Redhawks gymnasts to compete in South Central Regional on Saturday

The Southeast Missouri State women's gymnastics team will test itself against some of the nation's premier programs Saturday.

The Redhawks know the odds are stacked against them, but they say they still relish the challenge.

"There will be a lot of good competition. We're excited about that," sophomore Rikara Turner said. "We're just glad we made it and we want to do our best."

The Redhawks were one of 36 squads across the nation selected for the NCAA's postseason after they finished ranked 36th with a regional qualifying score of 194.065.

Southeast will compete in the six-team South Central Regional in Norman, Okla. The meet begins at 6 p.m.

"Our No. 1 goal every year is to make the regionals," said fifth-year Southeast coach Tom Farden, who also led the Redhawks to a regional berth in 2006. "Our students have worked so hard this year and they've been a lot of fun to work with.

"This is a great reward for all they've done. It's a tremendous accomplishment for our student-athletes."

KIT DOYLE ~ kdoyle@semissourian.com The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team watched as freshman Lauren Dinan performed her floor routine Monday at the team's practice facility at Parker Gymnasium.

Two of the nation's top 10 teams will join the Redhawks in the South Central Regional, led by fourth-ranked Alabama, which has a 196.870 regional qualifying score.

Host Oklahoma is ranked 10th at 196.450, followed by No. 16 Boise State (195.690), No. 19 Arizona State (195.405) and No. 24 Illinois (195.125).

The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors who are not on an advancing squad from each of the six regionals qualify for the national championship meet April 24 through 26 in Athens, Ga.

In addition, the event winners at each regional will advance to the national meet if they are not part of a qualifying team or the all-around qualifiers.

Farden and the Redhawks know it will be extremely difficult to make the national field as a team or individuals.

"We just want to go out there and give it our all," said junior Sandra Blake, who will join Turner as the Redhawks' all-arounders. "It [qualifying for regionals] was our big goal. We trained all year with the idea we would make it."

Farden said he believes the Redhawks at least will be better equipped to make a better regional showing this time around, after they finished last in 2006.

"The last time it was new. We had that deer in the headlights look," Farden said. "For the junior class and our only senior [Alison Ezell], this is their second time going, so they've had experience.

"We're more prepared this time. I think we can make a better showing."

While the Redhawks might not have much hope of contending for a national team berth like Alabama and Oklahoma, Farden believes that staying with the likes of Arizona State and Illinois is not out of the question.

"It's a tall order. It's such a tough regional," said Farden of the chance to finish in the top two. "Arizona State and Illinois are also very good, but their average is not that much ahead of ours.

"I think if we have our A game, we can have a good showing."

Regardless of what happens, Farden said the experience gained will serve the Redhawks well for next season, when they'll return all but Ezell and add another strong recruiting class.

"I don't want to talk about next year, but we lose one floor routine [Ezell] and we add firepower," Farden said. "This is the end of this year and the start of next year.

"We just want to do our best, keep getting better and bring pride to Southeast Missouri State University."

Farden's ultimate goal is to have the Redhawks qualify for the regional on an annual basis.

"We want to push to make it every year," he said. "I know it sounds lofty, but that's my goal."