Connolly takes part in NFL Scouting Combine

Former Southeast Missouri State football star Dan Connolly continues his busy offseason this week as he participates in the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis. The event begins today and concludes Tuesday.

More than 300 of the nation's top NFL prospects will gather for the combine, which includes a battery of physical and mental tests in front of NFL scouts, coaches and front office personnel.

"It's exciting," Connolly said. "Never in my dreams did I think somebody from SEMO would be invited to something like this."

Connolly, an offensive tackle who was a four-year starter for Southeast -- he completed his eligibility last season -- also participated in the Las Vegas All-American Classic on Jan. 22.

Connolly, a 6-foot-4, 315-pound native of St. Louis, projects to play either guard or center in the professional ranks. He is regarded as a probable selection in the seven-round NFL draft that will be held in late April.

Golf second in tourney

Southeast's golf squad placed third out of 18 schools during its season-opening tournament, Monday's Pizza Hut Classic in Philadelphia, Miss.

The Redhawks had a score of 299, one stroke behind Centenary and North Alabama, who tied for the title. The tournament was scheduled for 36 holes, but 18 holes were rained out.

Sophomore Zack Decker led the Redhawks with an even-par 72, which placed him second. Senior Brandon Couch tied for 10th with 74.

Other scores for Southeast were sophomore Mark Schmitz (76), senior Brian Sheehan (77) and senior Matt Hillis (78).

Gymnasts ranked 35th

Southeast's gymnastics team is 35th in the latest national ranking poll as posted on Troester.com, the gymnastics website used to determine regional and national qualifiers for the NCAA Championships.

Southeast (3-5) moved up 14 spots from No. 49 in last week's poll with a regional qualifying score of 191.625. The mark was helped by a season-high score of 194.525 at Bowling Green on Friday and a score of 193.025 at Kent State on Sunday.

This week's national poll included a total of 66 gymnastics teams, although not all gymnastics squads across the country reported their scores and thus were not included.

The ranking is the highest for a Southeast gymnastics squad since 1999, when Southeast was 30th with a regional qualifying score of 193.4375.

"This is great for our program," Southeast coach Tom Farden said. "Our record doesn't reflect the type of season we are having, but that goes to show you the high level of competition we are facing."

Individually, junior Tara Boldt ranks 44th nationally in the all-around with a regional qualifying score of 38.250. Boldt was also recently named the Midwest Independent Conference gymnast of the week as she won her third all-around title of the season at Bowling Green.

The Redhawks have a home meet Saturday, facing Wisconsin-LaCrosse at 1 p.m. at Houck Field House.

Conceicao honored again

Southeast junior center Tatiana Conceicao has once again been honored as the Ohio Valley Conference newcomer of the week for women's basketball.

Conceicao, who has won the award eight times in 13 weeks, averaged 18.5 points and 10 rebounds in two games last week.

Conceicao, a junior college transfer who is the OVC's second-leading scorer at 17.7 points per game, has scored in double figures in all but two contests this season.

Track nets OVC honors

Southeast's track and field program swept the weekly OVC awards as Brian Whitehead (male track athlete), Brian Knippen (male field athlete) and Kathy Coleman (female track athlete and field athlete) were all honored.

At the Southeast Redhawk Invitational last Friday, Whitehead won the 3,000-meters; Knippen won the shot put and was fourth in the weight throw; and Coleman was first in the long jump and 55-meters, while finishing second in the 55-meter hurdles.