Mizzou Gym heads to Norman to face six-time national champ Oklahoma

Tigers face a great challenge early in the season

In its first SEC dual of the season, the Missouri Tigers gymnastics team will head to Norman to take on the six-time national champion and SEC newbie, Oklahoma Sooners.

In Tuesday’s media session, head coach Shannon Welker said, “We’re looking forward to Oklahoma, just getting off our first road meet last weekend. I think any time we go into any weekend, we’re looking to just get better, make improvements. Obviously, it’s going to be a tough task to go into Oklahoma and come away with a win there. It’s, you know, anything’s possible. That’s why we play the game. But we try to stay focused on the things that are controllable for us, but definitely excited to go to Oklahoma.”

He continued, “I think it’ll be great, a great challenge for us early in the season. And I think when you go up against great teams, I’d rather do it early in the season, because it gives us some time to adjust and be like, Alright, what are they doing? Maybe that we need to adjust to become better.”

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Meet Info

When: Friday, January 17, 2025

Where: Lloyd Noble Center | Norman, Okla.

Time: 7:30 p.m. CST

TV: SEC Network

Live Stats: Stat Broadcast (sad face, I was LOVING Virtius)

History: Mizzou and Oklahoma haven’t faced off since 2019, where the Sooners beat the Tigers 197.975 to 196.200. Before joining the SEC, the Tigers used to face them every year, but they’ve only matched up three times in the last nine years.

About the Venue: It’s 90s night at LNC, which is a 10,967 foot multi-purpose arena that serves as the home of both men’s and women’s basketball and women’s gymnastics. They averaged 8,604 fans last year, with a high of 9,121 against Alabama on St. Patrick’s Day 2024.

The team trains in the Sam Viersen Center, which has a newly renovated 7,000 addition that contains new team suites and a lounge, sports medicine suite, sports performance space for plyometrics, conditioning and strength training, and a new team meeting room and support facilities. It uses a corridor system so you can move between all spaces without impacting any training activities. Damnnn….

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Last Time On The Mats

When we last saw our Tigers, they were runners-up against the Denver Pioneers, but took the W over Georgia in their first meet of the season, and Long Island. The Tigers’ 5-1 start to the season is their best start since 2017. Let’s recap quickly. You can also read my lengthier recap here.

First rotation (bars): A week after an incredible 49.4 bars rotation, the handstands weren’t as crisp and the landings weren’t as sticky. Mara Titarsolej was great in the anchor spot, going back to the routine that did so well last year, and it paid off, giving her a win in the event and a 9.90 score.

Shannon said, “I actually thought we did a decent job opening up on bars, and I really thought actually, the routines were pretty good, other than we didn’t stick a lot of dismounts.”

Second rotation (beam): Big yikes. It was a rough one, friends. Lots of wobbles all around, a fall from Amari Celestine, and a counting 9.500 score didn’t make for a great rotation. However, Helen Hu was a bright spot and was flawless in the anchor spot despite her score of 9.875 not showing it. I’ll also give props to Amy Wier, who looked great aside from her dismount, and freshman Olivia Kelly, who looked great in the exhibition role. Truthfully, had the Tigers just been able to hit ONE more landing here, they likely would have walked out of Denver with the W.

When Shannon was asked about this, he said, “We didn’t settle in right there. That was a great rotation for us in that second event… I would suspect we’ll see at least one personnel change over on balance be moving into the into this weekend… We’re better than that on balance beam this year, and so I think we’ll definitely correct that,”

Third rotation (floor): THERE.WE.GO. What a rotation! Rayna’s 9.825 was higher than Week 1, and Railey was solid as well, tying her Week 1 9.825 in the two spot. With Amari given the week off FX, Elise Tisler returned triumphantly in the three-spot to earn a 9.875 score on a mostly watered-down routine (she’s just coming back from injury). before a fabulous 4-5-6 rotation in which everyone scored 9.90 or higher— Hannah 9.90, Kennedy 9.925, Jocelyn 9.925 — and they swept the podium. “Floor was good for us,” Shannon said. “I thought that was a solid event and we built on the week one to week two.”

Final rotation (vault): For the second week in a row, the Tigers recorded a sub-49 rotation score (48.975) despite the fact that their vaults looked… better than the week prior? From Shannon: “I really went back and watched vault as well. And I thought we actually were pretty good over there. We definitely got better than week one. I did think the scoring was a little tighter overall, but that’s just the way it goes.”

Closing Thoughts: “Anytime that first away competition, you’re a little outside your comfort zone. The equipment feels different. It’s a little bit different. It’s a good opportunity to just assess what do we need to settle in… I actually thought there was some growth moving forward, regardless of what the score said.”

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Quick Comparisons

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Oklahoma Outlook

KEY ADDITIONS: Audrey Davis (returning for Covid year) | Freshmen Elizabeth Blessey, Addison Fatta, Elle Mueller, Lily Pederson, Kelsey Slade, Hurley (Addisyn) Snow

LOSSES: Soraya Hawthorne (9.875 FX) | Bell Johnson (9.95 FX) | Katherine LaVasseur (39.775 AA) | Ragan Smith (9.975 UB, FX | 10 BB) | Meilin Sullivan (9.90 UB)

PROJECTED LINEUP:

Vault: Keira Wells (9.95) | Lily Pederson (9.925) | Faith Torrez (9.925) | Jordan Bowers (9.90) | Audrey Davis (9.875) | Addison Fatta (9.800) | Wild Cards: Ava Siegfeldt (9.90 in ‘24) | Hannah Scheible (9.975 in ‘24) | Elle Mueller (9.925 L10) | Kelsey Slade (9.85 L10) | Danielle Sievers (9.95 in ‘23)

Bars: Audrey Davis (9.975) | Lily Pederson (9.925) | Faith Torrez (9.925) | Jordan Bowers (9.925) | Danielle Sievers (9.90) | Elle Mueller (9.90) | Addison Fatta (9.875) | Wild Cards: Danae Fletcher (9.90 in ‘24) | Elle Mueller (9.775 L10) | Kelsey Slade (9.75 L10)

Beam: Faith Torrez (9.975) | Lily Pederson (9.95) | Jordan Bowers (9.90) | Addison Fatta (9.90) | Audrey Davis (9.875) | Keria Wells (9.800) | Wild Cards: Ava Siegfeldt (10 in ‘24)

Floor: Jordan Bowers (9.95) | Faith Torrez (9.95) | Audrey Davis (9.875) | Lily Pederson (9.875) | Addison Fatta (9.875) | Danielle Sievers (9.850) | Wild Cards: Danae Fletcher (9.875) | Elle Mueller (9.85 L10)

NOTES:

• The 2025 returns individual national champions Audrey Davis (bars & beam) and Faith Torrez (beam), along with All-Americans Jordan Bowers (bars, fx) and Keira Wells (vault).
• Lily Pederson is coming off SEC Freshman of the Week honors after an impressive showing at the Sprouts Collegiate Quad. She matched her career high in the all-around, earning a 39.550, while also placing third on bars (9.95 career-high), floor (9.875 career-high) and beam (9.95).
• Per College Gym News’ new power rankings:

The Sooners seem unaware that scores are supposed to be less flashy early in the season. Their mid-197 and near-198 performances to open 2025 are exactly what we’ve come to expect from this dynasty. “Hosting” the second edition of the Collegiate Quad, Oklahoma led a top-six clash in what very well may be a nationals preview, solidifying its status as the early favorite for the NCAA title. Jordan Bowers, Audrey Davis, and Faith Torrez are already in midseason form. On paper, the Sooners have plenty of depth, though coach KJ Kinder has only shown eight gymnasts so far, making that the only potential question heading into week three. With quad meets now behind them and a month until back-to-back matchups with LSU and Florida, expect Oklahoma to showcase some new routines over the next few weekends. Fantasy players, take note: It’s time to snag Ava Siegfeldt’s vault and beam 9.9s.

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Missouri Lineup Preview

Disclaimer: These are purely predictions based on nothing but my brain and what I’ve watched these first couple meets and during the summer intrasquads. The wild cards aren’t really in any particular order, just team members who I thought could also be up for inclusion. The scores in parentheses are the high scores this year, unless otherwise stated.

INJURIES: Grace Anne Davis (achilles) | Lauren Macpherson (achilles)

KEY ADDITIONS: Abby Mueller (VLT) | Elise Tisler (VLT, FX) | Amy Wier (BB) | Olivia Kelly (BB, UB) | Kaia Tanskanen (VLT, UB, FX) | Railey Jackson (VLT, BB, FX)

PROJECTED LINEUP:

Vault: Jocelyn Moore (9.85) | Amari Celestine (9.825) | Hannah Horton (9.80) | Abby Mueller (9.80) | Kaia Tanskanen (9.775) | Kyra Burns (9.775) | Wild Card: Railey Jackson

Analysis: It would sure be helpful to have Elise (9.975 in ‘24, 10.0 SV) back in the lineup, but Shannon said we shouldn’t expect her until the end of the month, so perhaps against Kentucky. Vault scores have been strict thus far for Missouri, and Shannon said he saw progress from Week 1-2 despite the scores remaining about the same. Last year’s high scores: Elise 9.975 | Joci/HH/Amari 9.95 | Kyra 9.90 | Rayna/Abby 9.875 | Kennedy 9.85

Bars: Hannah Horton (9.925) | Mara Titarsolej (9.90) | Amari Celestine (9.90) | Jocelyn Moore (9.875) | Kyra Burns (9.875) | Addison Lawrence (9.825) | Wild Cards: Kaia Tanskanen (9.75), Olivia Kelly (9.725)

Analysis: The bars rotation seems to be pretty set at this point, as Missouri has had the same lineup for the first two weeks. Last year’s high scores: Mara 10 | Joci/Kyra 9.90 | Rayna/Abby 9.85

Beam: Addison Lawrence (9.90) | Helen Hu (9.875) | Amari Celestine (9.825) | Railey Jackson (9.80) | Amy Wier (9.775) | Kennedy Griffin (9.65) | Wild Cards: Olivia Kelly 9.775 | Rayna Light | Abby Mueller | Jessa Conedera (9.50 / 9.90 at B&G)

Analysis: Shannon said we should expect different beam personnel after last week’s mishap, which is why I took Jessa out and replaced her with Kennedy, who is a proven beam worker and scored a 9.90 at the Black & Gold meet. I think there’s also an opportunity to see Rayna or Abby over there as well, or perhaps Olivia, who had a nice exhibition routine last week. Last year’s high scores: Helen, Addi 9.975 (‘23) | Amari 9.925 | Kennedy, Rayna, Abby 9.875)

Floor: Jocelyn Moore (9.925) | Kennedy Griffin (9.925) | Hannah Horton (9.90) | Elise Tisler (9.875) | Amari Celestine (9.85) | Railey Jackson (9.825) | Wild Cards: Rayna Light (9.825) | Kylie Minard (9.675) | Abby Mueller

Analysis: I think the only way this one changes going forward is if someone needs a break, honestly. This rotation is absolute fire. Rayna has been the lead-off the past two weeks, but with Elise back and Amari back after a week break, I took her out. We haven’t seen Abby on floor yet this season, but she was awesome at Illinois so she’s a maybe, and I’d love to see Kylie get another chance as her routine is fun and so, so unique (she went OOB last week or would have had a 9.775), and scored a 9.90 in an earlier intrasquad. Last year’s scores: Joci 10 | Kennedy/Elise 9.975 | Amari/Hannah/Abby 9.95 | Rayna 9.90

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Finishing Touches

Listen, you don’t expect to take down Oklahoma. You just don’t, but weirder things have happened. I watched them fold at Nationals last year and score a 196, so it’s always possible. But what I’m looking for most isn’t the winning. It’s the improvements in routines like the landings (!!!!!!) and scoring. I’d love to see a 197, please and thank you.

Shannon said on Tuesday, “Yes, there’s value in the win, but there’s also a lot of value in the score itself. And so, you know, we try to just stay focused on, how can, how can we as a team get better?”

“I really feel like it’s an opportunity for us, like anytime we can compete against great teams that that really just makes us better, and it forces us to get better, and so, so we’re looking forward to the challenge,” he said.

LFG. I’m so excited.