THREE OTAHKS TO BID FAREWELL AT NIT

As far as Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics coach Bill Hopkins is concerned, his three seniors deserve to end their careers on a winning note.

Renae Parr, Alicia Thier and Diana Lattimore will all have their final meet as Otahkians tonight when the National Invitational Tournament of Women's Gymnastics is held at the Show Me Center. Action begins at 6 p.m.

"Our three seniors have done a great job for four years," said Hopkins. "They deserve to go out winning the NIT.

"They're used to winning and hopefully what they've done over four years will come together at the NIT meet."

Parr, Thier and Lattimore are all facing mixed emotions as they gear up for their final collegiate meet.

"I'm excited for it to be over with because my body is ready for it to be over with," said Parr with a laugh. "This is a wonderful way for it to end. We're more than capable of winning the meet and if we do, it would be a really nice way to end."

Thier echoed some of Parr's thoughts.

"I'm ready to be a regular college student for a change," said a grinning Thier. "Right now I'm excited, but I'm sure once it gets toward the end of the meet, I'll be sad knowing it's my last meet. But we have a good chance to win and that's exciting."

Said Lattimore, "I'm excited for the last home meet. When you're a senior, there are a lot of emotions. Winning would definitely be a nice finish."

While the Otahkians figure to have a solid chance of finishing first tonight, that certainly won't be easy because the eight-team field appears to be as balanced and wide open as it's ever been.

All eight squads have averages within 1 1/2 points of one another.

Towson State of Maryland tops the list with a 192.888 average. Iowa is second (192.844), with Illinois third (192.800) and Southeast fourth (192.131).

Boise State ranks fifth (191.956), followed by Illinois-Chicago (191.844), Northern Illinois (191.812) and Maryland (191.581).

"It should be a great meet," Hopkins said. "We'll have eight evenly matched teams. I think any of the eight could win it. I look for tenths of a point, or even hundredths of a point, to decide it."

Despite having what Hopkins believes is one of the most talented teams in Southeast history, the Otahkians failed to meet preseason expectations.

"This season has just been frustrating because we have so much talent but we have just been so sporadic," said Hopkins. "We've only hit as a team in one meet all year."

Still, Hopkins knows the Otahkians can make up for all of that with a big performance tonight.

"If we win the NIT, it will make up for anything we've done," he said.

The Otahkians are confident they can come through with a victory tonight.

"We look ready," said Parr. "The team is ready to have a really good performance."

Added Thier, "We have a good chance to win and that's exciting. It's always nice to be at home, especially if we have a big crowd. That always gets us going."