BATON ROUGE- The LSU gymnastics team made a major statement Friday evening. LSU trailed by a narrow margin heading into the final rotation, putting the Tigers on the floor and Utah on the beam. LSU overcame a .425 deficit, outscoring the Utes 49.225-48.775, as each of the Tigers scored a 9.80 in upsetting No. 1 Utah, 195.125-194.800, before 1,600 fans at the Maravich Assembly Center.
This was the LSU gymnastics team’s first victory over a top-ranked opponent. It also marked the third consecutive season in which an LSU team defeated a No. 1-ranked team; LSU football defeated Florida in 1997, LSU women’s basketball defeated Tennessee in 1998 and tonight LSU gymnastics defeated Utah.
“I’m really proud of the team, the way they responded to the challenge tonight,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “I still think we’re capable of performing better overall, but we stepped it up with everything on the line and rose to the occasion on the floor tonight.”
The Tigers were led by a victory in the all-around by Shanyn MacEachern, who clinched the title with a 9.850 on the floor for a total of 39.275. MacEachern also won the vault with a 9.850.
The tempo of the meet changed drastically in one definable moment. After Utah opened the meet on fire with a 49.275 while the Tigers recorded a 48.750 on the vault, the teams switched events. On the very first vault attempt by Utah, 1999 NCAA beam and all-around champion Theresa Kulikowski, who had just come off a 9.925 on the bars, suffered an injury to her anterior cruciate ligament and was forced to miss the remainder of the competition.
As a result, the Tigers picked up their level of intensity and knotted the match at 97.950 after two rotations after registering a 49.200 on the bars. Beth Boudreaux posted a season-high 9.925 on the bars and tied for the individual title with Kulikowski.
The Tigers then headed for the beam and the Utes the floor. The Tigers scored an uncharacteristic 47.950 after a pair of falls, while Utah put the pressure on the Tigers, seizing the lead with a 48.375.
LSU owned the floor, however.
Stacey Wegener, who earlier won the beam title with a 9.850, opened the Tigers’ dramatic final rotation with a 9.80. Kim Descalopoulis and Marina Degteva followed with back-to-back 9.85s. Then Kerry Descalopoulis came up with a 9.825.
At the same time, Utah suffered back-to-back falls on the beam, setting the stage for MacEachern to seal the victory.
When MacEachern nailed her routine to the tune of a 9.850, all that was left was the celebration, as her score clinched the win for LSU.
LSU has little time to savor arguably its biggest triumph ever. Next Friday evening No. 2 Alabama comes to the PMAC for a 7 p.m. showdown.