Solorzano-Caruso Captures Three Titles as Redhawks Earn First Dual Meet Victory Since 2018

Sunday, January 12

Anchorage, Alaska

5 p.m.

Southeast Missouri State University

191.225

190.825

Alaska-Anchorage

Photo by: Eric Mueller

1/12/2020 9:00:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics

Final Results

ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Dahlia Solorzano-Caruso won her first three career individual titles and etched her name in the Southeast Missouri women's gymnastics record books as the Redhawks overcame Alaska Anchorage, 191.225-190.825, Sunday at the Alaska Airlines Center for their first dual meet win since 2018.

"Today was a day to show what our team is all about," head coach Ashley Lawson said of the victory. "We had a lot of uncharacteristic mistakes, but our team showed they were able to bend and not break. We showed trust, unity and grit tonight."

Solorzano-Caruso registered three career-bests to capture the vault (9.800), balance beam (9.900) and all-around (39.175) titles.

In the fourth rotation, the freshman from Courtice, Ontario, Canada, posted a 9.900 on beam which tied for fifth all-time in Southeast program history for the event. Solorzano-Caruso became the 10th Redhawk to post the score with Lauren Israel last earning the mark on Feb. 26, 2016.

"She had an amazing meet," Lawson said of Solorzano-Caruso. "She was clutch on each event and was instrumental in picking the team back up."

The dual meet victory was also Lawson's first at the helm of her alma mater and the first for the team since March 9, 2018 when SEMO bested Centenary, 191.950-189.125, at Houck Field House in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Trailing 142.975-142.525 after three rotations, Southeast utilized a season-best beam mark of 48.700 in the fourth rotation to edge the host Seawolves.

"Our beam team was fire," Lawson said of the final event Sunday. "Each athlete set each other up for the next routine. We knew the meet was going to come down to the last event and our athletes rose to the occasion."

Solorzano-Caruso's record-setting beam score set the tone for SEMO. Jordan Jones was third overall at the dual with a personal-best 9.850 in her second career collegiate meet. Anna Kaziska finished fourth with 9.775. Molly Maxwell added a 9.600 and Jolie Miller had a 9.575.

Southeast opened the dual with a 47.375 on bars. Solorzano-Caruso led the Redhawks with a 9.750 in the anchor position for third at the dual. Lindsey Bates added a 9.600 and Kaziska had a score of 9.575.

In the second rotation, SEMO notched a season-high 47.900 on vault. Solorzano-Caruso registered a 9.800 in the fifth position. Kaziska chipped in a 9.650 for third at the meet while Lindsey Moffitt (9.550, fourth at the dual), Alana Fischer (9.475) and Makenzie Marciniak (9.425) rounded out the rotation.

The Redhawks then danced to a 47.250 on floor in the third rotation. Solorzano-Caruso finished third at the meet with her third-straight score of 9.725 in 2020. Kaziska followed with a 9.675 in the fifth SEMO lineup slot, good for fourth at the dual. Lindsey Moffitt chipped in a 9.650.

Kaziska finished third in the all-around competition with a 38.675. Maxwell totaled 35.775 for fifth.

Southeast next visits Normal, Illinois, on Friday to face Midwest Independent Conference foe, Illinois State.

"This team is hungry, and ready for more," Lawson said. "I can't wait to continue to watch them trust each other, gain confidence and believe in themselves."