Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team tops Texas Woman's University

After losing a second straight meet and producing a season-low score against Illinois State and Arkansas in Fayetteville, Arkansas, on Friday night, the Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team was in need of a strong outing to boost confidence and get back on track.

That's exactly what the Redhawks received Sunday at Houck Field House.

Southeast posted a season-high 194.550 team score to defeat Texas Woman's University for the second time this season and improve to 4-7.

"After Friday night, we kind of had a little [pep talk] in the locker room following the meet, and just sat every one down to get them to realize that they've trained so much more than what they produced on Friday night," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said. "They've trained hard, they work hard and they've committed themselves through injury and sickness. I wanted them not to give up on that opportunity, and they didn't. Tonight I think it really showed. They came in here looking to do something great. The scores were great, but our routines were better. I was just so proud of them after Friday night for really turning things around and making that commitment and not quitting on this season."

The Redhawks' win over the Pioneers, who posted a 190.825 team score, marked some other milestones for five gymnasts, who each recorded personal-bests in their respective events.

Southeast sophomore Ashley Thomas led the way, posting a career-best 9.825 on the balance beam, which garnered her a first-place finish in the event. Thomas also won on vault and was named the all-around champion with a score of 39.100.

"It's really exciting because it's the highest all-around score that I've gotten," Thomas said. "But it was really exciting that our team got a 194 because we've been in the low 190s. So to pick it up and get a 194, that was really the most exciting thing about today."

Thomas joined Southeast as a walk-on during her freshman season. She quickly impressed her coaches and brought up her GPA before being awarded a scholarship this season.

"Ashley is just that kid that you want a team full of. She started out as a walk-on last year, and not many people know that," Ewasko said. "Because of her gymnastics and academics last year she earned a scholarship this year. She continues to shine and prove that was probably the best decision. She's here because she wants to be a Redhawk and she does not take for granted this opportunity to do gymnastics. She's just a blessing to coach, always doing everything we ask of her. Through some aches and pains recently, she's still stepping it up for this team."

Alyssa Tucker finished first in both the bars and floor exercise for the Redhawks, scoring a 9.825 in each.

The sophomore was scheduled to also perform on vault, but because of a lingering injury she was replaced by sophomore Bailey Walker.

"Tucker is just that solid kid. She comes in to practice, does her thing and moves on," Ewasko said. "We did have to pull her on vault tonight just to try and keep her from having an injury. We actually had Bailey Walker, another sophomore, that was solid for us on vault last year. Due to some injuries and sickness this year, she's had a little slower recovery, but she came out tonight ready to roll. When Tucker couldn't handle vault, then Bailey stepped in and I'm really proud of her. Tucker will continue to get herself back into vault, that won't be an issue once she gets to feeling a little bit better, but the other three events she showed up for and that's really what this team holds her expectation to."

Walker scored a 9.75 after she stuck her landing in Southeast's third rotation on the vault, which tied her for second place in the event with Southeast sophomore Chelsea Hamilton.

"That was her season debut, and actually she's only been putting that vault on to competition surface in training for a week," Ewasko said about Walker. "So tonight, she was actually just going to exhibition, kind of enjoy and feel it out. But when Tucker struggled during warm ups we decided versus trying to risk an injury with Tucker, we'd give Bailey a shot. She said, 'I'm ready,' and she proved that. I get chills thinking about it because those are the moments that get me excited."

Jordan Clark recorded a career-high 9.725 score in the floor exercise while Chelsea Hamilton got a 9.7 on the beam, which was also a career best.

Ewasko said the bars had been Southeast's worst event this season. The Redhawks did have one slip up in the event but scored a season-high 48.575 to win the event.

"Overall, I could not be more proud of what they accomplished on bars. We really stepped it up as a team and really tried to fine tune," Ewasko said. "When we had a wobble, we kept it minimal, where as in the past we would have just fallen. That's what the fight of this team has proven every week, that they're not quitting yet."

Southeast will host Northern Illinois on Friday.

"We're just going to keep fighting. That's what we talked about after Friday night. It's not having the little things turn into big things," Ewasko said. "Tonight, you can still see if you go back and watch the meet that we had little wobbles and things that were off. But what this team did is they fought and put everything into it. They really came out here ready to not let those things catch up with them like it did on Friday. So from here we will continue to work on those little things until we get rid of them, but I have no doubt this team will keep fighting. They want to get to regionals, and they know they need to work for that."