Jan. 10, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The Southeast gymnastics team opens the 2007 season at 7 p.m., Saturday evening in Houck Fieldhouse, as it takes on Midwest Independent Conference foes University of Illinois-Chicago and Centenary College in a triangular meet.

The theme for the event is "Girl Power". The festivities begin at 2 p.m. as the Cape Girardeau area Girl Scouts have a meet and greet with the team and will participate in gymnastics, self-defense, archery, aerobics, a pep rally and a dinner before watching Southeast's season opener. This is the fourth year that the Redhawks have teamed up with Girl Scouts for the "Girl Power" event.

The Redhawks look to improve on an impressive 2006 season in which they finished 9-12 overall and placed third in the MIC Championships. Southeast was also one of 36 teams nationwide selected for postseason play as they competed in the NCAA South Central Regional at the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Their regional berth was based on a regional qualifying score of 192.35, and was Southeast's first regional berth since 1997. The Redhawks concluded the year ranked 35th in the final gymnastics national poll, released on Troester.com, the gymnastics website used to determine regional and national teams for the NCAA Championship. This makes the highest final ranking for a Southeast team since the end of the 1997 season in which they finished 23rd in the nation. The ranking matches the Redhawks' highest ranking since head coach Tom Farden took over the program four seasons ago.

The University of Illinois-Chicago Flames return nine gymnasts from its 2006 squad that finished second at the MIC Championships and gained its fourth South Central Regional appearance over the last five years. The Flames proved to be a difficult foe last season as they defeated the Redhawks on three occasions including the South Central Regional. The Flames add three newcomers to their roster led by coaches, Peter and Mary Jansson, who are entering their 17th season at UIC.

The Centenary College Ladies return eight gymnasts from last season as they finished fourth at the MIC Championships and advanced to the USAG Nationals for the third consecutive year. The Ladies look to improve against the Redhawks after losing to twice in Cape Girardeau last season. Seventh-year head coach Bill Hardy has added two newcomers to the relatively young squad.

The Redhawks will continue competition on Jan. 19, when they travel to Normal, Ill., to face host Illinois State, Centenary and UIC at 7 p.m.