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 Tigers open the season on Friday, Jan. 5 in Canucn, Mexico |
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2007 Gymnastics Season Outlook
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Jan. 1, 2007
COLUMBIA, Mo. - Never has the old adage, "slow and steady wins the race," been more appropriate for the Mizzou gymnastics team than the 2007 season. Coming off one of the best years in program history where the Tigers ranked in the top-10 five weeks different weeks.
One reason for Drass is conscious peak too early. Last year, the squad started off strong and scored their season high at The Callaway Bank Cat Classic on Feb. 24, a full month before postseason competition began. "Last year we peaked too early," added Drass. "You always want to be your best at the end of the season. We may start off a little slower this year but we'll continue to climb as the season progresses until we're at our best for Big 12's and Regionals." One factor in a slower start is the loss of three gymnasts who contributed between In anticipation of their loss, Drass brought in six talented and capable freshmen to fill the departed Tigers' shoes. As the newcomers gain experience and confidence, under the leadership of seniors Whitney Crater, Amanda Pezzullo and Alicia Gilmore, Seniors With Crater's early season status in question, Pezzullo will be looked upon to lead the squad and contribute on her usual three events: vault, beam and floor. "Amanda is a very solid gymnast who leads by example," said Drass. "She'll be one of our anchors on beam because she has the ability to knock out a high score."
Juniors Another junior who should play a major factor this season is Nikki Bowman, who contributed on floor, bars and vault at different times as a sophomore. "Nikki's really had a strong preseason," said Drass. "She's cleaner on all events but made an especially big jump on floor, where her skills are the same but now with consistency. She should have a great year." After a strong freshman campaign in 2005, Ashley Khederian was slowed by a myriad of injuries last year. Now healthy, Khederian looks to be a major factor this season. A strong gymnast with lots of power and explosion, she could figure into the vault and floor lineups and provide much needed depth on bars and beam. Katie Kluga will be looked to build on her solid sophomore year where she was a member of the bars and beam lineups. She has increased her skills on both events and is expected to step up this year, especially on beam. Bars specialist Lisa Puccio had really come on of late, according to Drass, before she tore her ACL at the Black and Gold Meet on Dec. 9. Her routine was very clean and consistent, which would have put her in the lineup mix all year. Sophomores "We've changed Adrianne's routines to better showcase her talent," said Drass. "She went to nationals last year and saw first hand what it takes to be an All-American and returned this year with more drive and confidence. She also has one of the better beam routines in the country and should earn some honors this year." After a solid freshman campaign, 2007 should be a breakout year for Alicia Hatcher. With a strong summer of training, the sophomore looks poised her take her talent to the next level. She figures to be in the bars, beam and floor lineups once again, but it is on the bars where Hatcher will have the biggest impact. According to Drass, Hatcher put all her skills together and now boasts an All-Big 12 and All-America caliber routine. Freshmen Over the next four years, Danielle Guider but will be looked to contribute right away in the vault, beam and floor lineups. On floor, she has the full package of explosion, power and dance be an instant contender and, according to Drass, "a new crowd favorite." Based upon the preseason, Becky Scholle should make an immediate impact for the Tigers in her inaugural campaign. A strong and powerful gymnast, Scholle is expected to compete in the vault and floor lineups but will probably make her biggest impact on bars. "Becky is a great bars swinger," said Drass. "She's very clean and consistent; this is definitely one of her better events." Liz Straatmann will be somewhat limited this season as she continues to come back from an ACL injury suffered earlier in the year. Although unable to work extensively on vault and floor, her knee is strong enough for Straatmann to contribute to the bars and beam lineups. She works "extremely well" on beam and will only get better as her knee continues to get stronger. Although slowed by a concussion early in training, Meghann Raub has worked her way back and could see action in the vault, bars and beam lineups. As she continues to gain endurance on floor, she could prove to be a contributor on floor as the season progresses. An ACL injury to Brooke Boehmer during the preseason halted a great fall on beam for the newcomer while Nicole Lovegreen will continue to train throughout the season to improve her skills.
After falling one spot short the past two seasons, this year's returnees, have the drive to make it. Add the talented freshmen to the mix and the Tigers have a recipe for success.
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"The team you see at the beginning of the year will not be the same team we have by the end of the season," said Drass. "I expect us to be good early on and gradually improve throughout the year until we're very strong at the end." 
seven and eight routines a meet last year - 2006 seniors 
This year's third senior, Gilmore, has steadily improved her bars set the past three years and should have a great season on the event. She cleaned up her form, especially on handstands, over the summer and will push for a lineup spot this season.