OTAHKIAN GYMNASTS ROUT WISCONSIN TEAM

Basketball and football aren't the only college sports in which teams welcome lesser-weights to campus early in the season for a healthy mauling.

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team played host to Wisconsin-Oshkosh on Sunday, and, b' gosh, the Titans weren't much competition.

The Otahkians rolled to a 186.250 to 165.475 win over the NCAA Division III school in their home opener at the Show Me Center.

Last season, no Southeast opponent scored fewer than 184 points.

Nevertheless, the meet, the first River Rose Gymnastics Festival, provided the Otahkians some practice before they face teams like Missouri and Illinois next month.

"186, that's pretty good for our first meet at home," said Southeast's Erin Chenier, who won the all-around. "It'll go up as the year goes on."

First-year Southeast coach Kris Buchheister said that a new scoring system was implemented this season, and scores are lower than last year. Starting values were lowered and gymnasts must now gain bonus points to gain a score of 10.0.

"Considering there is a new scoring system," Buchheister said, "as a new coach it's been a little bit difficult when you know that the scores are going to be lower. But this is right where we want to be right now."

Bars killed the Titans. While Southeast outscored UWO by no more than 3.025 points in the other three events, the Otahkians totaled a 46.35 on bars to the Titans' 29.75.

Chenier, who was Southeast's top all-arounder in every meet last season, won with a 38.2. Tiffany Barden of UWO was second with a 37.225 and the Otahkians' Malia Roberts was third at 37.175.

On floor, Roberts won with a 9.55, Southeast's Amanda Gdovicak was second (9.4) and Barden and Chenier were third (9.3).

Roberts also won on bars with a 9.475. Chenier, who is nursing an injury suffered to her right ankle in Southeast's season-opening loss at Texas Woman's on Jan. 17, was second (9.425) and the Otahkians' Kristin Frohlich placed third (9.4).

On balance beam, Barden was first with a 9.75, Chenier was second (9.7) and the Otahkians' Erica Smith placed third (9.475).

Chenier won vault with a 9.775. Gdovicak was second (9.6) and Southeast's Kathy Smith placed third (9.575).