Jan. 25, 2007

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. - The 29th ranked Redhawks will host the 18th ranked Kent State Golden Flashes in their first non-conference meet of the season Saturday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. in Houck Field House. Before the meet kicks off, a banner will be unveiled recognizing the achievements of the 2006 Southeast gymnastics team that advanced to the NCAA South Central Regional for the first time under head coach Tom Farden and assistant Brogan Jacobsen-Evanson. The Redhawk's outstanding performance last year earned them a final ranking of 35th nationally. Southeast would also like to welcome and wish good luck to all the Jr. Olympic members that will be competing in the Junior Olympic Big Bird Invitational following the meet.

The Southeast Redhawks (5-0, 5-0 MIC) are in for another tough battle this Saturday after an impressive performance against Illinois State, UIC, and Centenary in a quad-meet last week. Freshman Rikara Turner (Hastings, Minn./ Hastings H.S.) won her second all-around title in a row at Illinois State and earned the MIC Gymnast of the Week award along with being ranked No. 1 in the conference on the all-around. Sophomores Sandra Blake (Tri-Cities, Wash./Mid Columbia) and Maureen Grimaldi (Kansas City, Mo./ Eagle Gymnastics) had impressive showings as well in the all-around placing second and fourth respectively. The team as a whole had a solid performance scoring a first place 191.700 and taking first on the bars with a season high 48.35 and first on the floor scoring a 48.275.

Kent State (2-0, 2-0 MAC) will be looking to stop the advances of the young Southeast squad with firm performances from their Mid-American Conference leading squad. The Golden Flashes are led by Junior Jill Kowalski who has won the all-around title in their first two meets. Kent State has taken top honors in every event this season and is averaging 193.837 as a team.

The winner of this meet will not only hand the opposition their first loss of the season, but will also break the series that is tied at 1-1.