Redhawks Defeat Redbirds After Amazing Comeback

Feb. 13, 2009

Story by Matthew C. Worthington, Gymnastics Contact

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. - The Southeast Missouri State Redhawks defeated the Illinois State Redbirds, 194.150-193.775, despite being down .325 heading into the last event.

"This was another great comeback by this team," said head coach Tom Farden. "We took the meet back by coming out with our best floor routine of the year."

Southeast started the evening off with a season-high vault total of 48.825. The team total matched the sixth-highest vault score in Southeast history. The individual title went to Southeast sophomore Brianna Gaddie (East Grand Forks, Minn./Red River Valley Gymnastics) after she scored a season-high 9.825. Senior Sandra Blake (Tri-City, Wash./Mid-Columbia Gymnastics) matched her season-high total of 9.800 placing her second and was followed by junior Rikara Turner's (Hastings, Minn./Twin City Twisters) third-place tying 9.750.

On bars, the Redhawks turned in a 48.600. Junior Kelley Krengiel (Lemont, Ill./Lemont H.S.) earned her first individual-title of the season as she scored a career-high 9.800.

"Our goal is to always do our best and have fun," said Krengiel. "I think we really did that."

Freshman Emily Mann (Lincoln, Neb./Solid Rock Gymnastics) placed second with a career-best 9.775. Junior Jacqueline Heath (St. Cloud, Minn./St. Cloud Tech), sophomore freshman Lauren Dinan (Doniphan, Neb./Nebraska Twisters Gymnastics) and Turner tied for fifth-place with a 9.675.

After two impressive events, Southeast struggled on beam and scored a 47.375. The individual title went to Illinois State's Hannah Deutsch (9.800), who was followed closely by Turner's solid 9.750.

"We just had to focus and not surrender after our beam performance," said Farden.

The Redhawks did just that as they turned in an impressive season-high 49.350, and swept the top five spots on the event. The score is the fifth-best floor total in Southeast history. Gaddie earned her second individual title of the evening with an impressive 9.900. Turner, Blake and Jena Nguyen (Sioux Falls, S.D./All-American Gymnastics) tied with a second-place 9.875. Blake's score tied her career-high while Turner and Nguyen set a new-record for themselves. Also impressive was freshman Christa Soekamto's (Grapevine, Tex./Top Flight Gymnastics) career-best score of 9.825, placing her fifth overall.

"The floor is always a great event to finish on," said Krengiel. "There is always great energy and that helped us pull this one out."

In the all-around, Turner took the crown with an awesome 39.050. Teammate Blake wasn't far behind after turning in an admirable 38.925.

"We had three solid championship caliber events," said Farden. "But in gymnastics, there are four events. This week we have got to retool on the beam and prepare for our next competition."

The next meet for Southeast is the annual Outback Steakhouse Invitational. The Redhawks will host Ball State next Thursday evening at 6:00p.m. in Houck Field House.