Southeast gymnasts land No. 1 in GPA

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team has two primary goals every year.

The Redhawks took care of the first one in April by qualifying for the NCAA South Central Regional.

Southeast nailed down the second one Thursday by repeating as Academic National Champions, according to the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches/Women.

"Those are our two biggest goals, so I guess we had a pretty good year," Southeast coach Tom Farden said.

And it came ever so close to being even better.

Southeast's grade-point average of 3.820 during the 2007-08 academic year tied for the highest team GPA in the history of the award.

Just how much did the Redhawks hope to have the record all to themselves?

"I e-mailed my athletes [Thursday] and they were elated that we won again, but two of them e-mailed me back and said they were upset we didn't break the record," Farden said.

Said Sandra Blake, one of nine Southeast gymnasts with a perfect 4.0 GPA: "We tied it this year and maybe we can beat it next year."

The Redhawks improved their GPA from a 3.741 mark the previous year. And they needed that boost because runner-up Winona State came in at 3.755.

"It was a goal [to win the academic title again] from the beginning. It's pretty awesome," said Blake, majoring in business administration. "I think we surprised ourselves with how much better we did."

Southeast also boasted 16 gymnasts on the NACGC/W Scholar Athletes list for attaining a GPA of 3.5 or better, up from nine the previous year.

Joining Blake with perfect 4.0 GPAs were seniors Jennifer Dinan (communication disorders) and Maureen Grimaldi (art and graphic design); juniors Jacqueline Heath (physics) and Kelley Krengiel (health management); and sophomores Lauren Dinan (biology-wildlife conservation), Brianna Gaddie (health management), Erica Moore (health management) and Christina Sundgren (math).

At 3.5 or better were the graduated Alison Ezell (health management); senior Starlyn Schwartz (mass communications); juniors Jena Nguyen (biomedical sciences), Rikara Turner (business administration) and Bryanna Wong (health management); and sophomores Amanda Schoenbaum (art and graphic design) and Kara Gibbons (criminal justice).

"For the students to work on their various degrees, many of which are in very difficult majors, and balance their athletics and work in the community ... it's hard, but our students really stay focused," Farden said. "I am very proud of them."

Farden, who will be entering his sixth season at Southeast, has not only boosted the Redhawks athletically, but also academically.

Southeast has qualified for the NCAA regional meet two of the last three years. In 2005-06, the Redhawks had their highest academic finish of fifth before reaching the top spot the past two years.

"He has done an incredible job in recruiting not only outstanding athletes, but outstanding students as well," Southeast athletic director Don Kaverman said in a release. "Winning this award two years in a row speaks to the program's commitment in recruiting strong student-athletes."

Farden said he recruits strong students by design.

"One of the things in my recruiting philosophies, if they're smart, it's easier to train them," Farden said. "It's an extremely technical sport, and it really helps them to be smart."

So, where to now?

"We'd sure like to have the highest ever GPA," Farden said. "That's our next goal."