Redhawks sign three gymnasts

The Southeast Missouri State women's gymnastics team added three recruits for next season during the early signing period.

Signing with coach Tom Farden's Redhawks last week were Christina Sundgren and Kara Gibbons, while Farden also received a commitment from Erica Moore to walk on to the squad.

Sundgren is the 2005 Washington state champion who brings a strong academic background to Southeast with a 3.95 grade point average.

Gibbons, the Georgia state champion, also excels in the classroom with a 3.8 GPA.

Moore, who finished third in the Tennessee state championships, is even better in the classroom with a perfect 4.0 GPA.

"Sundgren has the ability to compete with the top NCAA gymnasts on the bars and her other three events are solid as well," Farden said. "Gibbons has been pegged to make immediate impacts on vault, beam and bars.

"Moore is a talented athlete who has a tremendous work ethic and could develop into a solid gymnast."

Softball team honored

The Southeast softball team was recently selected among 95 NCAA Division I schools by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association to the organization's All-Academic Team for the 2005-06 academic year.

Southeast placed 35th in the nation with a cumulative 3.26 GPA and was one of three squads honored from the Ohio Valley Conference.

The Redhawks were second in the OVC behind Tennessee-Martin, which finished 26th in the nation with a 3.286 GPA. Tennessee Tech was the final OVC team as it was 47th with a 3.187 GPA.

St. Bonaventure claimed the top spot in the nation with a 3.95 GPA.

"This is a tribute to the continuing emphasis placed on academics within the Southeast softball program," coach Lana Richmond said. "This philosophy has funneled down to our athletes who take pride in their success in the classroom."