Gymnastics team wins season debut

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team got its season off to a strong start.

Southeast won a dual meet at first-year program Lindenwood University Friday night, posting a 192.200-188.625 victory in St. Charles, Mo.

The Redhawks' score is more than two points higher than what they posted in last year's season-opener at home.

"Tonight our goal was not counting a fall and the team did exactly that," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said in a release. "We hit 22 out of 24 routines and didn't count a fall. I couldn't be more pleased with the performance to start the year."

Southeast won three of the four events and took the top three spots in the all-around competition.

Juniors Megan Fosnow and Taryn Vanderpool tied for the all-around title with scores of 38.525. Senior Taylor Westrick was close behind at 38.300.

Fosnow and senior Emma Garrett tied for first on vault (9.675). Vanderpool and senior Margaret O'Neal tied for third (9.575), while junior Erin Brady was fifth (9.525).

Vanderpool picked up another first place on bars (9.800), followed by Fosnow (9.725). Westrick and freshman Taylor Penzien tied for fourth (9.675).

Westrick was the winner on beam (9.675), with Vanderpool (9.625), Fosnow (9.525) and Penzien (9.500) finishing second through fourth.

Lindenwood kept Southeast from a clean sweep by winning floor. Garrett was second (9.725), Fosnow tied for third (9.600) and Westrick and Penzien deadlocked for fifth (9.550).

"The scores weren't where we wanted, but the performance was. What we can do is continue to build and improve from here," said Ewasko, whose squad struggled last year. "This is a totally different team in terms of its work ethic and trust from the staff to the gymnasts. The difference definitely showed tonight."

Southeast returns to action Friday with its first home meet, against Centenary at 6:30 p.m

Track and field

Southeast won two events at Saturday's Wisconsin Invite in Madison, Wis.

Reggie Miller, Jr. captured the high jump, tying his own school record he recently set with a height of 7 feet, 1/4 inch.

Jackson High School graduate Blake Smith won the long jump with a distance of 22-3 3/4. Miller was second in that event (21-9 1/2).

Smith was also second in the 60 meters (6.97 seconds).

Craig Robinson was third in the shot put (52-3 3/4) while Kevin Farley was fifth (50-10 1/3).

Kameron Long was second in the 800 (1:55.02), with Curt Wood third (1:57.95).

Tyler Mullen was third in the 3,000 (8:50.14). Sophomore Craig Munie was fourth (8:50.16).

Also placing in the top five for Southeast's men were Prentice Ivy, fourth in the 60 hurdles (8.68); Alexander Anderson, fifth in the long jump (21-2 1/2); and the 1,600 relay team of Anderson, Adam Shivers, Wood and Long (third, 3:24.92).

On the women's side, Notre Dame Regional High School graduate Jill Schnurbusch was third in the pole vault (12-3 1/2). Nikki Buchheit placed fifth (11-9 3/4).

Macy Ritter was third in the long jump 17-1 1/2), with Jessica Brown fifth (16-9 3/4).

Also in the top five for Southeast's women were Jerika Lewis, fourth in the 400 (59.23); Kim Moye, fourth in the triple jump (35-9 1/4); Cheyenne Tunti, fifth in the 200 (26.33); Alyssa Rebecca, fourth in the 800m (2:21.63); Courtney Gapelu, fifth in the shot put (48-3 1/2); and the 1,600 relay squad of Lewis, Alison Barker, Rebecca and Ayoona Cartwright (third, 4:02.71).

Southeast return to action next weekend at the Indiana Relays in Bloomington, Ind.

-- From staff reports