Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team displays fresh talent in season opener

Any anxiety Southeast Missouri State gymnastics fans harbored about this year's freshman-laden squad were quickly dispelled Sunday afternoon.

Facing Kent State in the Redhawks' opening meet of the season, Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko sent out three freshmen to lead off the vault, Southeast's opening exercise.

How's that for confidence?

"This vault team is going to hold our team together this year," Ewasko said. "I knew what we were capable of ... and what we have, we've never had in the past."

Despite falling to the visiting Golden Flashes by a score of 194.725-192.375, Ewasko was pleased with her squad's effort. And with a talented group of freshmen joining returnees such as seniors Taryn Vanderpool and Megan Fosnow, Ewasko knows the future is bright for Southeast gymnastics.

Southeast Missouri State’s Taryn Vanderpool competes in the uneven bars. Vanderpool scored a 9.775 in the event and finished third in the overall.

"Today was a great start," she said. "I wanted them to come in here with confidence and really believing that we could challenge Kent State for this meet. And other than balance beam, I think we did that. We had a great start on vault and on bars, and I could not be more pleased with those two events. We'll grow from here."

Southeast trailed a talented Kent State squad by just 1/10th of a point after the first rotation, which had the Redhawks on the vault and the Golden Flashes on the parallel bars. After switching apparatuses, Kent State held a slim .150 lead heading into the balance beam and floor exercise.

The beam proved to be Southeast's undoing. Three of the Redhawks' six performers fell during their routines, and the Redhawks were two full points behind Kent State heading into the final rotation.

"Balance beam, we're going to get there," Ewasko said. "We're young, and it's going to take some time. But we're going to get there."

Southeast finished strong on the floor exercise but couldn't make up the deficit.

Southeast Missouri State freshman Alyssa Tucker competes on the balance beam Sunday at Houck Field House. Tucker tied for first in the event with a 9.750 and placed second in the all-around.

"I wanted this team to realize that, a program like Kent State, we can hang with those," Ewasko said. "And I think today proved that."

Vanderpool, who placed 12th in the NCAA regional meet a year ago, came out strong for the Redhawks and placed third in the overall with 38.825 points. She also tied for third on the bars with teammate Megan Fosnow at 9.80.

Ewasko is comfortable with Vanderpool leading the way for her young squad.

"Taryn has definitely been an example year in and year out of just clean, consistent, strong gymnastics," Ewasko said. "I expect nothing less from her this year."

Vanderpool embraces the opportunity to lead this year's young squad.

"I'm really happy with all the freshmen," she said. "It can be really scary going from club to college gymnastics. It's a big step, but they're doing so well, and I'm so proud of all of them."

One freshman Ewasko is counting on is Alyssa Tucker, who placed second in the all-around with 38.875 points and tied three Kent State gymnasts for first place in the balance beam at 9.750.

"She's going to be our freshman to beat," Ewasko said. "What's great is the depth of this team. We have so many freshmen that are training all-around."

Tucker, a freshman from Raleigh, N.C., admitted to some jitters competing in her first collegiate meet, but said they quickly dissipated.

"I feel like I did great, and with my team behind me, they helped me a lot," she said. "I could do a little better and fix some things, but I am happy with where I was today."

Fellow freshman Ashley Thomas, from Germantown, Tenn., competed in vault and floor for the Redhawks and relished her opportunity to contribute.

"In practice, we've been stepping it up, so I feel more ready than I did two months ago," Thomas said. "We're definitely increasing our training, and it makes us more prepared for the meet season."

Ewasko could hardly contain her enthusiasm about this year's freshmen.

"When we recruited this class, I said this is going to be the next level," Ewasko said. "Every single athlete we recruited to this class will improve our team, in the gym and in the classroom. And so far, they have. I couldn't be more proud of them. We had a few freshman jitters today, but other than that, I think it's out of our system and we're ready to roll."

Other placers for the Redhawks were Chelsi Hamilton (second in vault, 9.80) and Bailey Walker (third in floor exercise, 9.725).