Redhawks place second in 3-team meet at Kentucky

The Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics team opened its season on Saturday in front of a packed house at the University of Kentucky.

The Redhawks finished second in the tri-meet with 185.200 points. Kentucky, ranked No. 13 nationally, won the meet with 194.150 points. Illinois State had 181.525 points.

Six of the 10 Southeast competitors were competing in their first collegiate meet, which took place in front of a crowd of 5,800, according to the University of Kentucky.

Sandra Blake and Maureen Grimaldi, both freshmen, had the top scores of the night for Southeast, each posting a 9.8 on the uneven bars. Grimaldi and Blake tied for third, which was Southeast's top finish.

Fellow freshman Starlyn Schwartz scored a 9.7 on the vault for seventh, and freshman Chelsea Unold finished eighth with a 9.650.

Blake finished fourth in the all-around competition with 35.925 points.