Mizzou finishes sixth at SEC Championships, Lexington awaits

On Saturday afternoon, nan no. 9 Missouri Tigers took to nan raised level level astatine nan Bank of Oklahoma Center successful Tulsa looking to unafraid their location placement pinch a coagulated performance. Long communicative short, ngo accomplished, and I had nan astir nosy being location successful personification — my first gymnastics championships! — to watch it each spell down.

A hiccup-y beam rotation aside, nan Tigers had a beautiful bully meet, pinch a bars rotation astir their mean score, a very bully (albeit underscored) level rotation and a play precocious connected vault, earning a 197.075 last people that resulted successful wins complete no. 8 Arkansas and no. 16 Kentucky by nan slimmest of margins (0.10 and 0.15, respectively), and Auburn (1.775). The Arkansas triumph successful peculiar was particularly helpful, arsenic it moved nan Tigers up a spot to no. 8, which comes pinch nan perk of getting first dibs connected which servants of nan state they commencement retired connected April 3 successful Lexington.

When asked what he learned astir nan squad based connected its capacity connected Saturday, Shannon said, “What this tells maine is we’re really good. We’re decidedly competitive. We conscionable sewage to beryllium a small much accordant crossed nan board, right? We can’t person a 49.0 connected beam for illustration we did.”

By nan night’s end, nan Tigers wrapped up a sixth-place decorativeness wide down no. 6 Georgia’s 197.450 successful their session, arsenic good arsenic eventual SEC Champion no. 3 Florida (198.175), no. 1 Oklahoma (198.150), no. 2 LSU (197.950) and n0. 4 Alabama (197.475).

As a reminder, pinch 5 teams successful this session, each squad sewage a bye and truthful had a rotation “off,” which, depending upon erstwhile nan squad took theirs, could lead a squad to suffer attraction aliases slow down a basking streak, etc. When talking pinch Shannon astatine unfastened believe nan erstwhile week, he didn’t look to beryllium a instrumentality of nan setup, saying it’s okay if everyone doesn’t make it, and I agree. It keeps nan level of title up, and if you want to make SECs, past don’t decorativeness astatine nan bottom… it’s arsenic easy arsenic that. Had nan anterior strategy — instituted erstwhile OU joined nan convention and creating an “extra” squad — past Auburn would person stayed home. And sorry to Auburn, but judging really they performed successful this meet and nan play arsenic a whole, that seemed for illustration a valid option.

Let’s get into it.

Mizzou started its time connected bars pinch a tightly-scored 49.275. Shannon told america afterwards that had nan squad possibly been connected bars later successful nan convention that he felt nan scores possibly person been a spot higher. From my amateur observation, I work together pinch this, arsenic a mates of scores did look connected nan little side.

“I deliberation you put our barroom rotation possibly a small later successful nan meet, possibly we triumph that event, too. But I thought that was a beautiful coagulated opening rotation complete here,” he said.

Makayla led disconnected pinch a instrumentality and a 9.85 and was followed by a 9.80 from Lauren, who took what appeared to beryllium conscionable a mini hop successful place. Olivia stuck her landing, earning a 9.875 (2x 9.9 scores). Maiya took conscionable a measurement backmost but looked beardown overall, earning a 9.85. Hannah possibly tried a spot excessively difficult to get nan stick, bending astatine nan waist and having an limb swing, earning conscionable a 9.75 that was dropped.

Regarding Hannah, Shannon said she “almost had an awesome barroom routine, conscionable a small down successful nan thorax and nan landing. But different that was really good.” Agreed. Until that landing, she looked incredible!

In nan last spot, Kimarra was ace solid— her Khorkina was higher and amended than each but 1 I saw successful nan precocious session, and earning a 9.90, her first of 2 connected nan day.

Kentucky sewage started connected floor, earning a 49.175 which was connected nan little extremity of FX scores for them this season, and overall, I thought level scores were beautiful tightly judged (until Session II, that is, erstwhile they were bonkers). The Flippin Kittens Cats were led by Creslyn Brose’s 9.90 and besides counted 3 9.825 scores and a 9.80. They dropped a 9.75.

Arkansas got started connected vault, an servants of nan state they usually excel on— their mean is simply a 49.327 — and scored conscionable a 49.150. The GymBacks were led by Morgan Price’s anchor 9.925, and besides counted a 9.85 (Joscelyn Roberson’s ridiculously difficult Mustafina vault), 9.825, 9.8 and 9.75. They dropped a 9.675 successful nan leadoff spot.

Auburn had a roughhh commencement connected beam, earning conscionable a 48.075, pinch 2 falls and different awesome hiccup. The Tigers were led by Hannah Hagle’s 9.80, and besides counted a 9.775, 9.725, 9.500 and 9.225. They dropped an 8.975.

Georgia had a bye.

In nan 2nd rotation, nan Tigers recovered themselves successful a spot of a equilibrium beam business early on, but recovered nicely, still managing a 49.00 contempt a unwieldy start. Amy, who had been retired of nan rotation for a fewer weeks pinch an injury, fell successful nan leadoff connected her aerial-BHS-BHS bid and looked a spot shaky early on. Props to her though for getting correct backmost connected nan beam and finishing it disconnected pinch a stick.

When talking pinch Shannon afterwards, he said, “I deliberation we were trying to put Amy successful complete there, possibly a small excessively soon, rather honestly, apparently a small excessively soon. She astir apt needed a fewer much reps successful that So, but, you know, we’ll person immoderate clip to activity connected that.”

Needing a beardown people successful nan number 2 slot, Railey besides uncharacteristically struggled a spot pinch a large break connected her aerial to backmost handspring. There besides was different wobble successful there, arsenic good arsenic a hop connected nan landing, earning conscionable a 9.60 that would beryllium counted. In nan 3rd spot, nan day woman Hayli possibly didn’t get in installments for 1 of her connections — she’s a slow, deliberate beam worker — but she stuck nan landing, earning a 9.75.

The last 3 spots of nan rotation were erstwhile nan Tigers upped their beam game, pinch Olivia earning a ace coagulated 9.875 (2x 9.9 scores) pinch a stick, and Lauren pursuing pinch a 9.85 and different instrumentality — she had conscionable a mini wobble connected her triple bid — and past came Addi, who killed it pinch different instrumentality and a 9.925 (2x 9.9/2x 9.95).

I’d for illustration to return this infinitesimal that we should each extremity and convey Addi Lawrence for that beam performance. Her 9.925 rather virtually could person been nan quality betwixt a 2nd spot decorativeness successful nan first convention and 3rd (or fourth)! Thank you, Addi!

Kentucky continued connected vault, earning a coagulated 49.275 that was wrong 0.025 of their play precocious distant score. It was their 2nd rotation successful which they didn’t count a people nether 9.80. The Cats were led by Cecily Rizo’s 9.90 and besides counted a 9.875 from nan anchor, Anna Flynn Cashion, 2 9.85 and a 9.80. They dropped a 9.675 successful nan leadoff spot.

Georgia got started connected bars aft a first rotation bye, an servants of nan state they usually excel on, and scored a 49.375, which is somewhat supra their play average. The Dawgs were led by Autumn Reingold’s 9.925, and besides counted a 9.90, 9.875, 9.85 and 9.825. They dropped a 9.275 from Ja’Free Scott, who brushed her ft connected nan mat (major deduction).

Auburn rebounded from a unsmooth information 1 pinch a coagulated level rotation, earning a 49.300, which amended than their play mean and existent NQS. The Tigers were led by Marissa Neal’s 9.90 — she had a really bully meet — and besides counted a 9.875, 2 9.85, and a 9.825. They dropped a 9.80 from nan leadoff.

Arkansas had a bye.

The Tigers deed nan level successful nan 3rd rotation, looking for a rebound aft nan beam situation. When asked what his connection was to nan squad going into nan adjacent rotation, he said, “When you person a challenging bid of events for illustration that, you person to conscionable situation them. You know, they’re bully competitors… I said, ‘Hey, show maine really group respond erstwhile they person immoderate adversity. I’m challenging you guys to do that and show maine what you’re made of correct here.’ And truthful that was good. I mean, we vanished retired beardown and bounced backmost and came backmost each nan measurement backmost to 2nd spot successful that session. So, you know, had we evidently deed beam, we would person made it beautiful tight pinch winning that convention correct present arsenic well.”

The messaging intelligibly worked, arsenic nan Tigers were unthinkable connected level earning a 49.450 which would extremity up being nan 3rd highest people of nan full meet (and was a spot underscored). Railey led disconnected pinch a 9.80 that would beryllium dropped— she was a spot disconnected equilibrium pinch her landing connected her first pass, lifting her foot, but her 2nd walk looked to beryllium very solid. Elise was awesome successful nan two-spot, earning nan first of FOUR 9.90 scores for nan rotation. Her beforehand handspring to Rudi was truthful precocious and everything looked ace crisp and enthusiastic. Ayla earned a 9.85 successful nan 3rd spot, possibly over-rotating a spot connected her monolithic double pike, earlier locking successful connected nan 2nd pass. Her last walk was good, and CGN’s unrecorded blog noted that possibly her thorax was a smidge down? Kaia was truthful good, earning different 9.90, and her full-in displayed a ton of power. I simply LOVE this routine. Kennedy was besides great, pinch different 9.90, and Hannah too, pinch not moreover a lunge retired of her first walk double layout. This was specified a bully rotation and immoderate of these 9.90s if successful that later convention would person undoubtedly gone for higher.

Arkansas, disconnected successful nan anterior rotation, continued to bars, earning a 49.125 that was beautiful adjacent to their play average. The Gymbacks were led Leah Smith and Joscelyn Roberson’s 9.875 and besides counted a 9.85, 9.775, and a 9.75. They dropped a 9.675.

Georgia continued its beardown capacity pinch a 49.375 connected beam, which was supra some their NQS and play averages. The Dawgs were led by freshman Kelise Woolford’s 9.95 besides counted a 9.90 from chap freshman prima CaMarah Williams, a 2 9.85, and a 9.825 from nan leadoff. They dropped a 9.80.

Auburn earned a 49.00 connected vault, which astir 2/10 disconnected their play average. The Tigers were again led by Marissa Neal’s 9.90 and besides counted a a 9.825, 9.80, 9.75 and 9.725. They dropped a 9.70.

Kentucky had a bye.

With conscionable 1 rotation to go, nan Tigers vanished nan meet strong, earning a play precocious 49.350 connected vault. During nan touch period, Shannon possibly wisely made nan alteration from Railey to Ayla, yet citing her troubles pinch vault passim nan week arsenic a reason.

When talking astir it aft nan meet, Shannon said, “I deliberation sometimes you conscionable person to make calls successful nan middle. You know, I consciousness for illustration astatine slightest nan acquisition I person gives maine nan expertise to identify, like, hey, it’s clip to make a change, aliases erstwhile it’s clip to effort to enactment nan course. You know, we’re not ever right, but I deliberation a batch of nan times we are. And I deliberation that was nan correct telephone today. And, you know, we popped Railey out… And truthful we, you know, we popped Ayla successful and I was really proud of her. She did a awesome job, a 9.85, truthful I don’t deliberation we missed a hit complete location astatine all.”

As for really nan vaults went, it was good! Kaia’s handspring pike beforehand half earned a 9.80. She had a spot excessively overmuch juice, taking some a measurement (and perchance a teeny hop?) back. One judge gave her a 9.85. Ayla was ace coagulated connected her Yurchenko Full, pinch a bully artifact and possibly a mini small hop, earning her career-high. Kennedy besides had conscionable a mini hop (and a bully block) connected her YF arsenic well, tying her play precocious pinch a 9.85. Hannah was ridiculously powerful was but capable to rein it in, pinch conscionable a mini shuffle of her feet connected her Y 1.5, earning a 9.95. We joked astatine nan media array that this besides was nan people her level regular should person received, but I digress… Kimarra? Here’s what I wrote successful my notes successful superior letters — SHE STUCK THAT SHIT. For nan instrumentality connected her YF? Just a 9.90. She was robbed. ROBBED, I show you. And finally, successful nan anchor spot, Elise fell, possibly trying excessively difficult to get that stick, earning a 9.35 that would beryllium dropped.

When reflecting connected nan rotation aft nan meet, Shannon said, “I deliberation Kaia really did a really awesome vault. Just took a large measurement correct there, and that was good. Ayla’s vault was good. Kennedy’s vault was good. Hannah’s vault was good, you know. And Kimarra, we’ve seen her. It was bully to spot them hitting connected each cylinders, particularly connected that arena astatine this point.”

It felt for illustration we’d conscionable been WAITING for this. The Tigers had been bully truthful adjacent to a bully vault rotation; it was awesome to spot it travel to fruition, and if they tin get a mates much sticks, they’re successful contention for tying nan programme record; I really judge that.

Arkansas, headed to beam, earning a really bully 49.350 that was higher than some their NQS and play average. The Gymbacks were led by Joscelyn Roberson’s 9.95 — could person been moreover higher, honestly — and besides counted a 9.90, 2 9.85 and a 9.80. They dropped a 9.725.

Georgia continued its beardown capacity pinch a 49.425 connected level that was 2nd only to Mizzou’s FX. The Dawgs were led by Nyla Aquino’s 9.925. They besides counted a ridiculously underscored 9.90 from CaMarah Williams — it was jaw-droppingly bully — a 9.90 from Harley Tomlin, and 2 9.85 scores. They dropped nan 3rd 9.85.

Kentucky earned a 49.225 connected bars, which topped some their NQS and mean scores this season. The Tigers were again led by Ryan Noonan’s 9.875 and besides counted 3 9.85 and a 9.80. They dropped a 9.75.

Auburn had a bye.

Mizzou had a bye and conscionable had to hold and spot if anyone would drawback them. (They didn’t.)

Arkansas took to level successful its last rotation, earning a 49.350 that was higher than their play average. The Gymbacks were led 9.90 scores by Joscelyn Roberson and Leah Smith, and besides counted a 9.875, 9.85 and 9.825. They dropped a 9.75. It was a bully ending for Wieber’s crew, but not capable to overtake nan Tigers ultimately, who hit them by 0.10.

Kentucky headed to beam successful nan last rotation, earning a 49.250, which is conscionable a small complete a tenth disconnected their play champion score. UK was led by Delaynee Rodriguez’s 9.90 precocious score. They besides counted 3 9.85 and a 9.80. An enquiry was submitted for Gabby Van Frayen, and while I don’t cognize what her people was astatine first, she besides earned a 9.800, 1 of which was dropped. Overall, nan Cats had a bully meet and ended up conscionable 0.15 down Mizzou and 0.05 down nan Razorbacks.

Georgia finished disconnected its Session I triumph pinch a 49.275 connected vault which was beneath their play average. The Dawgs were led by Ja’Free Scott’s 9.90, and besides counted a 9.875, 2 9.85 and a 9.80. They dropped a 9.65.

Auburn earned a 48.975 connected its last rotation, bars, which matched their 2026 average. The Tigers were again led by Emma Grace Boyd and Alex Irvine’s 9.85 scores and besides counted 2 9.775 and a 9.725. They dropped a 9.65.

In my emblematic fashion, I’m precocious to get retired this recap, truthful we besides person All-SEC honors arsenic well, which were announced connected Wednesday! Ten — TEN!!! — Tigers earned All-SEC recognition. Consider this a wrap up conception connected meet finishes and those honors. (Side Note: I WILL get nan recap from Regionals retired faster arsenic I should beryllium previewing finals and penning astir that meet arsenic well.)

Hannah Horton won nan vault successful Session I and her 9.95 people held arsenic nan apical people until LSU’s Kailin Chio stuck her Yurchenko 1.5 arsenic nan very past vault competitor successful nan full competition, earning a 9.975. She ended up nan vault metallic medalist. I whitethorn person fto retired a yelp and deed my workfellow Ben erstwhile she landed arsenic I conscionable knew it would put her atop H2 successful nan standings.

When asked astir nan junior’s performance, Shannon said, “You know, she’s starting to dial it successful complete there. Like, nan past fewer weeks person been amended for her and so, truthful coming was bully to spot her proceed that on, you know, successful this situation too. So yeah, excited for her. She’s a bully she had a beautiful bully night, and almost had an awesome barroom routine, conscionable a small down successful nan thorax and nan landing.”

Hannah’s astonishing play connected level earned her Southeastern Conference Floor Specialist of nan Year, making it nan 3rd consecutive twelvemonth and 5th clip successful nan past 7 that a Missouri Tiger took Specialist of nan Year honors. She besides earned All-SEC honors connected level and vault.

“This is simply a awesome nickname for Hannah and a really deserving one,” Shannon said successful nan property release. “She’s been incredibly accordant for america each twelvemonth and stepped up successful a large infinitesimal astatine SECs. To brace that pinch 10 All-SEC selections says a batch astir nan extent of this squad and really galore athletes contributed astatine a precocious level. It’s a beardown reflection of nan activity they’ve put successful and gives america assurance arsenic we proceed to move into nan postseason.”

Kimarra Echols tied for nan 3rd connected vault successful Session I pinch her 9.90 and 2nd connected bars pinch her 9.90. It was announced connected Wednesday that she was named to nan All-SEC Freshman Team, which MU Tigers’ property merchandise said was nan 13th successful programme history. She besides was named All-SEC connected vault and bars, of course.

Olivia Kelly tied for 3rd successful Session I connected bars pinch her 9.875. She earned All-SEC honors connected some bars (video below) and beam, wherever she had nan 4th highest people successful Session I.

Addi Lawrence had nan 2nd highest people successful Session I pinch her 9.925 connected beam. She, of course, earned All-SEC honors for nan feat.

Elise Tisler, Kaia Tanskanen, Kennedy Griffin and Hannah Horton were each portion of monolithic 10-way necktie for 2nd spot successful Session I pinch their 9.90 scores connected floor. The 4 of them, on pinch Ayla Acevedo, earned All-SEC honors connected floor. Ayla had nan 4th highest people connected level successful Session I.

When asked astir nan 4 9.9 scores connected Floor and really nan squad prepares for (ahem) tighter scoring, Shannon said, “I deliberation we’ve gotten amended this twelvemonth connected floor,” he said. “I deliberation our specifications are better, and I deliberation that was thing that was a focal constituent this summer. There were immoderate different bully level teams successful that convention pinch us. I deliberation that says a lot.”

Additionally, some freshman Maiya Terry and grad student Makayla Green added All-SEC honors connected Bars pinch nan 4th highest people of Session I. Yearly awards, specified arsenic Hannah’s Specialist of nan Year, was decided by nan SEC coaches, while nan All-SEC honors were wished by nan apical 4 scores (including ties) connected each arena successful each convention of nan SEC Championships. (Side Note: I’m really gladsome they do this aliases astir of nan honors would spell to nan higher scoring evening convention athletes, which would beryllium unfair.) The All-Freshman squad is wished by nan apical people (including ties) of a freshman connected each arena successful each session. The Tigers’ 10 honorees is nan astir All-SEC honors successful nan conference.

So what are you waiting for? Get your tickets now for nan hottest show successful town, whether that beryllium signing up for caller play tickets aliases readying to make nan travel to Lexington to spot nan Tigers astatine Regionals.