Meet #6
Illinois State (8-3) vs. Southeast Missouri (4-8)
 
Meet Information
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 6:30 p.m., CT. 
Location Cape Girardeau, Mo. 
Venue: Houck Field House
 
Head Coaches:
SEMO: Ashley Lawson (Seventh Season)
ISU: Bob Conkling (20^th Season)
 
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Gymhawks Host Illinois State in Home Opener
Southeast Missouri Gymnastics will host fellow Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) member Illinois State on Friday, January 31, for the first meet in Cape Girardeau of the season. Competition is slated to begin at 6:30 p.m., CT. inside Houck Field House. 
 
The Competition
The Redhawks and Redbirds will square off for the second time this season as Illinois State makes its first visit to Cape Girardeau in 2025. ISU last made the trip a season ago on February 16, 2024, for the SEMO Tri-Meet. The Redbirds took the meet by a final score of 195.975-193.500. 
 
First Dual
Friday night's meet will mark the first dual meet of the season for the Gymhawks. So far this season, SEMO Gymnastics has taken part at the Missouri Quad Meet (1/3), Ball State Quad Meet (1/12), Texas Woman's Tri-Meet (1/20), Centenary Tri-Meet (1/20), and most recently the Bowling Green Tri-Meet (1/26). 
 
Last Time Out
Southeast Missouri Gymnastics placed third in the BGSU Tri-Meet with an overall score of 192.375 on Sunday afternoon.
 
SEMO placed third right behind Bowling Green who scored a 192.600 and Central Michigan who won the meet with an overall score of 195.600.
 
Taylor Ingle finished second in the All-Around with a score of 39.150 which breaks her previous season high All-Around score of 38.700. Ingle led the Redhawks in every single rotation and tied for first on the vault, placed sixth on the bars, second on the beam, and third on the floor. 
 
Luciana Alvarado-Reid from Central Michigan won the All-Around with a score of 39.275.
 
The Redhawks recorded three season highs during the meet and tied their season highs twice. Nyah Reader placed fifth in the All-Around with a score of 36.000.
 
Madison Greene, Ailey Kuehn, and Joselene Hernandez all tied for fifth on the vault with a score of 9.775.
 
Gymnast of the Week
Taylor Ingle of Southeast Missouri Gymnastics took home her second-straight Midwest Independent Conference 'Gymnast of the Week' Award, the league announced on Wednesday morning. 
 
Ingle, who has competed in the all-around in all five meets so far this season, set a new season-high 39.150 on Sunday afternoon at the Bowling Green Tri-Meet. Ingle finished in second place just narrowly behind Luciana Alvarado-Reid of Central Michigan (39.275). 
 
Ingle finished in the top three on three-of-four events on Sunday including a first-place finish on the vault (9.850), a second-place finish on the beam (9.750), and a third-place finish on the floor (9.800). She also placed sixth place on the bars (9.750). 
 
Earlier in the week, the Gymhawks competed and won the Centenary Tri-Meet with a final score of 192.325 led by Ingle once again who finished in first place in the all-around with a 38.225. 
 
Ingle finished with three first-place finishes on vault (9.850), beam (9.800), and floor (9.825). The meet marked the second all-around win of the season for Ingle, coming just two days after her first of the season at Texas Woman's. 
 
Where We Rank
The Gymhawks enter Friday's meet ranked 62^nd in the country, according to Road To Nationals. SEMO's highest ranking comes on the vault, ranking 53^rd in the country. The Gymhawks rank 61^st on the bars, 65^th on the floor, and 70^th on the beam. 
 
The Opponent
Illinois State will enter Friday's meet on the back of a Tuesday dual with Northern Illinois where they recorded a 193.925. The Redbirds rank 26^th in the country including 18^th on floor, 23^rd on vault, 34^th on bars, and 38^thon the beam. Their highest score of the season came on January 24 where they recorded a 196.150 at Northern Illinois. 
 
Best Meet of the Year
Earlier this season, the Gymhawks scored a 193.325 at the Texas Woman's Tri-Meet in Denton, Texas. All four rotations featured the Gymhawks' highest score(s) of the season including a 48.925 on vault, 48.700 on bars, 46.800 on beam, and 48.900 on the floor. SEMO placed second at the TWU Tri-Meet, led by Taylor Ingle who finished first in the all-around with a 38.500. 
 
Welcome Back Napolitano
Sophomore Jordan Napolitano made her season debut on Sunday afternoon at the BGSU Tri-Meet. Following a standout freshman campaign, the sophomore returned to the vault lineup and registered a 9.675 narrowly missing her career-high of 9.725 which she got four times in 2024. 
 
Season-High Reader
Senior Nyah Reader set a new season best on the vault on Sunday afternoon at BGSU. The Rexford, New York-native recorded a 9.625 for her best score this season. Previously, Reader had a season-high of 9.575 on the vault at Ball State (1/12). 
 
Freshman Debut
Freshman Gracie Jones made her collegiate gymnastics debut on Sunday afternoon competing on the bars in the third spot of the lineup. The Newville, Pa.-native turned in a 9.575 for the fifth best score for the Redhawks on the bars. 
 
Three in a Row
Freshman Anna Lee Phillips has featured on the floor for the Gymhawks in three-straight meets. Most recently, Phillips recorded a 9.400 at the BGSU Tri-Meet last Sunday from the second spot in the floor lineup. She recorded her season-high in her debut at TWU with a 9.625 on the floor. 
 
Ingle On Fire
Junior Taylor Ingle has had an impressive run over the last three meets for the Gymhawks. Ingle has recorded a 9.800 or higher on both the vault and floor in three-straight meets with her highest score of 9.875 on the floor at TWU. She has registered a 9.850 on the vault over the last three which is her season-high.