Southeast gymnasts drop road meet

Three Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team won or shared three individual titles but the Redhawks lost suffered a narrow 192.875 to 192.775 loss at Northern Illinois Saturday night.

The Redhawks dropped to 2-1 in dual competition with their second-highest score of the year.

Southeast began the night on bars, where Taryn Vanderpool tied for the individual title with a 9.750, her third bars crown in as many meets. Southeast finished with a 48.150 as a team while NIU posted a 48.325 on vault.

In the next rotation, the Redhawks posted a season-best 48.300 on vault, led by Megan Fosnow's first-place 9.775 score. Emma Garrett placed second with a 9.750. The Huskies competed on bars and scored a 47.600, giving the Redhawks the lead at the halfway point of the meet.

Southeast moved onto the floor exercise and had three gymnasts score at least 9.725, led by Taylor Westrick's 9.775 to tie for third. Taylor Penzien (9.750) and Vanderpool (9.725) also had scores above 9.700. The Redhawks finished with a team total of 48.425 while the Huskies tallied a 48.100 on beam, padding Southeast's lead.

The Redhawks' last three competitors all went 9.675 or higher on beam. Westrick led the way with a season-best 9.775 to tie for the title while Vanderpool tied for third with a 9.700.

Fosnow started the surge with a 9.675 to tie for fifth as Southeast had a total of 47.900. NIU went out with a bang on floor, scoring 48.850 to win the dual.

Vanderpool took second in the all-around with a 38.800, her second-best score of the season.

Southeast continues its road swing Friday when it competes in a triangular meet against host BYU and Boise State.