SOUTHEAST GYMNASTS AGAIN LOADED WITH TALENT

CAPE GIRARDEAU -- The extremely successful Southeast Missouri State University gymnastics team begins what it hopes will be another brilliant season tonight when the Otahkians compete in the Ball State (Ind.) Invitational.

Southeast coach Bill Hopkins is blessed with talent up and down the lineup as he enters his 12th season with the Otahkians. In fact, one of Hopkins' primary problems is deciding on a lineup.

"We've really had some intense, competitive practices," said Hopkins. "I've got a problem of making out the lineup, but it's kind of a nice problem to have."

The Otahkians have extremely high hopes for this season, their last before they make the jump to NCAA Division I. In fact, Hopkins says his club has only one major goal for this year: to win the United States Gymnastics Federation Division II national championship.

"The entire goal of this year's team is to win nationals," said Hopkins matter of factly during Tuesday's media day.

Competing along with Southeast and host Ball State tonight will be Illinois State, Western Michigan and Iowa.

The Otahkians will be in Valparaiso, Ind. Saturday for a dual meet against Valparaiso. The home opener is Jan. 18 at Houck Field House against Iowa of the Big Ten Conference.

"These opening meets will give us an opportunity to see where we are," said Hopkins. "We need a meet. The girls have been practicing for a long time."

The home opener against Iowa is one Hopkins is especially pointing to.

"It's the first time they've come here for a meet," he said. "We're looking forward to it. Iowa is a big-time school with a very strong gymnastics program."

Hopkins has compiled a stellar record in his 11 seasons at Southeast. During that time the Otahkians have made 11 straight appearances in the national meet, including a first-place finish in 1987 and four second-place performances.

The Otahkians won eight straight regional titles before finishing second last season. They were also second in the national meet a year ago, losing out to champion Houston Baptist by just seven-tenths of a point.

Perhaps the highlight of 1990 for the Otahkians was becoming the first Division II team to ever qualify for the NCAA Division I Central Regional Championships. Southeast finished ahead of Missouri and just behind Minnesota, Auburn and Illinois during the Division I regional.

"I was very happy with the way our team competed in the Division I regional against the top teams," Hopkins said.

The Otahkians figure to be led this season by Cherie Peterson, the lone senior on the squad. Peterson, already an eight-time All-American, is the school record-holder in all around.

"Cherie has meant so much to our program," said Hopkins. "She has kind of been the glue for a number of years and it's the same thing this year."

Other returning All-Americans are Jenny Schutt, the only junior on the team, and sophomores Aimee Bernier and Jill Prystalski.

Also back from last season are sophomores Rachel Buckner, Donna Carr, Amy Kovacs, Stephanie Maloney, Heather Markle, Paige Milroy, Kim Roberts and Carrie Johnson.

New additions to the squad are a trio of talented freshmen: Kim Carter, Vanessa Simmons and Traci Willis.

"The three freshmen will be a very big help," said Hopkins. "All three are very skilled and they're really a hard working group."

As impressed as Hopkins is about the ability on this year's gymnasts, he's just as excited about their exploits in the classroom. The Otahkians had an average grade-point average of 3.0 during the fall semester. Buckner led the Otahks academically with a 4.0 GPA in accounting.

"We've had practices twice a day since Aug. 21," Hopkins said. "For them to put in as much time as they did and still pull the grades they did makes me really happy and proud."

Even though past Otahkian teams have enjoyed huge amounts of success, Hopkins says he has never been blessed with more talent.

"This is the best team we've ever had," he said. "We're deeper and stronger than we've ever been. If we can stay healthy, we can be really good."