PALM TREES TO DEEP FREEZE; HAWAIIAN GYMNAST BRINGS HOT ACT TO SOUTHEAST

One Southeast gymnastics team member still isn't used to the cold weather of the Midwest, but her scores have been red hot this season. Malia Roberts left the sunny beaches of Hawaii to become a very productive member of the Southeast gymnastics team.

The blonde-haired freshman has moved into the starting lineup in fine fashion as she has been among the top performers at all of the meets during the young season. The freezing temperatures have not slowed her down at all in the gym.

In fact, Roberts was ranked in the National Collegiate Top 20 rankings in the floor exercise event and also in the all-around category.

The native of Maui has quickly won the respect of the Southeast gymnastics team coaching staff.

"Malia is a great competitor and she really shines when she gets in front of the judges," said Southeast assistant coach Mark Sontag. "She has an awesome bar routine and is a very, very solid four-event performer."

Roberts is an 11-year veteran of the sport of gymnastics and is only 18-years old. She is a former gold medalist on the uneven bars and floor routine at the USA Gymnastics Western Championships. She added a silver medal in the all-around and qualified for the USA Nationals three years in a row.

She has quickly adjusted her performances to the collegiate level of competition.

"College gymnastics is very different from club competition in the sense that it is much more team oriented," said Roberts. "In club competition you compete more as an individual. Everyone on this team is here to support each other and the team is great. Someone will always make you feel better when you are feeling down and that makes it easier for me to be so far from home."

The islander is having a little difficulty adjusting to the Midwest after living in Hawaii for her entire life.

"It is really different not having a beach. I really miss it a lot -- the water is a very big part of our lives."

She joked, "The temperature here is way too warm."

Before moving to Missouri, Roberts spent a good portion of her time on the beach camping and boogie boarding. The new surroundings and friends are a whole new experience for the gymnastics college rookie.

"It's a whole new environment for me and in a way I look at it as like being at gymnastics camp," said Roberts. "I really miss my family and friends and of course, the beach. My teammates have really helped me adjust to my new lifestyle."

Roberts has a familiar face to see each day at practice and in classes. Fellow freshman Ericka Harrison competed in the same region with Roberts during club competition. The two former Westerners are both sports medicine majors and attend classes together. Later in the day they are reunited in the gym for practice sessions.

Roberts did go home for Christmas and spent time with her parents, Dave and Terrie. Her father is a carpenter and her mother owns a tropical flower shop in Maui.

Terrie made a trip to the Midwest during the recent icy weather and agreed with her daughter about it being too cold. But she did see Malia score well in the Ball State meet in January. Malia won the floor event and placed third in the all-around competition.

Gymnast Aaron Craig has taken a liking to her new teammate.

"She is improving at every meet and her increasing confidence is helping her performance," said Craig. "She is a lot of fun to be around and I like to listen to her talk with her Hawaiian accent."