INJURY MARS FINAL HOME GYMNASTICS MEET

The mood was as somber as a gray winter day on Sunday afternoon at Houck Field House.

Not only were hopes of ascending the Region 3 ladder dashed in Southeast Missouri State University's 193.525-192.475 setback to Auburn, but Southeast's top gymnast suffered an injury that stopped short her promising season.

Malia Roberts, a junior who had emerged as Southeast's leader in the wake of senior Erin Chenier's ankle injury, suffered a ruptured Achilles' tendon as she warmed up for her floor exercise routine.

Minutes later a tearful Roberts learned her season was over.

"Even when you think you have everything figured out and you don't have anybody on the sideline with injury ...," Southeast coach Kris Buchheister said. "But this is a part of athletics."

With Roberts, Southeast's record-holder on uneven parallel bars and best all-arounder this season, out and Chenier still hampered somewhat by the injury she suffered in late December, the Otahkians' prospects of sliding into the Region 3 meet might have dimmed.

But Buchheister remained optimistic.

"I see this team as one that can pull together and get the job done," she said.

The meet, the River Rose Festival, was Southeast's final home competition. The Otahkians slipped to 10-8; Auburn improved to 3-13 behind its second-best score this season.

Southeast's otherwise solid performance was diminished by its lackluster score on beam. The Otahkians posted at least a 48.2 on vault, bars and floor but mustered just a 47.25 on beam as several Otahkians suffered falls.

"The meet didn't go exactly as planned," Buchheister said. "They (Auburn) stayed on the beam and we had some falls."

Chenier said, "I think everything went pretty well, but it could have been better. Our beam just hurt us really bad. It's just something that happens sometimes."

Chenier turned in Southeast's best showings. She won vault with a 9.775, placed second on bars with a 9.85 and tied for third on floor with a 9.775. Her all-around score of 38.775 placed third behind Sarah Wentworth (39.25) and Sally Cantrell (38.775), both of Auburn.

But Chenier, Southeast's most decorated gymnast, still hasn't approached her success of previous years.

"My injuries are there," Chenier said, "but my gymnastics is almost over, so I think I can handle it just a little bit longer."

Roberts tied for third on vault with a 9.7. Freshman Jessica Bagwill took fifth on bars (9.7), senior Erica Smith was fourth on beam (9.775) and Stephanie Furman and senior Amanda Gdovicak each tied for third on floor (9.775).