Southeast Missouri State roundup: Ex-Redhawks lineman to play in Arena Football League

Former Southeast Missouri State offensive lineman Frank Knights recently signed with the Cleveland Gladiators of the Arena Football League.

Knights played two seasons at Southeast in 2009 and 2010. He started 23 career game, earning first-team all-Ohio Valley Conference and Sports Network All-America honors during the Redhawks' historic OVC championship season in 2010.

Knights also played on the U.S. National Team, where he won a gold medal.

The Cleveland Gladiators are in the East Division of the Arena Football League American Conference. They open the season March 12.

Cross country

Southeast cross country teams have earned U.S. Track & Field and Cross Country Association All-Academic honors. The men's team posted the third highest grade-point average in the country, while the women's squad posted the eighth highest.

Southeast's men had a 3.62 cumulative GPA for the fall semester. This is the fourth straight season that the men earned USTFCCCA All-Academic honors. They earned the fourth highest team GPA a year ago.

The women had a 3.65 cumulative GPA for the fall semester.

A total of 147 institutions representing 30 conferences were named to the All-Academic list for men and 205 institutions representing 30 conferences for women.

Gymnastics

Southeast junior Emma Garrett has been named the Midwest Independent Conference specialist of the week.

Garrett earned two top-10 finishes at Friday's Perfect 10 Challenge in Oklahoma City against a field that included fifth-ranked Oklahoma and Iowa State.

Garrett scored a 9.825 on the floor exercise and posted a 9.700 on vault.

Southeast hosts Illinois-Chicago at 1 p.m. Saturday.

-- From staff reports