State of Missouri Meet
Date: Sunday, Jan. 15
Time: 3 p.m.
Venue: Robert F. Hyland Arena
Coaches: Kristi Ewasko (Eighth Season);
LU - Jen Kesler (Fourth Season);
MU - Shannon Welker (Third Season)

Media Coverage
Live Results: Live Video; Live Results
Twitter Updates: @SEMOgymnastics

SEMO Opens 2017 at State of Missouri Meet
The Southeast Missouri gymnastics team will begin its 2017 season against two-time defending Midwest Independent Conference champion Lindenwood and in-state rival Missouri this Sunday in St. Charles, Missouri. Last season, the Redhawks went a combined 0-3 against these opponents. Southeast is 4-4 all-time against the Lady Lions, while the Tigers hold a 31-8 advantage in the all-time series.

Looking at the Opponents
Last week, Lindenwood traveled to Dekalb, Illinois to compete in a four-team meet at Northern Illinois University. LU finished fourth at the meet scoring a 192.075 during the competition. Mizzou opened its season at home in a tri-meet against Ball State and Illinois. The Tigers handled their opponents easily scoring a 196.225, outscoring the next team by 2.025 points (Illinois - 194.200).

Senior Spotlight
Ashley Thomas is the lone senior heading into the 2017 campaign. Thomas is the active leader in scores of 9.700 or higher with 71 total. In her first three years, Thomas has garnered five all-conference honors and reached the NCAA Regional in Norman, Oklahoma as a sophomore, where she placed ninth in the all-around competition. Thomas will look to cap off an already stellar career in her final season as a Redhawk.

2016 Improvement
The Redhawks improved upon their 2015 season, that saw them place fourth at the MIC Championship, with a second-place finish in 2016. They narrowly fell to LU, who collected its programs second conference title in as many years. SEMO will look to build off of last season and claim its first title since 2014.

MIC Hardware
SEMO had a strong 2016 season that saw several Redhawks bring home a number of awards throughout the year. On top of bringing home the MIC Gymnast of the Year Trophy (Alexis Brawner) and sending three to an NCAA Regional (Brawner, Lauren Israel and McKinzie Jones), Southeast also earned 13 first and second-team all-conference honors as well as eight weekly honors.