Final Results
CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri gymnastics team put together its best performance of the season while picking up its first dual victory of the year against Illinois State at Houck Field House on Friday night.
The Redhawks (1-7, 1-2 Midwest Independent) tallied a 194.375, posting season bests on all four events. The Redbirds finished with a 193.650.
“I am very proud of the team tonight,” Southeast head coach
Kristi Ewasko said. “I also want to thank our fans for their showing tonight. We had great support from our student section especially. They provided outstanding energy for us.”
Southeast began the evening on vault, where it recorded a 48.750. Four Redhawks cracked scores of 9.725 or higher, led by
Taylor Huey's first-place score of 9.875.
Emma Garrett posted a season-best 9.800 while
Megan Fosnow and
Tamara Gent each scored 9.725. The Redbirds started slow on bars, finishing with a 47.375 to stake Southeast to a lead of nearly one and a half points.
“
Taylor Huey really stepped up for us on vault,” Ewasko said. “I am very excited about what's to come for her.”
ISU gained a significant amount of ground in the second rotation with a strong 49.150 vault score. Southeast countered with a 48.250 on bars with
Taryn Vanderpool and Fosnow leading the way with identical scores of 9.800, which tied for first among all individuals.
Taylor Westrick wasn't far off that pace as she turned in a 9.775.
The Redbirds took the lead in the third rotation on the strength of a 49.050 score on the floor exercise. The Redhawks went 48.300 as a team on the balance beam and Westrick's 9.825 gave her a share of the individual event title. Fosnow and Vanderpool were strong in that event as well, each recording a 9.725. ISU led 145.575-145.300 going into the last rotation.
From there, Southeast went six-for-six on the floor exercise and erupted with a sensational 49.075, a full point higher than ISU's 48.075 beam score, to take the team competition. All six Redhawks scored at least 9.725 and they did not count a score lower than 9.750. Garrett closed out the rotation with a career-best 9.900 and she was aided by superb showings from
Tamara Gent (9.850), Westric (9.800),
Erin Brady (9.775), Kimberly Pickerl (9.750) and Fosnow (9.725).
“This meet was different because we had the scores flashing,” Ewasko said. “Heading into the last rotation, we knew we were down. I gathered the team together and told them it was time to take over this meet and they did just that. Our floor group really stepped up to finish off the meet.”
Fosnow finished second in the all-around competition, tallying a career-best 38.975.
“Megan did a great job on all-around for us, hitting on all four events,” Ewasko said. “Emma once again was tremendous on both vault and floor. It was also great to see Taryn back competing in three events. I look for her to improve and get back into all-around as well.”
The Redhawks return to the mat on March 3 when they head to Denton, Texas for a quad meet with Iowa, BYU and Texas Woman's.
