Southeast gymnasts win dual meet with season-best score

~ The Redhawks scored a season-high 194.775 to edge Eastern Michigan

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team had a record-setting performance Sunday and posted a season-high score to edge visiting Eastern Michigan 194.775-194.675.

A Houck Field House crowd of about 250 on Military Appreciation Day saw the Redhawks tie a school record on bars as 18 of the their 24 routines scored 9.700 or higher.

Southeast set season highs in two events and had nine scores of 9.800 or higher, including two that scored at least 9.900.

"One thing we focused on was fighting for what we want," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said. "Our gymnasts fought for every tenth of a point. I'm very proud of their performance."

The Redhawks got off to a strong start, posting their ninth-best vault score in school history with a 48.800.

Megan Fosnow's career-best 9.875 led the way and gave her a first-place finish. Kimberly Pickerl also posted a career-high score of 9.825 to finish third.

Southeast moved on to bars, where all six gymnasts scored 9.725 or higher as the Redhawks tied their school record with a 49.175.

Taryn Vanderpool posted a career-best 9.900, which ties for the third-best bars score in school history, to win the event. Margaret O'Neal was second at 9.850, with Taylor Westrick and Fosnow tying for third at 9.825.

"We worked with the lineup a little on vault and it worked out," Ewasko said. "We were very clean on bars and all deductions were minor."

Three falls on beam removed Southeast from a pace that was on track for a top-three all-time score. The Redhawks posted a score of 47.700, led by Westrick's first-place 9.875. Pickerl and Samantha Marrero matched each other with 9.750 scores to tie for third.

Southeast recovered in the final rotation and tallied a 49.100 on floor.

Emma Garrett paved the way with a career-best 9.925, tied for the sixth-highest floor score in school history, to finish first. Westrick tied for second with a career-best 9.875. Vanderpool's career-best 9.825 was good for fourth.

"Emma was the Emma of old today," Ewasko said. "She is capable of going 9.9 anytime she steps onto the floor. She did all she could and really earned her score."

Pickerl capped her big day by scoring a career-best 39.025 to place second in the all-around. Southeast's other all-around competitors, Vanderpool (38.700) and Fosnow (38.575), were third and fourth, respectively.

"Kimmie was a diamond in the rough today. She came out shining in this meet," Ewasko said. "We knew she was capable of big scores, and we're very happy with what she did."

Southeast returns to action Friday with its final home meet, a 6:30 p.m. Senior Night matchup against Texas Woman's University.