Mizzou gymnastics will open its 2027 season at Family Arena in St. Charles, Mo., hosting Big Ten opponents Illinois, Iowa and Nebraska in the Mizzou to the Lou quad meet.
The meet marks the program’s third appearance at Family Arena. Mizzou posted a then-season-high 197.475 in a second-place finish at the 2024 Mizzou to the Lou quad against Florida, Illinois and Lindenwood, a meet in which Mara Titarsolej recorded the first perfect 10.000 on uneven bars in program history in front of 5,995 fans. The Tigers returned in 2025 and won the Zou to the Lou quad with a 197.150, topping Alabama, Illinois and Iowa behind a 49.725 on floor exercise, the program record at the time, and a perfect 10.000 on floor from senior Kennedy Griffin (Strongsville, Ohio).
Family Arena opened in 1999 and has served as home to the St. Louis Ambush of the Major Arena Soccer League since 2013. The venue completed a $13 million renovation in 2024 that included new lower-bowl seating, new video and ribbon boards and upgraded Wi-Fi throughout the building.
Missouri holds the all-time series lead over both Illinois (26-13) and Iowa (28-5), while Nebraska leads its series with the Tigers 67-10. Mizzou defeated both the Huskers and the Illini during the 2026 season, winning 197.275-194.600 at Nebraska on Jan. 10 and 197.550-195.450 against Illinois at Mizzou Arena on Feb. 20.
MU returns 11 members from its 2026 squad, which made its sixth-straight NCAA Championship Regional Final and finished the season ranked No. 11 nationally. Senior Hannah Horton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) was named 2026 SEC Specialist of the Year, marking the third-straight Mizzou gymnast to earn the honor and fifth time a Mizzou gymnast has earned the recognition in the last seven seasons. Mizzou also had a conference-record 10 All-SEC selections and a pair of Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Regular Season All-Americans, highlighted by sophomore Kimarra Echols (Henderson, Nev.) becoming the second Tiger to ever receive the nod as a freshman.
Ahead of the 2027 campaign, head coach Shannon Welker’s 14th season leading the program, Missouri welcomes the fifth-ranked freshman class, according to College Gym News, tied for the highest-rated in program history, which includes top-ranked prospect and freshman Imani White (Orlando, Fla.), along with Oregon State transfer and fifth year Jennifer McMillan (Charlotte, N.C.).
