did pretty well," she said.
Drass said he believes his team will finish fourth in the Big 12, behind Nebraska, Iowa State and Oklahoma.
"That puts us right in that mix," he said. "It's going to be a battle every time out."
Drass said all four teams are scoring around 195 points per meet. He said improved consistency would be the key to beating one of those teams and though wins are better than losses in gymnastics, scores determine postseason invitations, not records.
Drass said competing in the Big 12 along with the team's non-conference schedule prepares it well for the postseason.
"We've seen some of the best teams in the country," he said. "We know we belong at the regional championships. We're looking again to do the same thing we've done in years past."
Next up on the team's schedule is a home meet against seventh-ranked Nebraska at 7 p.m. on Friday. The Huskers are coming off a 195.725-195.325 victory over Iowa State.