Tigers Close out February in The Swamp - Saint Louis Sports Today

Missouri gymnast Helen Hu prepares to compete on the bars during a gymnastics meet against Georgia on Friday, Feb. 21, 2025, at the Hearnes Center. (CAL TOBIAS/ROCK M)

Who’s ready to watch the Gators be overscored? (I kid… )

Coming off an epic home victory over Georgia that came down to the final competitor, the Missouri Tigers are trending in the right direction. They just hit a season high in total points, a 197.425, which is higher than their highest home score last year, and three of the four rotations hit their second highest scores of the season. Even the fourth (on the Apparatus That Shall Not Be Named) was better than they have been doing. Now, our fair Missouri Tigers venture southeast to The Swamp of Gainesville to take on the Florida Gators.

The Gators faced some adversity of their own – more on Mizzou’s later – last week when not one, but two All-American gymnasts went down with injuries (one will be back this week) early in the meet.

Anyway, all that is to say, IT’S TIME TO WRASTLE SOME GATORS!

Let’s get started.

Meet Info

When: Friday, February 28, 2025

Where: Exactech Arena at Stephen C. O’Connell Center | Gainesville, FL

Time: 5:00 p.m. CST

TV: SEC Network “Friday Night Heights” broadcast (Alex Perlman on play-by-play, Bridget Sloan on analysis)

LIVE STATS: Virtius

History: In the all-time series against Florida, the Tigers have only walked away with one victory. In 2022, the Tigers set a new program-high team score of 197.650 in a narrow defeat. Two years ago in Gainesville, the No. 3 Gators defeated the No. 15 Tigers 196.625-198.350. Last year they were two of four teams at the Zou to the Lou meet, and the Gators were victorious posting a season-high 197.925 while Mizzou posted a then-season high 197.450.

Per MUTigers.com, Mizzou will be looking to earn its first win against UF since March 2, 2018, when the Tigers defeated the No. 5 Gators at Hearnes Center, 196.925-196.700.

About the Venue: Per floridagators.com, Exactech Arena holds 10,151 rabid fans, and we should expect to see a majority of Gator fans on hand in Mizzou’s session. They’ve averaged just a touch over 8,136 so far this season. Per MU Director of Ops Mady Clark, the meet is sold out. Per Karen Steger, you should expect to see some Stegers in the sold-out crowd, as they have made the trip to Gainesville and will be sitting with the Tiger faithful.

Last Time On The Mats

When we last saw our Tigers, they were beating Georgia by the slimmest of margins in a meet that came down to the very last competitors in the final events, Lily Smith on beam vs. Kennedy Griffin on floor. You can read my longer recap here.

First rotation (MIZ vault): With Elise and Kaia out of the lineup, there were a few changes in the vault lineup, and it went decently well. The Tigers’ 49.175 was their highest score since January 31 vs. LSU and was their third highest of the season. Georgia countered with a season-high 49.475 on bars to put them in front, albeit temporarily.

Second rotation (MIZ bars): With Jocelyn not feeling well, she was pulled out of the rest of the meet, and replaced on bars by Addi Lawrence, who scored a career-high 9.90. Olivia Kelly also had a career high with a 9.85, and the Tigers had a 49.425, which is their second highest of the season. Georgia followed up their first rotation with a 49.100 on vault, and Mizzou took the lead by 0.025.

Third rotation (MIZ beam): Another good beam rotation for the Tigers, with a solid 9.875s by Addi Lawrence and Amy Wier, and the rotation was anchored by yet another 9.975 by Helen Hu, who earned her fourth 9.975+ score of the season. The Tigers’ 49.325 tied their second highest of the season. On Georgia’s side, they had a 49.200, which gave Mizzou a 0.075 lead going into the final rotation.

Final rotation (MIZ beam): As I wrote earlier in this section, it came down to the final event and the final competitor. UGA earned a 9.90 leadoff on beam, and Elise earned a 9.925 on floor to give Mizzou a full tenth lead. Then UGA got a 9.875, and Railey had a 9.85, which put the lead back a 0.075. UGA’s Anya Turner then turned in a 9.975, and Hannah had a 9.85, which allowed Georgia to retake the lead by 0.05. UGA then added another 9.875, and Kaia, performing her first official FX, scored a 9.90, which minimized the UGA lead to 0.025. UGA’s Kara Eaker (KC native) then had a masterful 9.925, and Mizou countered with a 9.95 by Amari, which tied the meet at 197.350 apiece with one to go. Lily Smith got a 9.85 in the anchor spot, which dropped her score and kept UGA at 197.35. Needing a 9.85 to tie or a 9.875 to win, Kennedy Griffin had a 9.925. VICTORY!

Overall: Shannon said, “We’ve been sick all week. Had we had this (meet) Wednesday we wouldn’t have been able to go. We just had too much sickness. I think I changed three lineups tonight. So there was a lot of like, in-game changing, and I think they (the athletes) managed that well for a lot of changes and just being adaptable.”

Quick Comparisons

I spy some stronger Tiger events here! Mizzou’s got the high, average and NQS advantage on the fab floor, and also has a higher NQS (and basically the same average) on bars.

Opponent Analysis

H = high score; A = average score

Analysis: As of 12pm, Virtius has the Florida lineups, and Anya is out of vault and in her place is Gabby Disidore.

Analysis: Looks like, per Virtius, that Ly is out on bars this week, and Victoria Nguyen, who hasn’t done bars this season yet but last year scored a 9.925 high score but 9.748 average, is in her place.

Analysis: The CGN reporter said she got the feeling in the press conference that if Anya is back in the lineup that that slot likely goes to Ly or Riley. Sloane is the top beam person, so that is a loss.

Per Virtius early lineups, Anya IS back in the lineup, but Sloane’s vacated spot will go to Alyssa Arana, who hasn’t done beam this year, but did have a 9.925 high score last year in the one time she competed it. Ly’s not back in yet, as the tweaks to her routine, per Jenny’s presser “to make it safer” are likely still in the works.

Analysis: With Sloane out of the lineup (who has scored a perfect 10 this season), Coach Jenny Rowland said the spot is expected to go to Anya, Gabby or Ly. Neither Gabby or Ly have done floor this season (or last, in Gabby’s case). Anya does have a 10.0 from last year though and 9.877 average, so I may give the edge to her, despite her lower scores so far this season, or Ly, since we know she’s capable.

Per Virtius’ newly published lineups for tonight, I should not have given the edge to Anya, as she is out of the floor lineup on Friday, and given it to Ly, who will do her first floor lineup tonight.

NOTES:

One of the two gymnasts hurt in last week’s meet should be back this week— Anya Pilgrim. Per CGN, she “cleared concussion protocol.”
Key losses include Sloane Blakeley, who just injured her ‘lower leg” last week, and Kayla DiCello, who is recovering from a major injury/surgery of her own. Morgan Hurd (BB, FX) and Payton Richards (FX) graduated.
Key additions include a whole slew of freshmen, including 16-year-old Ly Bui (VT, UB, BB), Skye Blakely (UB), Lily Bruce, Taylor Clark (FX), and the return of Riley McCusker (UB, BB), who has been injured for years it seems like. They also added UCLA transfer Serena Harris-Miranda (AA).
Per CGN’s latest power rankings (Last Week: No. 4): With two of the Gators’ most valuable gymnasts—Anya Pilgrim and Sloane Blakely—going down with injuries at different points in the meet, Florida’s showing at Oklahoma wasn’t indicative of its true potential. Unfortunately, with Blakely out indefinitely, the Gators’ postseason prospects take a hit, as they lose four routines from their ideal lineups. The talent is there to keep Florida in the title hunt, but there’s a lot to prove while all eyes remain on its injury report. (Mizzou has slipped to no. 9 thanks to Auburn’s stupid high score last week.)

Projected Lineups & Analysis: Mizzou

Analysis: If all the Tigers were to tie their season-high scores on this rotation, the Tigers could score a 49.575, which is 0.025 off their program high. Nationally, Amari is tied for 6th nationally with a 9.910 NQS (wow), while Mara is tied for 10th with a 9.90 NQS (also wow).

I expect Jocelyn to be back on bars this week, and this looks like a set rotation to me. Olivia is coming on strong with a 9.85 in just her third collegiate scoring meet, but I don’t foresee her taking the spot of say, Kyra or Joci or Addi, especially given that Addi just got the 9.90 this week. Also, GIVE ME A 10 FOR MARA. YOU AWARDED HER ONE AGAINST FLORIDA LAST YEAR. I DON’T ASK FOR THAT MUCH, GYM GODS. YOU HEAR ME?!

Last year’s high scores: Mara 10 | Joci/Kyra 9.90 | Rayna/Abby 9.85

New career best on bars for Addi #MIZ pic.twitter.com/wuJhRuigRx

— Mizzou Gymnastics (@MizzouGym) February 24, 2025

Analysis: If all the Tigers were to tie their season-high scores on this rotation, the Tigers could score a 49.500, which would tie their program record. Hannah and Amari are tied as the highest ranked Tigers in NQS, at 32 with a 9.85 NQS. It must be said though that no one in collegiate gymnastics has scored a perfect 10 on vault yet this year, so Jocelyn’s 9.975 high score is still in a five-way tie for first.

I assume Kaia will be back this week, as will Elise, who was pulled out of the rotation last minute last week. That leaves the sixth slot wide open. I think it’s Kennedy, but we know they’re always prepared with a couple extras depending upon how warmups goes.

Last year’s high scores: Joci 10 (in 2023) | Elise 9.975 | HH/Amari 9.95 | Kyra 9.90 | Rayna/Abby 9.875

GIVE HER THAT TEN, DAMMIT. pic.twitter.com/igqJOt6zPx

— Karen S (@karensteger) January 26, 2025

Analysis: If all the Tigers were to tie their season-high scores on this rotation, the Tigers could score a 49.750, which would be a program high and is just above where they currently are. This team has an embarrassment of riches at floor. Joci ranks no. 13 nationally on the event with a 9.910 NQS, and Kennedy is not far behind at no. 28 with a 9.890 NQS.

Elise is on the up-and-up finally, and the judges are awarding her awesome routines. She got her first 9.90 of the season two weeks ago, and last week scored a season high 9.925. With Kaia’s introductory 9.90 last week, do they make a change? But then, who’s out? Hannah? I love her routine? Railey? I love HER routine. It’s not KG, Joci, Amari or Elise— they’re locks. I’m flummoxed about the sixth slot on the fab floor. They’re all interchangeable and capable of greatness at this point.

Last year’s scores: Joci 10 | Elise/Amari 9.975 | Hannah 9.95 | Rayna 9.90

Stepped into the floor lineup and stepped up for the team #MIZ pic.twitter.com/49gKnfuH4Z

— Mizzou Gymnastics (@MizzouGym) February 23, 2025

Analysis: If all the Tigers were to tie their season-high scores on this rotation, the Tigers could score a 49.575, which would be a new program record by 0.025. Nationally, the Helenator (TM pending) is 3rd nationally with an astounding 9.935 NQS, and is one of just two athletes — the other being UF’s Leanne Wong — to score a 10 this season.

I know I weirdly have Amari as the WC here, but she’s not a wild card. If she’s doing all-around, she is IN that lineup, and going to do well. Locks to me are Hu, Liv, Amy, Addi, Amari and then the final slot is up in the air for either Abby or Railey to duke it out.

Last year’s high scores: Addi 9.975 (‘23) | Amari 9.925 | Rayna, 9.875

OVERALL: if the Tigers were to each tie their top score on each apparatus, the Tigers could earn a 198.400. The chances of a perfect meet are low, but I present that to you anyway. Last week was a season high that didn’t necessarily feel like it. Per Shannon, “It was a season high. For some reason, it didn’t feel like a season high, performance-wise… But look, you just have to be consistent, and when you’re consistent you’re going to capture those points, right? We were able to find a way, and that’s what we challenged them to do. I don’t care who’s in the lineup, you can get it done.”

Records To Watch

Overall Score: 197.850, set at Arkansas on 2/24/23 (197.600 at IL Quad on 3/17/24)
Away Meet Score: (see above!)
Balance Beam: 49.550, scored at no. 17 Arkansas on 2/24/23 (49.40 on 1/20/24)
Uneven Bars: 49.600, scored at Mizzou Quad on 3/10/24
Vault: 49.500 set at Illinois Quad on 3/17/24
Floor Exercise: 49.725, set at Zou to Lou Quad in February 2025

Mizzou remains on this list as one of only 7 schools (and 1 out of 4 SEC schools) who haven’t counted a miss this season. (They haven’t updated this since Feb. 18 so I’m assuming this is the same?) A miss is categorized as a counting score 9.500 or under. Additionally, Mizzou is among the 16 nationwide who have hit the 197-score mark (and 1 of all 9 SEC schools).

Just seven teams remain! #NCAAGym pic.twitter.com/o8uUUlxcvA

— College Gym News (@collegegymnews_) February 18, 2025

What I Hope to See

FOUR GOOD ROTATIONS with season highs in two of the four apparatuses. I don’t expect another high on FX, so some combo of vault, beam or bars, I’m looking at you! The Tigers will start on bars, and then go to vault, floor and end on beam.
I’m looking for another high score, or close to it. Is it untenable to ask for a 197.500 on the road? I surely think they’re capable of that, especially if Vault get its s—- under control. Should they score at least a 197.500 (or anything at/higher than last week’s 197.425), that means the highest score is dropped, and both 197.200 scores will now count, and the Beauty & the Beast 196.700 drops off. That’s going to mean a larger increase in that beautiful NQS. A score to watch— 197.200, which is Mizzou’s highest away score this season. I think they’re going to surpass that.
Good vault landings! This will be where they start, so ATTACK from the beginning. Facing a good vaulting team in Florida, this is absolutely necessary. After Amari’s explanation of how they’re focusing on HOW TO GET TO THE STICK, as opposed to the stick itself, I’m feeling some more confidence about it, especially if everyone is healthy (fingers crossed).
Minimize the wobbles on beam and stick the landings on bars and beam. Landings were super sticky last week, but there were some noticeable wobbles on beam. Time to get those under control.
By themselves. This is a fun as hell group who really enjoys each other and performing. They do their best when they’re at their most loose.
The actual winning of the meet doesn’t matter, as I always tell you. It’s about the score…. but if you win the meet that means that you got a higher team score than your opponent, which is good for NQS purposes and for the race to NOT finish last in the SEC and miss out on competing at the conference meet altogether. The Tigers are firmly in the hunt for the evening session of SECs, which you only get there by being in the top 4 in NQS, and both Auburn, who scored a 197.775 last week, and Georgia, who is picking up the pace, are picking up steam.
Amari perhaps said it best last week. “I’m really excited, guys,” Amari said. “Every weekend, we go out and we get better. This night [last Friday], we got better. So really going out there and just capitalizing, maximizing all of our potential stuff.”
UPDATE FROM NATE, THE G.O.A.T. MIZZOU GYM REPORTER: “This meet is gonna be dependent on beam for Florida as they have so many kinks to work out.” Well said, Nate.

LFG. I cannot wait.

And everybody’s watching HER #MIZ pic.twitter.com/BUHCzumVNy

— Mizzou Gymnastics (@MizzouGym) February 27, 2025