Southeast gymnasts place second to Missouri

The University of Missouri, as expected, dominated Sunday's gymnastics meet at the Show Me Center.

But host Southeast Missouri State also was excited about its performance during the three-team Outback Invitational.

MU, ranked 18th nationally, won every individual event and rolled to the title with a season-high road score of 196.200.

"We have a good squad and this meet should help us move up in the rankings," Missouri coach Rob Drass said. "We should probably be 12th, 13th or 14th" when the new rankings are released this week."

Southeast compiled its second-highest score of the year to finish second at 194.575. Alaska was third at 189.850.

Southeast Missouri State's Jordan Salsberg vaults before the crowd Sunday at the Show Me Center.

The Redhawks are ranked 34th, with the top 36 at the end of the season qualifying for NCAA regionals.

"It was definitely a solid score, and today wasn't even our best [performance]," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said. "We're excited. This should keep building our confidence."

Southeast had three top-three finishes, led by junior Brianna Gaddie's second-place on floor as she tied her career high with a 9.925.

"I think we did really well. Everybody did their job," Gaddie said. "Our plan is to stay in the top 36."

Also for Southeast, freshman Jordan Salsberg tied for third on vault (9.800) and freshman Taylor Westrick tied for third on beam (9.750).

Southeast recorded a season-high score on floor at 49.175, which bettered the floor performance of Missouri.

"We had a lot of good performances," Ewasko said.

Missouri senior All-American Sarah Shire was the star of the meet. She won every event, including the all-around title with a score of 39.675.

Shire, who recently set a school record in the all-around at 39.725, has seven all-around titles this season and 18 in her career.

"She's probably one of the best in the country in the all-around," Drass said.

Gaddie said it's exciting to match up with such a powerhouse squad as Missouri.

"It was really fun to go against them," Gaddie said. "We knew they were really good."

It was the first Southeast gymnastics competition at the Show Me Center since 2006. The Redhawks usually host their home meets at Houck Field House. Conflicts with dates at the Show Me Center make it hard to have meets there.

"We enjoy being here," Ewasko said. "We definitely want to push to get some of our bigger meets here."

Said Gaddie: "We were all really excited. For everyone this is our first time competing here."

Even Drass, whose squad comes to Cape Girardeau every two years, with the Redhawks visiting Columbia every two years, enjoyed the environment.

"We like the Show Me Center way better than the other arena," he said. "The other one is a little tight."

Adding spice to Sunday's competition was the nearly 30 former Southeast gymnasts in attendance during Alumni Weekend. Also on hand was former longtime coach Bill Hopkins, who originally built the program and led it to great success.

Hopkins and the former gymnasts were introduced to the crowd following the meet as the final scores were being tabulated.

"It was good to have them back," Ewaskso said. "They created the foundation."

The Redhawks will host Centenary College at 7 p.m. Friday in the third of four straight home meets.