March 26, 2005

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DENTON, Texas - (Friday, March 25, 2005) The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics finished fourth at the Midwest Independent Conference Championships Friday evening at the Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas. It was one of the closest MIC Championships to date as only seven-tenths of a point separated the Redhawks, who scored a 193.500, with first-place Illinois-Chicago, who won with a score of 194.200.

The Redhawks (7-11) came out of the blocks strong as they started the first rotation on the beam. The team scored a 48.750, placing them tied for ninth on the school's all-time charts. Individually, Tara Boldt (Lakeville, Minn./ T.A.G.S) led the way for the Redhawks, scoring a season-high 9.875 to finish tied for fifth. Senior Katie Bloom (Snellville, Ga./ Gwinnett Gymnastics Center) tied for sixth with a career-best 9.850. Fellow senior Alexis Traylor (St. Charles, Mo./ All American) and freshman Allison Ezell (Kansas City, Kan./ Alpha Omega) each scored 9.725 to help the team score the 48.750.

The Redhawks carried their momentum from the beam to their floor routines as they scored a solid 48.825. Junior Amanda Grimes (Lone Jack, Mo./ GAGE Gymnastics) was the top Redhawk as she tied a season-high with a score of 9.825 to finish tied for sixth. For other Redhawks scored 9.7 or higher; Boldt (9.800), Traylor (9.775), Bloom (9.725) and Crystal Eberhardt (Chaska, Minn./ Classic Gymnastics) (9.700).

On the vault the Redhawks scored 48.250 with Boldt and Bloom leading the way as they both finished tied for sixth with a score of 9.700 followed by freshmen Danyelle Aber (Gurnee, Ill./ Ultimate Gymnastics) and Jennifer Kaye (Brookfield, Wis./ Salto Gymnastics) who scored a 9.650 and 9.625 respectively.

In the final competition of the night the Redhawks put in one of their best performances in their weakest event as they scored a 47.675 to end the night. Bloom was the top individual finisher with a score of 9.650. Boldt and Ezell followed with scores of 9.550 and 9.500 respectively.

In the all-around Bloom and Boldt each finished tied for third with identical scores of 38.925. For their top-four finish each were awarded all-conference honors. For Boldt it was her third-straight all-conference selection.

After the meet, Boldt was honored as MIC Athlete of the Year, an honor that she shared with Illinois-Chicago's Jennifer O'Nell. Ezell was named MIC Co-Newcomer of the Year with Illinois-Chicago's Ashley Howe.

The Redhawks will now sit and await their NCAA South Regional fate, which will be held in Lincoln, Nebraska on April 9.