Season is back and better than ever. There’s nothing quite like kicking the year off with a quad meet to get everyone’s feet wet early. Missouri, the host team, will look to keep the ball rolling from the last two seasons of storied success on the biggest stage. According to the team’s most recent press release, the Tigers’ goals for 2024 include to stick more landings, increase the depth charts on each event and quickly establish themselves in the national rankings. So let’s take a look at the first chapter of making that story unfold. While the Tigers had quite a few graduates following the 2023 season, the return of Sienna Schreiber for a fifth season should be a big boost in morale. While the team boosts strong returners in Amari Celestine and Jocelyn Moore, watch out for the freshmen as well, including Hannah Horton.
For Northern Illinois, watch out for Alyssa Al-Ashari and Emmalise Nock. With the team losing five graduates, including star Natalie Hamp, the Huskies lineups will likely look a bit different this season. Tune in to see which athletes move into the bar lineup to add some depth there.
With Lindenwood’s team on the cutting room floor, the Lions will look to make a big splash out of the gate. The team should be stacked in 2024, only graduating one Riley Daniels, and the rest of her class taking a fifth year of eligibility. Other returners to be on the lookout for are Hannah Appleget and Nya Kraus. Both had standout seasons in 2023, but can they continue the trend? Lindenwood.
SEMO, right on Lindenwood’s heels as of late, is looking to make a splash in 2024. With star returners and several athletes looking strong returning from injury, this might be the Redhawks’ year. Prep for another year of Lydia Webb, and keep an eye out for Kailyn Hamilton.
Rotation 1: Missouri VT, Lindenwood UB, SEMO BB, NIU FX
We’ve entered the arena. Four minute touch is underway!
Schreiber (Mizzou): Yurchenko full is stuck! What a way to start the meet. Chest a touch down, but didn’t move a muscle. Good leadoff set.
We shall see if we get any of the other competitors’ routines prior to vault finishing… seems unlikely at the moment, as I am staring at the end of the runway while floor music is playing.
Light (Mizzou): Yurchenko full. Another stick! Okay then. A little shoulder angle on the table, but awesome.
Overshoot to hand. Short cast hand. Double layout is stuck. I want to say Kossuth from Lindenwood.
Davis (Mizzou): Yurchenko full is nice and floaty with a medium step back. Good shape in the air.
Kuehn (SEMO): Clean flick layout. Full turn, a little unsure.
Blair (NIU): Phone ringing floor music is all the rage. Double pike. Good height with a step forward.
Back to bars… Cast handstand. Double layout with a step back. This broadcast is whiplash inducing.
Celestine (Mizzou): Yurchenko one and half from Celestine is right on with a controlled step forward.
Horton (Mizzou): Yurchenko one and half, flared out and looked for the landing. Just a pace forward.
Moore (Mizzou): Yurchenko one and half is a bit bouncy with a bound forward. Her usual in the air.
Cat leap to side aerial. Small lean. Gainer full dismount with a small foot adjustment.
Just in time to see a sky high FTDT from Kraus of Lindenwood. Her release connection looked nicely performed from across the arena as well.
Mizzou: FHS front pike half. Good leg extension with a pace back. Medium sized step on that one.
Griffin (Mizzou): Yurchenko full. Not the most amplitude there with a step back.
Sallee (NIU): Switch leap to popa popa connection. Rudi to LOSO. Nice connection there. Making it rain and a crown to finish.
Speller (SEMO): Full turn. Front aerial with a leg up, and she’s off. Liukin is right on the money. Beat jump. Back in the game. Punch front full with a small step back.
Appleget (LU): overshoot in combination. Double layout is flared with a small hop back.
Ingle (SEMO): BHS BHS LOSO. Right to the end. Small correction. Switch leap to straddle 1/4. Tight on the first leap. Turn is on. A little skip to a beat jump.
Newsome (LU): Jaeger to overshoot. Double front dismount with two or three steps back. Unsure if she knew where the ground was on that one.
NIU: Double pike. Good height there. Switch side to popa. Little hop out. Back 1.5 to front lay. Punch looked a little weird, but managed well. Double tuck to finish is a little short, with a bound forward.
Webb (SEMO): Liukin with a baby lean. Turn. Switch leap to split 1/4. A touch delayed on the turn. Cat to front aerial to BHS swing down. Connection a touch slow, but managed. BHS gainer full is stuck.
Ziebell NIU: Full in with an uncontrolled step out. Tour jete to split full, nice and around. Front lay to Rudi. Good pop off the floor. Loved that. Stab the floor as the ending pose.
Chodon (SEMO): Switch leap to split 1/4. Front aerial to back tuck. Chest up quick. Deep breath. Moving right along. Cat leap to front toss. On the money. A great debut. Punch front full is stuck. All the smiles.
A flash of the Huskies. Double tuck. A touch stiff legged but managed.
AFTER ONE: Missouri 49.200, Lindenwood 48.625, NIU 48.425, SEMO 47.600
Sorry, ladies and gents. I’m out here fighting for my life in the ID department with the broadcast flipping back and forth, showing a couple skills at a time. Regardless, Missouri started out the meet sticking multiple vaults in the first meet. Always an impressive feat. Showing more 10.0 SVs doesn’t hurt either. Lindenwood was secretly slaying on bars, while NIU chugged away on floor. SEMO was a little shaky in its first event, so hopefully the Redhawks can put that behind it quickly.
Rotation 2: NIU VT, Missouri UB, Lindenwood BB, SEMO FX
Marshall (Mizzou): She’s baaaaaackkk. Blind, Jaeger to overshoot. Great amplitude. Hit that last HS. FTDT is stuck with a baby lean. A jump twirl of excitement. Loved that lead off for the Tigers.
Patrick (Mizzou): Blind, Jaeger. A touch low. Overshoot hand. Double layout. Completely straight line and drilled it. OKAY. MIZZOU. WE. SEE. YOU. 9.875
Griswold (LU): BHS LOSO with a lean and slight leg up. 9.750
Napolitano (SEMO): Back 2.5 to punch front. Just saves the OOB. Good awareness. jk. A video of children in the audience instead… 9.725
Burns (Mizzou): Blind, Jaeger to overshoot. A little foot flex on the release. Double layout. Another stick? My word. Baby leg separation on the dismount. Otherwise clean.
Moon (LU): Switch leap to a strong lean forward on the connecting jump. Front aerial to beat. Good save. A veteran to hold onto the connection. Gainer full dismount is stuck. 9.600
Moore (Mizzou): Toe hand, Tkatchev to overshoot. Good connection there. Smooth. Last HS right on top. FTDT with a scooch back. Amplitude went crazy. 9.750
Rush (LU): Hitch kick to side somi. Full turn. A flick of the wrist. A series on the horizon, never to be seen??
Schreiber (Mizzou): Maloney to overshoot. Right on. Sank into that double layout for the stick. 9.850
Titarsolej (Mizzou): Maloney to full twisting pak. Amazing… A little shy on the last HS. Nearly stuck the double tuck at the end but rushed the salute.
Horton (Mizzou): Shaposh to pak. A little low on the amplitude, but clean. Double layout, a tiny step forward. Great lines.
Webb (SEMO): Rudi to split jump. A little wild on the jump, but managed with a little turn out. Back 1.5 to front full with a crossover step.
Kratzer (Mizzou): Piked Jaeger. Good line. Pak, a flicker of leg form. Blind, front giant half to double tuck with a scoot back. Good set!
Greene (SEMO): Front lay to Rudi. Good amplitude there. Double tuck in the rafters. Casual.
Appleget (LU): Switch to switch to pike jump. BHS LOSO with a lean. Standing LOSO. Yes ma’am. DEEEP lunge and look to the sky. Full turn. RO back 1.5 with a small hop.
Ockler (SEMO): Playing dead is a great way to start. I’m ready to be entertained. Front through to back 2.5. Twisted right to the ground and flew OOB. Strong leap series. Good extension there. I do love the intensity of this choreo. Front double full. Okay Miss difficulty. Pardon me.
Well… I do believe that one Jaly Jones just finished up on beam.
Krenzel (LU): Front aerial to BHS. Little check correction. Lions! Switch leap to double stag. Leg up check, not quite enough head release. A bit rushed. Liukin. Around the side, but amazing to save with little lean. Gainer front full is stuck. So exciting for her!
AFTER TWO: Missouri 98.375, NIU 96.675, Lindenwood 96.425, SEMO 96.300
Missouri clearly has been training the sticks this preseason! It was great to see transfer Mara Titarsolej’s Bhardwaj in the lineup! So good! NIU didn’t have the greatest showing on vault, but it has managed to maintain a narrow lead over the Lindenwood and SEMO heading into the back half of the meet. Highlight of Lindenwood beam was one Nya Kraus, while SEMO’s high scorers was Taylor Ingle and Madison Greene.
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Rotation 3: SEMO VT, NIU UB, Missouri BB, Lindenwood FX
O’Shea (NIU): Maloney to overshoot. Clear hip to FTDT is stuck with a LEAN forward. 9.525
Marshall (Mizzou): A little jump over straddle jump to the hips mount. Front aerial to BHS. Sharp. Front toss. Yes’m. She’s exuding confidence. This is her arena. Great double stag with a head release. BHS gainer full, just a step forward. Was going for the stick a little too hard. 9.725
Webb (SEMO): Baby pike down on the Yurchenko full, but nice chest up on the landing with a pace back.
Titarsolej (Mizzou): Such a cool mount. HS BHS LOSO. The best toe point. An illusion to split jump. In a league of her own. Leg up turn to a split jump. Gainer full, stuckish. Couldn’t tell if there was a minor foot correction. Great set. Did Mizzou beam manage to get even better? 9.825
Schaffer (Mizzou): HS forward roll mount. Turn a little wonky, but fine. BHS BHS LOSO. Leg up. Heal right up to the end cap. Front aerial. Sharp arms. Switch leap, split. Some foot form on that connection. RO double full with a bounce in place.
Celestine (Mizzou): Wolf turn. BHS to side aerial. A little around the side. Front tuck. ROCK. SOLID. Split, split 3/4. Good. Cat leap, gainer full. Stuck with a leannnn forward.
Davis (Mizzou): BHS LOSO. Great lift on that layout. Front toss with a lean to the right. Arms firm. Beat, sheep. Little adjustment. Good head release. Switch leap, BHS, gainer full. Stuck. Good pop off the beam.
Schreiber (Mizzou): A chest cartwheel to get this show on the road. BHS LOSO LOSO. Right on. Like it’s her job. Switch half, split. Right around. Beat, gainer full. Small adjustment of the right foot. Great set.
Griswold (LU): Wishful thinking? We’re getting Schreiber replays instead. Panned over just in time for the ending pose. Womp Womp.
Light (Mizzou): BHS BHS LOSO. Yes. Side aerial. Not quite enough kick, so couldn’t save it. Cat leap, gainer pike off the end with a step back.
Baechle (LU): Front double full. Yes please. Split full with a ring. Switch side, straddle half. Cheated a little on rotation. I think we were going for the switch straddle full for the extra bonus? OOB on the final pass there. Tried to play it off, though. Which I can appreciate.
AFTER THREE: Missouri 147.650, Lindenwood 146.050, SEMO 144.575, NIU 144.325
Missouri continued chugging away on beam there, really separating itself from the competition, as would be expected. Lindenwood floor stood its ground, highlighted by a 9.875 from its anchor Gayla Griswold. SEMO continued its upward trajectory on vault with Ailey Kuehn and Jordan Napolitano making debuts on the event. NIU struggled some on bars, having to count two 9.350 scores.
Rotation 4: Lindenwood VT, SEMO UB, NIU BB, Missouri FX
Schreiber (Mizzou): Front double full to open. Would’ve liked a touch more height to better make it around. Rudi to back layout, jump out. So much power. Switch half, split full. Good lead off. 9.850
George (NIU): BHS LOSO. Soft knees, but strong landing. Front toss. Way to manage, a bit low on amplitude. Split jump.
Light (Mizzou): Back 2.5 to punch front tuck. Strong opening pass. Switch half, wolf full. Around nicely. I’m not sure about the music, but I like the choreo. Double pike. Chest nice and high. Wag of the finger to finish. 9.800
Kratzer (Mizzou): Whip through to the double tuck, popped up to the lunge. Switch side, popa. Back 1.5 to front layout. Dance right out. Roll it out. Roll it out. Come on over. Double pike. Just pulled it around with a larger lunge.
Lopez (SEMO): Overshoot hand after what looked like a remount. Blind full in HS to double tuck. Stuck.
Horton (Mizzou): Tuck full to the knee. FTDT. Good height. A head spring. Switch side, wolf full. Love a freshman giving the performance and facials. Front tuck through to back 2.5. Yes. Great landing and perfect line in the air. This is the kind of two pass routine difficulty that I like to see.
Celestine (Mizzou): Drumline. Here we go. FTDT, great control. Tour jete, split full. So high. Front lay, front full. Some leg separation. Dive roll. Missy Elliot now. Poison! Double tuck, small slide of the front foot. Fun music mix and choreography there.
Johnston (SEMO): Toe hand, Maloney, overshoot to hand-ish. Toe on, front pike half dismount. Chest down with a pace forward.
Moore (Mizzou): Double layout. Yes ma’am. This music is everything. Switch half, popa, popa. Almost around. Front through to double tuck. Right to the lunge and a smirk. Strong routine. Her characteristic fist pump of excitement is an appropriate response.
Lots of screaming…9.975
Al-Ashari (NIU): A casual LOSO to mount. Okay. BHS LOSO. Strong. 9.850
Griffin (Mizzou): Double pike, chest all the way up. Like it’s hard? Tour jete, popa, popa. Take a photo. It lasts longer.
O’Shea (NIU): Front tuck mount. Solid. Love that NIU is going for it. BHS LOSO. Off to the side. Switch leap, switch leap. Full turn. Back in it. RO back 1.5 with a hop.
Final: Missouri 197.150, Lindenwood 194.000, Northern Illinois 192.775, SEMO 192.775
What a strong start for Mizzou! Be on the lookout for the Tigers this season, y’all! Lindenwood also demonstrated a strong opening score, nearly a point higher than 2023’s season opener. While SEMO did not have its best showing, this tally also surpassed last season’s opening score by a point. Northern Illinois will look to continue to grow from this meet and shake off the early-season jitters.
AA Winner: Sienna Schreiber (Missouri), 39.400
VT Winner: Amari Celestine (Missouri) and Hannah Horton (Missouri), 9.875
UB Winner: Hollyn Patrick (Missouri), 9.875
BB Winner: Sienna Schreiber (Missouri), 9.925
FX Winner: Jocelyn Moore (Missouri), 9.975
READ THIS NEXT: BREAKING: Lindenwood to Discontinue Gymnastics After 2024 Season
Live Blog by Tavia Smith
