Tigers gymnastics fall to No. 2 Sooners despite big night from Shire

A couple miscues on uneven bars held the Tigers back.

By Ben Kupiszewski

Published Feb. 23, 2010

Missouri senior Sarah Shire's massive night could not atone for two early mistakes on uneven bars as No. 17 Missouri (7-2, 1-2 Big 12) fell to visiting No. 2 Oklahoma (10-0, 3-0) on Friday night.

Shire won the all-around title, posting a career high 39.625 and earning a season high on vault with a 9.925.

The senior said the best is yet to come from her.

"I think I have a lot more in me," Shire said. "There were a couple places, especially on floor, where I could have done a better job."

Shire is on pace to break former Cornhusker Emily Parsons' career all-time record of 11 Big 12 Gymnast of the Week awards. After Friday night's performance, she might tie Parsons' mark as soon as next week.

"It would be great to be honored, but it's not something I'm focusing on," Shire said.

When competing at home this year, Missouri usually starts well on vault, and Friday was no exception. At the end of the first rotation, the Tigers earned a narrow 0.050-point lead.

The advantage did not last after two consecutive falls off the initial jumps on uneven bars proved costly. Senior Danielle Guider and freshman Lauren Swankoski made errors on the skill known as the bar mount.

Shire said the falls were not a pressing issue for the team.

"The two mistakes were complete flukes," Shire said. "It's something we can clean up in the gym and never have happen again."

Coach Rob Drass attributed the slip-ups to nerves and also did not anticipate any more difficulties with future bar mounts.

"It's not really a problem," Drass said. "We just got to handle that pressure a little bit better."

After struggling on bars, the Tigers responded with a roar by scoring a season high of 49.075 on balance beam, led by Shire's 9.900. Guider also rebounded emphatically after her mishap, posting a new career high of 9.825.

"At that point I feel as if I have nothing to lose," Guider said. "So I went all out on beam and I had a great routine. I'm really proud of myself."

From that point on, the Tigers could not catch the Sooners, who proved why GymInfo ranked them as the second best squad on bars, balance beam and floor exercise and sixth best on vault in the country. Oklahoma reached its second-highest team score in the year through multiple dominating routines on floor during the final rotation. The Sooners ended up with a 197.050-195.500 victory.

Despite the loss, Guider said she felt good about the meet.

"To come out with a 195.500, counting a fall and not having the best routines possible just shows we have that much more room to improve," Guider said.

Drass was also positive concerning his team's overall performance.

"I really think we took a step forward today even with a loss," Drass said. "Our performance was much improved. If we don't have those errors on bars, this becomes a very tight meet."

Drass said it is the Tigers' lack of consistency that keeps them from becoming the elite team he believes they can be.

"On any given night, if we put it all together we're a dangerous team," Drass said.