TEAMS AT THE UNIVERSITY STRIVE TOWARD EXCELLENCE

Southeast Missouri State University's athletic teams have progressed admirably through what promised to be an interesting year, the last in NCAA Division II. The teams make the jump this autumn to Division I athletics, a higher level of competition. Indian and Otahkian teams have shown themselves in excellent form during this transitional period and appear as prepared as possible for the challenges ahead.

It has been an especially impressive winter season. Among those teams excelling in Southeast colors is the Otahkian basketball unit. The women's team, coached by Ed Arnzen, won the Missouri Intercollegiate Athletic Association tournament and this weekend hosts the Division II South-Central Regional. Despite a harsh conference ruling over an inadvertent and self-reported rules violation, which left several important players ineligible for four games, the Otahkians boast a record of 27-3.

Playing on the home court will be an advantage but the Otahkians, ranked 10th nationally and riding a 17-game winning streak, face tough competition in trying to capture their first regional championship. Teams playing here Friday and Saturday have a combined record of 102-15 and the nation's top-ranked Division II team, West Texas State, is in the bracket. This is shaping up as an outstanding tournament and a good event for the community; a large Show Me Center crowd could spur the home team, playing at 8 p.m. Friday, to even better things.

The Otahkians' male counterparts have also had a successful season. Barring an unlikely at-large bid to the NCAA Tournament, the Indians will finish their season with a 21-7 record, the seventh straight 20-win campaign for the Ron Shumate-coached club. The team achieved its fine record by overcoming considerable adversity, including a scheduling oddity that put them on the road the last five games of the regular season. They won four of those games. A sixth road game followed, a tournament loss that ended the season. In Shumate's 10 years at Southeast, the Indians have a record of 235-76, a remarkable accomplishment and one that has delighted area basketball fans.

Not to be overshadowed by the basketball successes are the achievements of the Otahkian gymnastics team. This unit, coached by Bill Hopkins, shouldn't be intimidated by the prospect of Division I opponents since it has been competing regularly at that level. Already this season, the Southeast women have beaten Big 10 teams Iowa and Illinois. On Friday, the Otahkians will be in Lexington, Ky., for a meet against Kentucky and nationally ranked Louisiana State. The Otahkians are atop the U.S. Gymnastics Federation Division II rankings and also have consistently occupied a space in the Division I Top 20 this season.

The decision to elevate Southeast's intercollegiate sports programs to Division I status was made for institutional as well as athletic reasons. The athletes and coaches at the university are to be commended for their drive toward excellence and their preparations for moving up to an enhanced level of competition. Along the way, they've given spectators more than a few good moments, too.