Southeast gymnastics to host meet and greet prior to home opener

The Southeast Missouri State gymnastics team will have one final tune-up before its season begins on Sunday.

The Redhawks are holding a meet and greet exhibition event Friday night at Houck Field House starting at 6:30 p.m.

Admission to the event is free and popcorn will be available at no charge.

The Redhawks gymnasts will sign autographs following the event.

"Our meet and greet is just a fun introduction," Southeast coach Kristi Ewasko said. "It gives our team a chance to compete in front of a crowd and on the competition equipment."

Southeast's season starts with a home meet against Illinois State at 1 p.m. Sunday at Houck Field House.

"It really is just a way to show that a gymnastics meet is fun. It's not like sitting in a library," Ewasko said with a smile. "People can get up. They can cheer. We want them to. We try to break that ice a little bit with our meet and greet, and then obviously we're hoping that it will continue into Sunday."

A complete season preview will be available in Sunday's edition of the Southeast Missourian.