March 20, 2004

Normal, Ill. - With Regional competition just two weeks away, the Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team carded a 193.750 team score at the Midwest Independent Conference Championships Saturday evening in Normal, Ill. The mark, however, was not high enough for first place, as Illinois-Chicago took the conference honors.

Southeast took second place overall, and sophomore Tara Boldt earned a tie for first place in the balance beam with a score of 9.875.

After winning the all-around last year in the process of breaking the school record, senior Ashley Godwin took second in the all-around Saturday with a score of 39.050. Boldt finished the all-around with a score of 38.825 which was good for fourth place. Both Boldt and Godwin should easily qualify for Regionals with their season scores in the all-around.

Junior Alexis Traylor took fourth place in the floor competition after carding a 9.875 for her performance. As a team, Southeast took third place in the floor exercise. The Otahks also placed third in vault and balance beam, while taking second place in the uneven parallel bars.

Southeast and Otahkian gymnastics followers will find out exactly who will qualify for Regionals when the final Regional Qualifying Scores are released on Monday.

Regionals will be held at the University of Arizona April 3.