For the second year in a row, the no. 7 Missouri Tigers will be opening their SEC season against the preseason no. 1 team Oklahoma Sooners, who currently sit at no. 2 in the Road to Nationals rankings (they’ve had just one meet, remember).
With no media availability this week, I looked back at what Shannon Welker said last year going into the SEC opener against the very same opponent. “I think it’ll be great, a great challenge for us early in the season,” he had said. “And I think when you go up against great teams,
I’d rather do it early in the season, because it gives us some time to adjust and be like, Alright, what are they doing? Maybe that we need to adjust to become better.”
It’s interesting to read this quote back now, and we didn’t know how the season would end up going, and how historically significant it would be for both programs— OU, a now seven-time national champ, and MU, who made their first national championship and finished fourth.
During my coaching days, my high school swim team at Lake Norman wore a team t-shirt that I think works well in the context of this team, who despite the aforementioned success, is mostly unheralded.
I CAN
WE WILL
YOU’LL SEE
And see we will, my friends, as the next four weeks features battles with the top four teams in the country (through Week 2, anyway)— Oklahoma, at Alabama, LSU, and Florida — and three of them are home at Mizzou Arena.
IT’S SHOWTIME, BABYYYYYYYY.
Meet Info: The Golden Show
When: Friday, January 16, 2026
Where: Mizzou Arena | Columbia, Mo.
Time: 7:45 pm
TV: SEC Network
Live Stats: Virtius— https://scores.virti.us/?s=Z_n4ZCP9Py
Tickets: Tickets are just $5 to Friday’s meet! Purchase here: MUTigers.com/2026GymTix
Giveaway: First 200 fans receive Mizzou rubber tote bags!
Leo Prediction: 2/4 of last season’s new leotards have been worn already, leaving just Gatsby (the all-white leo) and Velvet Noir (the black velvet). For the team’s first night meet under the Mizzou Arena lights, I think the luxe off-the-shoulder evening gown feel of Velvet Noir could be the pick. Of course, the last time they beat no. 2, they were in Gameday Glitter… JK, they’re wearing Gatsby, I’m told, so an all-white moment it is.
2026 Mizzou Gym Schedule (updated)
Week 4 (1/23): at Alabama, 6:30pm
Week 5 (1/30): vs. LSU, 6:45pm
Week 6 (2/6): vs. Florida, 8pm
Week 7 (2/13): at Kentucky, 6pm
Week 8 (2/20): vs. Illinois | Ball State | Air Force, 6pm
Week 9 (3/1): vs. Arkansas, 2pm (Hearnes Center)
Week 10 (3/6): at Georgia, 6pm
Week 11 (3/13): at Auburn, 7pm
Week 12 (3/21): SEC Championships (Tulsa, OK)
Week 13 (4/2, 4/4): NCAA Regionals (tbd site)
Week 14 (4/16-20): NCAA Championships (Fort Worth, TX)
History: Before last year, the Sooners’ first year in the SEC, Mizzou and Oklahoma hadn’t faced off since 2019. They, of course, faced off many times last year, including the SEC opener Jan. 17, the evening session of SECs Mar. 22, the Regional Finals Apr. 6, the National Semifinals Apr. 17, and the National Championships Apr. 19. This is the Sooners’ first visit to CoMo since 2012. In its history, the Tigers are 12-61-1 against the Fightin’ KJ Kindlers.
Last Time On The Mats: Week 2 Rewind
When we last saw our Tigers, they were in Lincoln, Nebraska for the Ameritas Master’s Classic against Nebraska and D3 schools UW-LaCrosse and UW-Stout. You can also read my lengthier recap here, as I made the trip and had an absolutely fantastic time with the Mizzou faithful, even if some weirdo scoring seemed to be going on.
- First rotation (bars): 49.225— Judges were tough on the bars squad this time around, with just Kimarra earning a 9.90+. Her 9.925 was a new career high, as was Maiya’s 9.85 in the exhibition slot. Olivia returned to the bars lineup and earned a 9.85, and Makayla earned in the same in the anchor spot. After 1, Mizzou led Nebraska by 0.20, and it would only grow from there.
- Second rotation (beam): 49.400— The Beam Dream Team was back and was fabulous, with high scores from Addi (her second consecutive 9.95) and Railey, who tied her career high 9.875. Olivia scored a 9.85 season-high as well back in the regular lineup. Lauren and Amy were also solid, earning a 9.875 and 9.85 (leadoff), respectively. Kennedy’s first beam of the year was dropped. After 2, Mizzou led Nebraska by 0.85.
- Third rotation (floor): 49.350— It was a lower-scoring floor day for the Tigers, though I thought they arguably looked better this week than in Week 1. Hannah led all scorers with a season-high tying 9.925, and Kennedy also tied her season high 9.875 in the anchor spot. Ayla followed up an awe-inspiring 9.90 in Week 1 with a 9.875 in Week 2, and Elise was woefully (IMHO) underscored with just a 9.85 in the leadoff spot. The Tigers dropped one of two 9.825 scores from Railey, making her season FX debut, and Kaia. After 3, Mizzou led Nebraska by a whopping 2.2 points.
- Final rotation (vault): 49.300— I was so proud of the vault squad, as Kennedy (9.825), Elise (9.875) and Hannah (9.975) all earned season highs— Hannah’s anchor near-perfect 10 was a highlight of the meet for everyone. The Tigers dropped Kaia’s 9.725, and counted Railey’s 9.80 and Kimarra’s massive 9.825 YF. After 4, Mizzou ran away with the Ameritas Master’s Classic title by 2.675 points.
- Closing Thoughts: “”We had a really solid showing today in our first road meet of the year,” Shannon said in the MU Tigers recap. “I thought we took a really solid step forward. There’s still plenty we can clean up, but the fight and belief this team showed is what excites me most.” Across two meets, MU Tigers reports that 24 of Mizzou’s 48 routines have earned at least a 9.90 or higher from one judge.
- MVGs (as voted on by me): Hannah Horton (2 more event wins), Addi Lawrence (beam win), Kimarra Echols (bars win), Elise Tisler (awesome)
Quick Comparisons
Reminder: OU didn’t compete in Week 1, so their “average” is essentially their high score.
Opponent Outlook: Oklahoma
KEY ADDITIONS:
Elizabeth Blessey (DNC in 2025) | Makenzie Estep (no. 1 overall HS recruit, 4x Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier, 5x national champ) | Ella Murphy (4th place VLT DP Nationals; Region 3- 2nd AA, 3rd UB, 4th FX, Nastia Liukin Cup— 2nd BB, 3rd AA/UB, 4th FX) | Kamila Pawlak (10s on VLT/FX, 9.975 UB; 4x Nastia Liukin Cup qualifier, 4x national champ, AA title at DP Nationals | Hannah Scheible (out with injury in 2025) | Nicole Desmond (elite, competed at 2024 Winter Cup, Xfinity US Championships, Core Hydration Classic— 8th FX | Blakeley Roten (2024 5th DP Nats- FX; Region 3— 4th FX/VLT)
LOSSES:
Jordan Bowers | Audrey Davis | Dani Sievers
LINEUP LOOKSIES:
NOTES:
- The 2026 team, while losing some stars, returns 2024 beam national champion Faith Torrez and 15 routines from their 2025 national champ team. Along with Torrez, Fatta, Mueller, Wells (regular season) and Pederson are returning All-Americans.
- The Sooners are replacing 50% of their routines on bars and floor with the graduation of Bowers, Davis and Sievers. Speaking of Davis & Sievers, Rudi the Roster Robot revealed a bit of news on Thursday afternoon that the duo was added to the staff (Davis as an assistant and Siever in an administrative role)
- Junior Hannah Scheible, previously a vault specialist for the Sooners her freshman year, returns valiantly after a missing last season with an achilles injury. She earned a 9.900 and a 9.950, respectively, on bars and beam, earning the CGN Fantasy Week 3 Breakout Performance. Scheible is expected to return to vault this season.
- Faith Torrez is working her way back from preseason injury, so it will remain to be seen if she’s back in the all-around starting Week 3.
- The Sooners hold an impressive 246-15-1 record on the road, including a 61-6 record in true road meets (like this one). 👀
- Freshmen Ella Murphy and Mackenzie Estep had especially strong collegiate debuts, with Ella earning 9.925 scores on bars and beam, while Mackenzie had a 9.90 on vault and a 9.925 on floor.
- In Week 2, OU was part of the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Session One and faced off against a Who’s Who of Four on the Floor faves, UCLA, LSU and Utah. Since I didn’t see the meet, I recommend you read the CGN blog (linked above) or watch OU’s Two Minute Touch recap from IG here. The gist: the meet ended in a tie at 197.500 after LSU had a great fourth rotation and OU did not on floor.
- The meet ended in a tie with LSU, and to break it, they added the sixth score for each apparatus, resulting ultimately in a Sooner W. The Sooners were ultimately awarded the title after the tiebreaker of including all the scores on each apparatus put them in front. Torrez & Scheible took home beam honors alongside LSU’s Kailin Chio, and freshman phenom Mackenzie Estep tied for the floor title with Jordan Chiles.
- For her thrice-earned 9.90+ scores, Estep was unsurprisingly named SEC Freshman of the Week. Per soonersports, she’s the first freshman since 2017 to earn all 9.90+ scores in a freshman debut.
- In the 2026 Preseason Coaches Poll, Oklahoma was overwhelmingly the no. 1 pick, receiving 39 first place votes. Per College Gym News’ preseason power rankings, the Sooners were ranked no. 4:
Nothing but a quiet offseason for the Sooners lands the defending champs in fourth to open the season. Still, uneventful usually equals success for Oklahoma, as it sits as the sport’s current dynasty with eight of the last 12 titles to its name despite offseasons without exponential elite successes or transfer portal additions. But, as expected, the Sooners add an astute freshman class, led by former No. 1-ranked recruit Mackenzie Estep, who can help soothe the losses of Audrey Davis and Honda Award winner Jordan Bowers. Oklahoma has losses to contend with, but that has never slowed down the Sooners before, so don’t be surprised to see them back atop the power rankings as soon as week two.
Missouri Lineup Preview
Disclaimer: Just like Jon Snow, I know nothing, really. Per Shannon, the lineup figures to be similar personnel to last week. I have included my spreadsheet this week, which includes high scores, scores from the B&G meet (if that is higher than the current score only), and the 2025 top score (if applicable.) As the meet is going to be SEC Network, it is unlikely there will be exhibition slots, as tv dictates all.
KEY ROSTER LOSSES:
Amari Celestine (AA); Jocelyn Moore (VLT, UB, FX); Helen Hu (BB); Kyra Burns (VLT); Mara Titarsolej (UB); Abby Mueller (VLT, BB)
KEY ROSTER ADDITIONS:
Lauren Macpherson (UB, BB— return from injury) | Grace Anne Davis (BB— return from injury) | Dakota Essenpries (Arkansas, VLT, UB, FX) | Sara Wabi (Illinois State, UB, FX) | Makayla Green (Illinois, UB) | Kimarra Echols (5-star, AA) | Maiya Terry (3-star, UB, BB, FX) | Hayli Westerlind (4-star, VLT, UB, BB) | Bryce Kupbens (VLT, BB)
LINEUP LOOKSIES:
Vault Analysis: If we’re going same lineup as last week, then it’s KG (9.95 SV), Kaia (10 SV), RJ (10 SV), Ki (9.95 SV), Elise (10 SV) and H2 (10 SV). This seems like the best lineup for me, even though Kaia’s Pike Front Half was a bit wonky last week. I personally still think it’s a better vault than the Tsuk Full she competed last year. I don’t really see any changes here, unless Ayla or Olivia have their Y 1.5s nailed down.
Bars Analysis: Last week’s lineup went Addi, LMac, Liv, H2, Ki & Makayla. After two weeks of 9.8-range bars, I think we see a new anchor, and I’d give it to Hannah. If any lineup changes are made, I’m thinking it’s Kaia, who had a massive bars routine at Black & Gold, or Maiya, who has for two weeks straight done a great job in exhibition, scoring a 9.80 in Week 1 and a 9.85 last week (even with picky judges).
Beam Analysis: All Hail, Addi Lawrence, with back-to-back 9.95s. Wow. She was awarded CGN’s Hidden Gem of the Week, stating,“Missouri senior Addison Lawrence going 9.950 on beam for the second week in a row to start the season.”
The week 2 lineup was Amy, LMac, KG, Liv, RJ and Addi and was pretty incredible. If KG comes out — she had a front toss oopsie (she stayed on the beam, though) that led to a connection issue last week (which she re-did) — I think Kaia or Kimarra step in and get another shot in the lineup. In Week 1, the analysts praised Ki’s difficulty on the apparatus, and when on, it’s too good to not be an almost-lock.
Floor Analysis: The Fab Floor, who I feel was underscored in Week 2, was comprised of Elise, Ayla, Kaia, RJ, H2 and KG. In week 1, Kimarra was in for Railey. I love both of their routines so much, but I’m thinking that if Ki is adding another event, it will be either beam or floor, NOT both. Not against Oklahoma. Additionally, I’m still waiting on Dakota’s Stick It routine. I’m ready for it.
Records Watch
- Balance Beam: 49.575, broken three times in 2025 (at ARK in March 2025, SEC Champs in March 2025, Seattle Regionals Rd 2, April 2025)
- Uneven Bars: 49.600, scored at Mizzou Quad, March 10, 2024
- Vault: 49.500, scored at Illinois Quad, March 17, 2024
- Floor Exercise: 49.725, scored at Zou to the Lou, February 14, 2025
- Overall Score: 198.100, scored vs. Auburn, March 9, 2025
- Best Attendance of the 2000s: 1/26/24 vs. LSU— 7,336
Finishing Touches
I asked Shannon what the goals are for this week. “They’re pretty straightforward,” he shared via email.
- Get better
- Build our stick %
- Focus on Mizzou & have fun
Sounds good to me. Mizzou is always best when they’re loose and having the best time. They’ve definitely been having the time of their lives this week, coming out to various athletic events to throw tshirts, pass out cookies, talk to the crowd from center court, yell through megaphones (thanks for the loud hello, Jackie), etc. They are a SPIRITED bunch.
