Southeast gymnastics debuts today

The Southeast women's gymnastics team opens its season today with a 1 p.m. home meet against Kent State at Houck Field House.

This year's team is made up of seven newcomers -- all freshmen -- and seven returning athletes, including senior Taryn Vanderpool.

Vanderpool advanced to an NCAA regional meet last season in the all-around competition, where she finished 12th. She finished in a tie for first on bars and second in the all-around at the Midwest Independent Conference Championships.

Senior Megan Fosnow, who advanced to the regional meet two seasons ago, also returns to the team. Fosnow won the MIC vault title last season with the third-best vault score in Southeast history.

Coach Kristi Ewasko is in her fourth season with the team, which finished third at the MIC Championships last season. The Redhawks are 39-28 in dual meets during Ewasko's tenure.

Kent State is the preseason favorite to win the Mid-American Conference, according to a preseason poll voted on by the conference's coaches. The Golden Flashes advanced to an NCAA regional as a team last season.

-- Southeast Missourian