Mizzou Gymnastics Defeats Illinois, Sets Season-High Scores

The University of Missouri gymnastics team, ranked ninth, achieved a season-high score of 197.200 in their victory over the 29th-ranked Illinois Fighting Illini, who scored 196.675, on February 9. This marks the Tigers' third consecutive meet surpassing the 197.000 score threshold, with standout performances on both bars and floor, where they scored 49.475 each. Senior Amari Celestine and graduate student Mara Titarsolej tied for the bars title with scores of 9.925, while Jocelyn Moore and Illinois’ Chloe Cho shared the floor title with a score of 9.950. Despite a low score of 48.975 on vault, the Tigers maintained their lead, bolstered by Celestine's all-around championship title. The team will next compete in a quad meet against No. 14 Alabama, Illinois, and Iowa on February 14. This win adds to Mizzou's strong historical record against Illinois, improving to 25-9 overall.