Redhawks Improve Score in 2nd Place Finish at Penn State

Saturday, January 18

University Park, Pa.

3:00 PM

Southeast Missouri State University

193.800

196.025

Penn State

Taryn Vanderpool scored a 38.975 in the all around, placing fourth at Penn State.

1/18/2014 7:14:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

By: By Ryan Hilgemann, Southeast Missouri Sports Information

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UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Southeast Missouri gymnastics team hit the road for the first time in the young season, finishing second at Penn State with a total score of 193.800 Saturday at Rec Hall in University Park, Pa.

Penn State finished with the top score of 196.025 while Cornell totaled a score of 191.000. Fellow Midwest Independent Conference member, University of Illinois-Chicago finished with a score of 189.125.

"The meet went really well," Southeast head coach Kristi Ewasko said. "I couldn't have expected more. We also did not have to count a fall, only having one fall all afternoon.

"Our team really built confidence knowing they can make the routines and not count a fall. Now we can work on minor details and make them look really good."

The Redhawks began its rotation on the floor exercise, totaling a score of 48.275. Freshmen Ashley Thomas and Alyssa Tucker both posted a 9.700 to lead Southeast.

Penn State's Krystal Welsh won the event with a 9.925.

The second rotation led the Redhawks to perhaps the strongest event for the 2014 squad, the vault.

Just as she did a week ago, freshman Chelsi Hamilton had the top score for the Redhawks with a 9.800. She was followed by Megan Fosnow and Thomas, who each scored an 9.725. Southeast totaled a score of 48.675.

Emma Sibson of Penn State won the event with a vault that was scored 9.850 by the judges.

The third rotation led Southeast to the uneven bars where they scored a 48.675. Senior Taryn Vanderpool led the Redhawks with a 9.825 placing fourth overall. Tucker scored a 9.750 while sophomore Kimmie Pickerl had a 9.725. Freshman Alexandria Stokes was given a 9.700 by the judges.

Kassidy Stauder of Penn State won the event with a score of 9.875.

The fourth and final rotation led the Redhawks to the balance beam, an event they struggled on in the season opener. However, on Saturday Southeast showed great improvement with a 48.175.

"We had a vast improvement on the beam," Ewasko said. "We didn't count a fall at all."

Vanderpool again led the Redhawks with a 9.775 while Tucker scored a 9.725 as the two completed the all around. Stauder won her second event of the meet posting a 9.900 on the beam for Penn State.

Vanderpool finished fourth in the all around with a 38.975. Tucker finished one spot behind with a 38.850.

For the meet, the Redhawks welcomed Chelsi Hamilton back to full strength as she competed in three events after competing in just one event last week.

"Chelsi competed in three events for the first time," Ewasko said. "It was great to have her and will be great to see how much she improves."

Spending this weekend on the East Coast, the Redhawks will switch things up and go to the West Coast for a meet at Sacramento State on Friday. The meet is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m. in the central time zone.