Cougars, Parkinson win Cat Classic Titles

COLUMBIA, Mo. -- Led by All-American Kelly Parkinson, the 14th-ranked BYU women's gymnastics team scored a 193.600 to win the team title of the 21st annual Cat Classic hosted by the University of Missouri in Columbia, Mo., Friday. Parkinson scored the second-highest all-around score in Cat Classic history to garner individual honors with a 39.225.

The Cougars' Cat Classic title was their first in their eight appearances at the annual meet. Host Missouri placed second at 192.425, followed by No. 22. Bowling Green at 192.250 and No. 10 Illinois State at 192.125. BYU won the vault (48.650) and floor (48.800) events while placing second on bars (48.550) and third on beam (47.600).

The Cougars held a slim advantage over Missouri entering the final rotation, but Parkinson sealed the Cougar victory with her 9.825 beam routine. Parkinson, who placed third on beam, won the floor exercise with a 9.825 and finished third on vault (9.775) and seventh on bars (9.800).

A Cougar won three of the four events, as BYU's Angie Hickman won vault with a 9.850 while teammate Kim Little won the bars with a 9.875. Missouri's Leah Gremaud won beam with a 9.925 while BYU's Kari Dye took second with a 9.850. Cougar Jeni Lopez placed second (9.800) to Parkinson on beam.

The top 10 gymnasts in each event qualified to compete Saturday in the individual competition. Seven Cougars earned that right as Candace Cosgrave (floor) and Lindsay Lines (bars) will join Parkinson (vault, bars, beam, floor), Lopez (vault, floor), Dye (floor, beam), Little (vault, bars) and Hickman (vault) in the individual competition Saturday.

BYU improved to 6-0 overall this year with its team victory, including a 1-0 dual meet record.

Team Score

*BYU-193.600

Missouri-192.425

Bowling Green-192.250

Illinois State-192.125

Vault

*BYU-48.650

Bowling Green-48.475

Missouri-47.875

Illinois State-47.275

Bars

Bowling Green-48.650

*BYU-48.550

Illinois State-48.500

Missouri-47.975

Beam

Illinois State-48.700

Missouri-48.550

*BYU-47.600

Bowling Green-46.450

Floor

*BYU-48.800

Bowling Green-48.675

Missouri-48.025

Illinois State-47.650

Individual

All-Around

1. *Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 39.225

2. Lindsay Davis, Missouri, 38.900

3. Marny Oestrang, Bowling Green, 38.150

4. Denise Houda, Illinois State, 38.075

5. Alina Hamm, Missouri, 37.850

Following all qualify for Individual Competition Saturday

Vault

1. *Angie Hickman, BYU, 9.850

2. Pia Svojall, Bowling Green, 9.800

3. *Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.775

4. *Kim Little, BYU, 9.750

5. Alina Hamm, Missouri, 9.725

6. Lindsay Davis, Missouri, 9.725

7. Amber Curry, Bowling Green, 9.700

8. Marny Oestrang, Bowling Green, 9.700

9. *Jeni Lopez, BYU 9.675

10. Kristy Kreinbrink, Illinois State, 9.650

11. Jamie Kent, Bowling Green, 9.650

Bars

1. *Kim Little, BYU, 9.875

2. Ann Gietler, Missouri, 9.850

3. *Lindsay Lines, BYU, 9.850

4. Alina Hamm, Missouri, 9.825

5. Marny Oestrang, Bowling Green, 9.825

6. Melissa Popovich, Bowling Green, 9.825

7. *Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.800

8. Michelle Huston, Illinois State, 9.750

9. Dana Luther, Illinois State, 9.725

10. Kelly Kropko, Bowling Green, 9.725

Beam

1. Leah Gremaud, Missouri, 9.925

2. *Kari Dye, BYU, 9.850

3. *Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.825

4. Dana Luther, Illinois State, 9.800

5. Heather Mohler, Illinois State, 9.775

6. Laura Forbes, Missouri, 9.750

7. Jaime Reineck, Illinois State, 9.750

8. Heather Holden, Missouri, 9.725

9. Lindsay Davis, Missouri, 9.700

10. Lisa Klein, Illinois State, 9.700

Floor

1. *Kelly Parkinson, BYU, 9.825

2. *Jeni Lopez, BYU, 9.800

3. Lindsay Davis, Missouri, 9.775

4. Marny Oestrang, Bowling Green, 9.775

5. Melissa Popovich, Bowling Green, 9.775

6. *Kari Dye, BYU, 9.750

7. Kristy Kreinbrink, Illinois State, 9.750

8. Amber Curry, Bowling Green, 9.750

9. *Candace Cosgrove, BYU, 9.725

10. Lisa Klein

* BYU scores