Otahks try to finish strong at home today

Coming off its best performance since 1995 -- and one of the best in school history -- Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team will try to close out its home schedule in style tonight.

The Otahkians take on Winona State at 7 p.m. at Houck Field House.

"It would be nice to go out with a win and have a good showing in our last home meet," Southeast coach Patty Stotzheim said.

Monday night at Illinois State, the Otahkians prevailed 194.800-194.125. It was the Otahkians' fifth-highest score ever.

"And to do it on the road is really unusual, especially since Illinois State had a record score," she said.

Southeast's 49.000 bars score Monday is the second-highest in school history, and the 49.225 on floor ranks fourth all-time.

Junior Ashley Godwin's 39.200 Monday all-around is the seventh-best in school history; Godwin's and freshman Deanna Ogg's bars scores of 9.850 rank seventh all-time; and Godwin's floor score of 9.925 is fifth all-time.

Several other Otahkians attained personal bests at Illinois State.

"It was just a great overall meet for us," Stozheim said. "I was really pleased with them."

While the Otahkians appear to be peaking heading into the final two meets of the season, Stozheim said "it would have been nice if we would have peaked earlier. It would have helped our regional qualifying score."

Regional spot unlikely

Stozheim said it's not likely the Otahkians will qualify for regionals as a team, but Godwin is virtually assured of making it as an all-arounder for the meet April 12 to 13 in Columbia, Mo. Godwin was a regional qualifier last year.

Amy Cole, the squad's only senior, has also been solid in the all-around and has an outside shot at qualifying for regionals.

Following tonight's meet, the Otahkians close the regular season March 29 at the Midwest Independent Conference Championships hosted by Centenary in Baton Rouge, La.

Along with Southeast and Centenary, other teams comprising the six-team conference are Illinois-Chicago, Illinois State, Winona State and Texas Women's.

"Illinois-Chicago is really good, and they'll be the favorite," Stozheim said. "If we have a really good meet we could come close to Chicago, but they have more depth than we do."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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