Otahkians look for a step up in season's first home meet

Southeast Missouri State University's gymnastics team won its season opener without performing all that well.

But coach Patty Stotzheim says it will take a much better effort to beat Illinois State when the Otahkians have their first home meet today. Action begins at 2 p.m. at Houck Field House.

"Illinois State has been strong the past two years, and they probably will be strong once again," Stotzheim said. "If we can get a victory over Illinois State, that would be huge. It would be a good sign."

The Otahkians opened their season last Sunday with a 188.575 to 187.925 victory over Centenary in Shreveport, La.

Junior Ashley Godwin, who qualified for the regional event last year, won the all-around title, finishing ahead of teammate Amy Cole, a senior who was second.

Southeast's other event win came from sophomore Alexis Traylor in the floor exercise.

Godwin finished second in three events: vault, bars and floor.

"It wasn't a real good meet for us. We had three falls on floor and four on beam, but I was pleased with bars and vault," Stotzheim said. "But I'm not too concerned about it. It was our first meet of the season, and we used a lot of our first-year athletes.

"I expect to have a much better meet at home. All the athletes really like competing at home, and we're looking forward to the first meet. Hopefully we'll have a good crowd."

Illinois State won its first meet of the season, rolling past Wisconsin-La Crosse 192.075 to 179.225.

"Illinois State had a really good score in their first meet, and they will be hard to beat," Stotzheim said. "But our gymnasts are looking forward to the challenge."

mmishow@semissourian.com

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