SEMO GYMNASTS NOW 13TH IN NATIONAL RANKINGS

Southeast Missouri State University's women's gymnastics team has climbed to 13th in the most recent national rankings as the squad heads into its final meet of the regular season.

"We started the season ranked in the 30s and we've been able to steadily climb ever since," said Southeast coach Bill Hopkins. "We've really been on a roll and hopefully we can keep it up."

The Otahkians are also No. 4 fourth in the all-important Central Region rankings. The top seven teams in the region will advance to the NCAA Central Regional on April 5 in Ann Arbor, Mich. The regional teams will be announced Monday.

"We're looking good for that," Hopkins said.

Southeast will close out the regular season Saturday night in the Midwest Independent Championships at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb, Ill.

Other teams in the meet will be Illinois State, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois.

"We're looking to finish up (the regular season) strong and then hopefully Monday's we'll find out that we've qualified for the NCAA regionals," Hopkins said.