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