SE GYMNASTS FINALLY FIND THEIR WAY HOME

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team, coming off a record-setting performance last week, will play host to Illinois State tonight in its only meet this season in the Show Me Center.

The Wellness in Motion meet will begin at 7, following a "wellness fair" at 6 and a short demonstration featuring young area gymnasts at 6:45. A Super Bowl party for Southeast students is planned for after the meet.

The meet is Southeast's first this season in Cape Girardeau. The Otahkians dropped a dual meet to West Virginia on Jan. 8 in Maui, Hawaii, but their fortunes changed greatly nine days later in the Shakespeare's Festival in Columbia, Mo. With a team score of 192.750, the best in the event's 9-year history, Southeast topped Missouri, Illinois State and Centenary.

"We're very excited," Southeast senior Erin Chenier said. "We did so awesome the other weekend at Mizzou and we were so energetic and so together as a team. Starting off with a 192 is amazing, and we can only go up from here."

Chenier, who owns the top four all-around scores in Southeast history, suffered an ankle injury before the season and performed only on bars in the Shakespeare's Festival.

"It (the injury) is coming along nicely," Chenier said. "I'm not sure what's going to happen this weekend, but it's starting to heal itself a little bit."

Southeast's top performer so far has been junior Malia Roberts. In Columbia last week, Roberts posted an all-around score of 38.875, including a 9.775 on bars, 9.750 on beam and 9.825 on floor, all team highs thus far.

"I've had two good meets and I just want to come to this home meet and perform well," Roberts said, "not necessarily as an individual but more for my team. When I look at it that way I think I perform better."

Illinois State brings a 1-7 record into tonight's meet. Southeast outscored the Redbirds 192.750-187.925 in the Shakespeare's Festival.