OTAHKIAN GYMNASTS TO COMPETE IN MIC MEET

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team will try to claim the Midwest Independent Championship when the meet is held Saturday at Redbird Arena in Normal, Ill.

The MIC meet, scheduled for a 7:30 p.m. start, will feature Southeast, host Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago and Winona State.

"Illinois-Chicago is ranked ahead of us in NCAA Region 3, but I think we can still win the MIC championship," said Southeast coach Kris Buchheister. "All of our gymnasts are peaking now and we are capable of posting a big score if everybody hits routines."

Southeast will have 15 gymnasts presented scholar-athlete awards at the meet and the top three finishers in each event will earn all-MIC honors.

The Otahkians have a regional qualifying score of 193.375 and are currently in a tight battle with Arizona for the sixth and final regional qualifying berth.

"All we can do is go out and do the best we can and then see how Arizona scores in a home meet against Arizona State," said Buchheister. "I really feel our team is capable of scoring a 195."

All-arounder Erin Chenier has an opportunity to qualify for the regional all-around even if the team fails to qualify. Chenier has an all-around average of 38.58 and needs to maintain or better that average to qualify as an at-large entry.

"Erin is really coming on strong," Buchheister said. "She was slowed early in the season by an ankle injury, but she is healthy now and really doing a good job on all four events."