Cat Classic results in victory for MU gymnastics

Despite difficulty on the bars and beam, the Tigers managed to win.

By Sean Leahy

Published March 2, 2009

On a night when her teammates made some uncharacteristic mistakes, junior Sarah Shire once again played the part of Ms. Consistent.

Shire's career-high all-around score of 39.575 help power the No. 13 Tigers (12-2, 1-2 Big 12) to a late come-from-behind victory against Michigan State in the 29th annual Cat Classic.

"She really had one of her career nights," coach Rob Drass said. "She's hitting her stride."

The junior's all-around mark was the second highest ever totaled in the Cat Classic and earned Shire her seventh all-around title of the season.

Although the Tigers failed in their attempt to break 196.000 in three straight meets, their score of 195.275 earned them first place ahead of the Spartans' 194.750.

Cal State Fullerton (193.275) and Western Michigan (192.875) finished in third and fourth place, respectively.

Even though Shire's performance continued her strong season, Missouri suffered an unusual stretch of faults in the uneven parallel bars and balance beam.

Seniors Adrianne Perry and Alicia Hatcher both fell in the bars and received below-average scores as a result.

"With the fall I had, while I've been here at Missouri I've maybe missed that skill a handful of times," Hatcher said. "It came out of the blue. I should have been able to not let it happen."

After the falls, Drass wanted to make sure his gymnasts were not only physically intact but mentally as well.

"We just wanted to make sure both of them had their heads together," Drass said. "Some of the falls they had were nasty so I was anxious to see that they were safe and able to finish off their routines strong."

After posting team scores below its season average in the bars and beam, Missouri found itself trailing the Spartans by .02 going into floor exercise, the final event of the night.

A career-high score of 9.850 from junior Danielle Guider helped lead Missouri to a team score of 49.100 and propelled them past Michigan State to capture first place.

Although the team did not know where they were in the team standings, Shire and the Tigers did know their performance on floor was pivotal.

"We knew we had to fight," Shire said. "In warm-ups the crowd got into it and that's where we found the energy."

Even though the Tigers escaped with a first place finish, Hatcher realized the team had to handle faults better in the future.

"We need to do a better job of not letting it affect us going from one event to another," Hatcher said. "Once one thing happens we need to stop it right there and catch it quickly."

Sandwiched around the bars and balance beam were scores on vault and floor exercise that exceeded Missouri's season average.

Shire recognized the team has to combine all four events to perform a complete meet.

"We started off great and we ended great," Shire said. "But we need work in the middle."