Tiger gymnasts head to hostile Lincoln for NU rematch

Sitting at No. 10 in the national rankings, Missouri might technically be considered the favorite heading into Sunday’s meet at Big 12 Conference rival Nebraska, which is ranked No. 12.

What the rankings don’t convey, however, is that the Tigers are facing a team with a 58-meet unbeaten streak at home dating back to 1993.

“There’s a reason they don’t lose,” Missouri coach Rob Drass said. “It’s because they’re good and consistent. We just have to be more consistent and better.”

Drass knows the quality of Nebraska’s program firsthand. Before taking the helm at Missouri, he was the Huskers’ assistant coach for eight years, helping lead the team to six straight conference titles from 1994-99.

Despite the history and rivalry, though, Drass said the team is approaching the meet like it would any other.

“You just try to focus on what you can do, do it well, and then see how you fare,” Drass said.

Sarah Zigler, one of three seniors for Missouri this season, competed in her first meet as a Tiger against Nebraska in 2004. She said the Tigers have come a long way since then, and she’s looking forward to proving they can hold their own against top-level competition.

“We used to just have a couple of stars on the team,” she said. “Now everybody’s really stepped it up.”

The Huskers got the best of Missouri in the Tigers’ first meet of the season, the Super Six Challenge on Jan. 6 in Baton Rouge, La. Nebraska finished in second, earning a 194.100. Missouri took sixth with a 192.700.

Since then, the Tigers have improved significantly, scoring a season-high 195.575 to defeat Air Force and host Centenary on Jan. 20. Drass said he’s expecting a tight competition on Sunday.

“It may be a step here or a step there that separates the two teams,” he said.

The meet will also feature special pink leotards for both teams as part of a theme promoting breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer detection information will be handed out to attendees, and local breast cancer survivors will be presenting the post-meet awards.

It marks the second time this season the Tigers have donned the leotards. They held their own “Pink Out” at home Jan. 13.

“I think it’s really exciting that we get to wear them again,” said the Tigers’ Whitney Crater. “It was a big hit here.”