Missouri gymnastics opens with Black and Gold Meet
The Gold squad triumphed 156-155.350.
Published Dec. 12, 2009
The Black and Gold Meet for Missouri women’s gymnastics does not count in the win/loss column, but Friday night’s scrimmage was hardly meaningless for coach Rob Drass’ squad.
“We came into the meet saying this is where the season starts, not just a intrasquad,” freshman Lauren Swankoski said. “This season starts at Black and Gold, so we’d perform like we would at any other meet.”
The meet also had special significance for Swankoski, because it was her first taste of collegiate action. During her previous experience with club gymnastics, competition was individually based.
“It was more nerve-racking just in the sense that I wasn’t competing for myself anymore,” Swankoski said. “Just the whole team thing is a new experience. I liked it. It was fun.”
Fellow freshman Brittany Bendoff also enjoyed the new atmosphere.
“It felt really good,” Bendoff said. “It was a very different experience, but like everyone’s behind you 100 percent, like no matter what you do.”
Both Swankoski and Bendoff competed in all four events and contributed all-around scores of 38.900 and 37.550, respectively. It was all in a losing effort, though, because the Gold team beat the Black team 156-155.350.
Reigning Co-Big 12 Gymnast of the Year senior Sarah Shire’s meet high 39.550 all-around score was not quite enough to overcome the Gold squad’s combined firepower of sophomore Mary Burke and senior Danielle Guider. Their all-around scores were 39.400 and 39.300, respectively.
Guider, who is returning from summer ankle surgery, was the surprise of the night.
“Danielle hasn’t competed all-around for us before,” Drass said. “Thirty-nine three, pretty darn good score for someone who hasn’t been able to get back in the lineup in the all-around.”
Drass was pleased with the performance and effort put in by his gymnasts.
“I thought we were solid, especially in our top six, seven kids,” Drass said. “I think they’re heading in the right direction, and I think they’re working hard. They’re very committed and I expect really great things.”
Drass also found room for improvement.
“I think we did a great job in the first two events,” Drass said. “As we get to beam, the wobbles and the bobbles, things of that nature and just being a little sharper. We’re real excited that we’re working on some more of the detailed type work than the big, major things, but we still got some work to do.”
GymInfo’s 2010 Women’s Preseason Coaches Poll ranked the Tigers No. 16 for the start of the year. Missouri must beat some of the best to win its first Big 12 championship as well as qualify for the NCAA National Championships in Gainesville, Fla.
Big 12 rivals Oklahoma, Nebraska and Iowa State are also ranked. Other ranked future opponents include LSU, Illinois and Ohio State. Even some of the non-ranked squads on Missouri’s schedule are no pushovers. Kentucky, Arizona State and New Hampshire received votes for the Top 25 but did not receive a rank.
Coach Drass and the Tigers are still determined despite the upcoming difficulties.
“The past seven years, we have been in the Top 25, and we have not been asked to the Dance a couple times, and I think we’re tired of that,” Drass said. “We’ve been knocking on that door, and I think this year we’re not knocking — we’re kicking the thing in.”