Southeast gymnasts close home schedule today vs. Air Force

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team will close out its home schedule by celebrating senior night.

There will be plenty to celebrate in today's 7 p.m. dual against Air Force at Houck Field House.

Southeast's three seniors -- Sandra Blake, Starlyn Schwartz and Jennifer Dinan, who will be recognized after the meet -- were on the ground floor of the Redhawks' resurgence.

They were freshmen on Southeast's 2006 squad that earned the program's first NCAA team regional berth in more than a decade.

"All three have been a backbone, an integral part of our rebuilding process," Southeast coach Tom Farden said.

The seniors helped lead Southeast to another regional appearance last year, and Blake went individually the season before that.

"They've all done great things here," Farden said.

That includes the classroom, as witnessed by Southeast winning the national team academic championship the past two years.

"All three have done a tremendous job in getting Southeast to where we are athletically and academically," Farden said.

Led by Blake, who will go down as among the top gymnasts in Southeast history while maintaining a perfect 4.0 cumulative GPA in accounting.

Blake earned a spot as an alternate in the all-around for last year's NCAA national meet and was named a third-team Academic All-American.

"Sandy has forged her successes by being dedicated and outworking everybody else," Farden said. "She's been a great student-athlete."

The GPAs of Schwartz and Dinan aren't far behind as they have joined Blake on the OVC Commissioner's Honor Roll.

Farden hopes the Redhawks can send their three seniors out with a victory tonight.

Southeast, 9-3 overall, already has wrapped up its Midwest Independent Conference schedule with a 7-0 record. The Redhawks are 5-0 at home.

"It would be only the second time in my career for us to go undefeated at home," said Farden, in his sixth season as Southeast's coach. "We've got the best winning percentage since I've been here."

Southeast, which ends the regular season March 21 at the conference meet, is ranked 36th nationally as the Redhawks continue to push for another regional berth. The top 36 squads qualify.

"It's always tight," Farden said. "Hopefully we can hang on."