March 31, 2008

By Matthew C. Worthington, Gymnastics Contact

 

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri State University women's gymnastics team has learned today that they have earned a NCAA Regional berth after finishing the regular season as the No. 36 team in the nation. The Redhawks will compete in the NCAA South Central Regional, April 12, at the University of Oklahoma in Norman.

The six-team regional field will include top seeded Alabama, Oklahoma, Boise State, Arizona State, Illinois and Southeast Missouri. The Redhawks last made the NCAA Regional in the 2006 season.

"We are just excited to continue in post-season play," said head coach Tom Farden. "It has been a tremendous year and our students have turned in a solid effort. This is obviously a great draw for us as we get to compete against some of the most storied universities in the country."

Southeast placed second in the Midwest Independent Championships on Friday evening at Centenary College, but finished the regular season in first place with a regional qualifying score of 194.065.

Along with the impressive finish to the regular season; two gymnasts earned a spot on the All-MIC Team (Sandra Blake, Rikara Turner), assistant coach Brogan Evanson was named MIC Assistant Coach of the Year and head coach Tom Farden was named MIC Head Coach of the Year.

The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Athens, Ga., April 24-26, hosted by the University of Georgia. In addition, the event winners at the regional championships will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.