Meet Notes | Free Live Video

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast Missouri gymnastics team returns to Houck Field House for the first time since the season opener, hosting Wisconsin-Whitewater and Lindenwood at 6:30 p.m. Friday night. This will be the Redhawks third meeting with both schools in program history. Facing Lindenwood for the first time this year, it will be the second time Southeast has faced a fellow Midwest Independent Conference foe. Previously the Redhawks faced UIC at Penn State's quadrangular.
 
Last Meet –  Southeast Missouri and Sacramento State put on a battle that went down to the final rotation as the Hornets gave the Redhawks a stinging 193.150-193.100 loss. Taryn Vanderpool picked up the individual victory in the bars while Alyssa Tucker won her first-ever event on the balance beam.

Penn State won the meet with a 196.025 while Cornell scored a 191.000 and UIC rounded out the field with a 189.125.
 
About Lindenwood – The Lions of Lindenwood are 1-2 in dual meets this year while having competed one tri and one quad meet, claiming a first place and a third place. The top team score for Lindenwood was a 191.575 on Jan. 17. The Lions claimed first place over Seattle Pacific, UW-Oshkosh an UW-La Crosse in the meet.
 
Individually, Valeri Ingui and Emily Turik have competed in the all around and have put up comparative scores. Ingui has the slight edge with a 38.175 while Turik's top score is a 38.150. The top vaulter is Rachel Zabawa who had a 9.825 while Courtney Heise scored a 9.900 on the uneven bars.
 
About Wisconsin-Whitewater – The Warhawks have competed in three tri meets and one dual meet over the first month of the season. They won their only dual meet of the year, 187.075-179.600 over UW-Stout. The Warhawks claimed first place in two of their three tri meets.
 
The top team score was the 187.075, set on Jan. 25. Individually, McKenzie Foster has the top score on the vault with a 9.525 while Courtney Pickett and Amanda Quinn have each scored a 9.650 on the bars. The top balance beam score belongs to Kristin Shackleton and Allyse Dieringer with 9.550. On the floor, Dieringer again has the top score with a 9.600. Four athletes have competed the all around with Foster posting the highest, a 37.425.
 
First Touch:
 
Who 2 Watch 4: Taryn Vanderpool kept her hot streak going at Sacramento State, scoring a 38.950 in the all around. She scored her first event victory of the season on the uneven bars when she posted a 9.875. She was also the top finisher for the Redhawks on the floor exercise as her routine scored a 9.775. On the vault, she scored a 9.700 and on the balance beam she was given a 9.600. Her all around score placed her second in the meet.
 
National Ranks – After three meets, Southeast fairs well in the national rankings, reeling in the 37th spot in the Vault, 30th in the bars, and 42nd as a team. Individually, Taryn Vanderpool ranks 47th in the all around while Alyssa Tucker is just behind in the 57th spot.
 
Vanderpool ranks 47th in the uneven bars with her 9.825 average.
 
Vanderpool Named Top Gymnast in MIC in Week 2 – Taryn Vanderpool was named the Midwest Independent Conference Gymnast of the Week after her performance at Penn State.
 
First Impressions: Head Coach Kristi Ewasko has consistently sent out five freshmen in competition, including four out of the six vaulters. Chelsi Hamilton owns the top vault for Southeast this year, with a 9.800, which she has achieved twice. Bailey Walker owns the top floor routine with a 9.725, a number she hit in the season opener against Kent State. Alyssa Tucker is one of two Redhawks who competes all around while Ashley Thomas competes on the vault and beam.