Beauty and the Beast event – gymnastics beats SEMO 194.125 – 190.9
The Missouri Gymnastics team joined forces with the Missouri Wrestling program Friday evening in front of 3,053 fans at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, Mo. The popular Beauty and the Beast meet saw gymnastics take a 194.125 – 190.900 victory over the visiting SEMO Redhawks.
Missouri starting on vault for their first rotation,junior Laura Kappler started with a 9.750 score. Freshman Angie Kern followed with a 9.725. Junior Rachel Updike continued the scoring stretch for the Tigers, with a 9.850 score.
On bars, Sophomore Blair Elmore started the team off with a 9.7 followed by fellow sophomore Miranda Eubanks scoring a 9.725.
Next on to beam, freshman Alyson Heimsath got Missouri back on track after an early slip-up, and posted a strong 9.700 score and freshman Sasha Sanders followed with a 9.750. Updike rounded out the Tigers effort on beam, and recorded a 9.775 score.
Heading in to the final rotation on floor, the Tigers continued with Heimsath began the rotation with a 9.775, which tied her previous career-high. Kern followed up her solid vault earlier, with an impressive 9.800 for the Tigers. Updike concluded another outstanding all-around night for Missouri, and tallied a 9.900 score.
Updike would end up having an outstanding all-around effort Friday night against SEMO, as the junior picked up all four event titles in addition to the top honors in the all-around. The five total first place finishes moved her season total to nine.
The Tigers return to conference play in the SEC next Friday, with a road trip to Athens, Ga. to take on the Georgia Bulldogs. Competition begins at 6:30 p.m. CT inside the Stegeman Coliseum.
