Back in the mix

Ashley Godwin giggles when she talks about the injury that ended her freshman season and likely kept her from qualifying for the NCAA regional.

It's easier to laugh about it now.

Southeast coach Patty Stotzheim, trying to lighten the team's mental load, let the Otahkians compete in a variety of off-beat games, including a short relay where the athletes carried a teammate on their backs.

It seemed harmless -- right up until Godwin tripped and injured her shoulder, an inury that sidelined her for the final two meets.

"We'd been practicing really hard and I knew we needed to lighten up a little," Southeast coach Patty Stotzheim said. "Ashley had the smallest person on her back, but she just tripped."

No more fun and games. They're off limits.

"Not for the whole team, but Ashley has been banned," Stotzheim joked.

Godwin and her teammates return to the floor tonight in Southeast's first home meet of the season at 7 p.m. against Wisconsin-LaCrosse at Houck Field House.

"It was kind of hard to sit and watch those last few meets," she said of last season's injury. "I really wasn't upset, maybe disgruntled, especially when people would ask me how it happened and you tell them I wasn't even doing gymnastics.

"I've now been excused from all games."

End of a big year

That accident ended what was a banner rookie season for the native of Cape Coral, Fla. Godwin settled in as the Otahkians' top all-around performer last year and won four meet titles. She captured four titles in vaulting and one in floor exercise.

"Ashley did really well as a freshman," Stotzheim said. "I'm pretty sure she would have qualified for regionals if she could have finished those last two meets."

Godwin already is off to a strong start this year with two vault titles and a second-place all-around finish in the Otahkians' first two meets. She said she exceeded her expectations last season, even though her personality reflects her confidence and optimism by nature.

"I came here thinking I was only going to do floor and vault. It was kind of a shock to be put in all-around," she said. "It was a little nerve-wracking for my freshman year."

Godwin laughed again when she talked about her early days as a gymnast and the adjustment she had to make on her move to Missouri.

"I've been a gymnast since I was 2. Mom says I couldn't walk and chew gum at the same time, so she put me in gymnastics," Godwin said. "And coming here was definitely a culture shock. We had all that snow last year and I had never lived in snow before. The coaches still make fun of me and the (two) others from Florida about how we bundle up whenever it gets a little bit cold."

No doubt about Southeast

But Godwin, who was also recruited by Auburn, Arizona and West Virginia, never questioned her decision to attend Southeast -- even though she said it was minus-nine degrees when she first visited the campus.

"At first I thought 'no way,'" she said. "But I really liked the campus. It's pretty. I have no regrets. I love it here. And the places we get to go as a team ... We went to California last year and I had never been to California."

While Godwin is focused on having another strong season personally, she said she would rather see the team thrive. Although the Otahkians finished last in a tri-meet at Florida and lost a dual meet at Illinois State, they have been hampered by injuries and expect to improve as they return to health.

"I think when everybody gets healthy, we'll have a good team," Godwin said. "I would like to make it to regionals more as a team than for myself. But if not, then I'd love to go individually."

mmishow@semissourian.com

(573) 335-6611, extension 132