Final Results CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. – The Southeast Missouri gymnastics team posted their highest team score of the season Friday in front of a rowdy crowd in Houck Field House. The Redhawks compiled a season-best 193.900 to beat out Wisconsin-Whitewater (191.075) and Lindenwood University (190.600).
"This is exactly what these athletes train for every day," said head coach
Kristi Ewasko. "We had a very loud and rowdy student section and I know these ladies enjoyed that very much. We fought very hard tonight in all aspects of our performances. I could not be more proud of the effort they gave."
Southeast also recorded season-highs on the uneven parallel bars (48.925) and the floor exercise (48.475)
Ewasko added: "We have gotten better and better each week this season. Our athletes have higher expectations for themselves every week and they have been living up to those expectations and that is something to be proud of."
Besides posting a season-high team, bars, and floor scores, many Redhawks posted individual season and career-highs Friday evening.
Megan Fosnow not only came out as the bars champion, she broke a career-best 9.850 on the event.
Alyssa Tucker and
Taryn Vanderpool completed the sweep on bars with a score of 9.800. Tucker's 9.800 set a new career-high on the bars.
Taylor Penzien tied a career-best with a mark of 9.775 on the event.
Southeast also looked stellar in the floor exercise Friday. Freshman
Chelsi Hamilton prevailed as floor champion with a career-best 9.775. Lindenwood's Ajiea Hargrave and Rachel Zabawa also posted a 9.775 to round out the three-way tie for floor champion. Fosnow put on a season-best routine for the fans with a score of 9.700.
Bailey Walker and Tucker also set career-bests with floor scores of 9.650.
Three Redhawks combined for a three-way tie for second place on the vault. Vanderpool, Fosnow, and Walker all tallied 9.700 on the event. Zabawa from Lindenwood posted a 9.800 to come out as vault champion.
On the beam, Vanderpool and Penzien tallied a 9.775 in a three-way tie for beam champion. Vanderpool's score tied a season-high while Penzien set a new career-best. Hamilton also recorded a new career-high with a score of 9.675 on the beam.
In Friday evening's all-around, Vanderpool placed first with a combined score of 38.975. Tucker's mark of 38.725 was good enough for second-place. UW-Whitewater's Katie Fiorilli placed third with a score of 38.025.
Head coach Ewasko is very confident in her squad heading into a showdown with SEC opponent Missouri next Friday, Feb. 7.
"When we last went to Columbia, they just barely beat us in their house and these ladies are hungry. To beat an SEC team would be amazing! I think we will give the Tigers a run for their money."
Southeast will return home the following Sunday, Feb. 9, for another tri-meet against UIC and Alaska in Houck Field House.
