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 Alex Gold and Lisa LaPerriere sign with the Tigers |
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Gymnastics Signs Two For 2008 Season
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Nov. 10, 2006 COLUMBIA, Mo. - The University of Missouri gymnastics program signed two high caliber student-athletes, announced Tiger head coach Rob Drass on Friday. Alex Gold and Lisa LaPerriere both signed National Letters of Intent to compete for the Tigers in 2008. "We're incredibly excited to bring Alex and Lisa to Missouri," said Drass. "They both have the talent to step in immediately and possibly compete as all-arounders next season. Alex and Lisa will bring not only great talent but also enormous character to our program." A former international elite, Gold is a three-time Junior Olympics National qualifier. She finished fourth in the all-around and vault and fifth on bars and floor at the 2006 Level 10 Regionals and came in sixth on vault in 2005. Gold qualified as an international elite after finishing first on vault and second in the all-around at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy Classic in 2003. Gold, who hails from Plano, Texas, is coached by Larry McDonough at Plano Unlimited Sports Academy. "We expect Alex to contribute to the all-around right away for us," said Drass. "She's very strong on vault and floor and solid on bars and beam. She's really the whole package with her athletic and academic talent. Expect Alex to be a rising star for us in the future." Coached by Lori Koch at Olympia Gymnastics Academy, LaPerriere finished 10th on floor at the 2006 Level 10 National Championships. She is a two-time National Tops team member and a five-time Level 10 Regional qualifier. In addition, LaPerriere was the 2003 Michigan state vault and bars champion at Level 10 and was the Level 9 national vault champion in 2000. The Macomb, Mich. native also was the 2000 United States Association of Independent Gymnastics Clubs national all-around and beam champion.
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