Team performance more important to Perry
Perry doesn't talk to her coach about individual performance.
Published Feb. 23, 2007
Sophomore gymnast Adrianne Perry and coach Rob Drass have a somewhat unique agreement. It is one that many athletes and coaches would not be able to live up to, especially in a sport like gymnastics in which each athlete competes individually.
The two won't discuss Perry's individual talents. They prefer to discuss her role as a member of the entire team, as someone just as focused on her teammates' 20 routines as her own four.
"Her bigger goal is just to continue doing what she's doing and then help the team get where they need to be," Drass said.
He said her leadership style is based on example.
"She's calm, she's consistent and she's able to set a good example of how you go about hitting routines and being confident in what you're doing," Drass said.
Perry focuses on helping the team's freshmen get adjusted to college gymnastics, a culture shock she faced only a year ago.
"I feel like I just try to do my job in the gym," she said. "I try to work hard every day, stay positive and I guess more than any other class, I'm trying to be there for the freshmen because as a freshman last year I know I had a very difficult time adjusting to college and competing and just school in general."
There are individual accomplishments that could be discussed. As a freshman last season, Perry's all-around score of 39.05 at nationals tied her for 14th. Her score of 9.8 on beam at nationals was good for ninth. A score of 39.225 at the Southeast Regional competition put her in sixth in the region.
This season, she has improved even more.
In the Beauty and the Beast meet on Feb. 9 against Southeast Missouri State, she set a career high with a score of 39.5 in the all-around. Her score of 9.95 on the vault that night was also a career high.
Drass said he doesn't underestimate her value to the team, but he puts a similar value on the contributions of Perry's 15 teammates.
"She's an integral part of the team," Drass said. "Just like everybody else."
Senior gymnast Amanda Pezzullo said she also views Perry as an important component to the team, but the other gymnasts still hold significant roles.
"She is just an incredible asset to our team, just like everybody else," Pezzullo said. "Everybody individually brings something special to the team, so she just brings another special component that adds to our team."
Perry's road to becoming a Tiger was unique. She is a Columbia native and went to high school in the Kansas City area at Blue Springs to pursue her gymnastics dream. Unlike many college students leaving home for the first time, Perry has returned. She had options to compete for other schools but said she has no regrets.
"I love this team," she said. "It's great to be back home in so many ways."
The team's next competition is at 7 p.m. this Friday and Saturday night at the Hearnes Center. The Callaway Bank Cat Classic brings Bowling Green, Eastern Michigan and William & Mary to town. Friday night is the team competition and Saturday is the finals for individual titles in each event.