OTAHKIAN GYMNASTS WIN IN HOME DEBUT

No performances rated a perfect 10 score Saturday night in the Wellness in Motion gymnastics meet at the Show Me Center. Or a 9.9. Or even a 9.8.

But a sufficient number of Southeast Missouri State University showings were fair enough to total a fair sum, a 190.500 that easily bested Illinois State's 183.550 in the Otahkians' home opener.

Southeast's outing paled in comparison with its meet-record 192.750 Jan. 17 in the Shakespeare's Invitational at Missouri. But a few key Otahkians are nursing injuries, and for their third meet this season, the 190 was a passable figure.

"We want to score at least 190 at every meet," Southeast's Malia Roberts said. "We had a little nerves in this meet. I don't know if it was because of the home crowd or what exactly, but as long as we keep hitting 190 and keep improving, everything will be fine."

Roberts' 9.725 on floor tied the winning beam score by ISU's Annie Chapman as the meet's best.

"Nothing really stood out," Southeast coach Kris Buchheister said. "Nothing near a 10 yet, but lots of gymnasts continue to be very consistent."

Chief among them was Roberts, a junior from Maui, Hawaii. Roberts won the all-around with a score of 38.550, well ahead of the 37.425 posted by ISU's Jamie Reineck. Roberts won bars with a 9.650 and was second on vault with a 9.550, behind Erin Chenier's 9.675.

"My goal at every meet is to hit every event," Roberts said. "I did hit, but there's room for improvement always."

Chenier, a senior and Southeast's most decorated gymnast in history, still has not recovered fully from an ankle injury suffered before the season. She competed only on vault and bars, on which she placed third with a 9.550.

Southeast garnered the top four scores on floor. After winner Roberts, freshman Michelle Walker took second with a 9.700 and Heather Browning and freshman Stephanie Furman tied for third with scores of 9.550.

"We had some crowd pleasers on floor," Buchheister said. "The routines seemed to be fun for the audience."

On beam, Southeast's Ericka Harrison placed second with a 9.675. Roberts and Erica Smith tied for fourth with scores of 9.625.

The Otahkians reigned on bars. After Roberts, the winner, Jessica Dunbar placed second (9.625), Chenier third, Smith fourth (9.500) and Browning fifth (9.475).

On vault, Southeast's Christie Logan tied for third with a 9.525.