NASSAU, Bahamas — The ninth-ranked LSU gymnastics team turned in the highest season-opening score in school history, 194.600, to claim the team title Friday night at the Bahama Breeze Invitational. 25th-ranked Maryland came in second scoring 190.450, while Towson and Illinois finished third and fourth, respectively with scores of 190.225 and 190.125.
“The team did a fabulous job tonight,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “I had some questions and reservations about this team, but they were answered tonight. They competed hard and never gave up. We made some mistakes, but they were rookie mistakes and I expected some of that in the first meet. They showed a great competitive spirit and I couldn’t be any more proud of what I wonderful job they did.”
The Lady Tigers nearly swept all the individual events honors, taking first on every event except the floor exercise. In the first all-around competition of her career, sophomore Jade Jenkins posted a sizzling 39.175 to take home the all-around crown. Jenkins also grabbed a first-place finish on the vault, scoring a career-best 9.875, in addition to recording a third-place finish on the beam (9.775).
Also earning first-place honors for LSU were junior Lindsey Beddow and freshman April Burkholder. Beddow’s mark of 9.825 topped all competitors on the bars, while Burkholder outshined the field on the beam, scoring a 9.825. Burkholder also posted a third-place finish in the all-around, scoring a solid 38.700.
Other individual highlights from the meet came from a phenomenal freshmen class performance. Terin Martinjak recorded two top-three finishes, posting marks of 9.800 on the beam and 9.825 on the vault to finish second and third, respectively. Rikki L’Heureux also contributed two fabulous performances, placing third on the bars (9.750) and fourth on vault (9.775), while Kelly Lea’s mark of 9.775 on the bars was good enough for a second-place finish.
The Lady Tigers will return to action next weekend, Jan. 17 when they travel to Lexington to take on SEC foe Kentucky and Centenary in a tri-meet beginning at 6:30 p.m.
LSU Team Scores
Vault – 49.000, Bars – 48.375, Beam – 48.775, Floor – 48.450, Team Total – 194.600
LSU Individual Finishes
Vault – 1. Jade Jenkins, 9.875; 3. Terin Martinjak, 9.825; t4. Brittany Brown, Rikki L’Heureux, 9.775; t7. April Burkholder, 9.750; t10. Megan Durning, 9.675.
Bars – 1. Lindsay Beddow, 9.825; 2. Kelly Lea, 9.775; 3. Rikki L’Heureux, 9.750, t5. Jade Jenkins, 9.675; 15. April Burkholder, 9.350; 19. Annie Gagnon, 9.050.
Beam – 1. April Burkholder, 9.825; 2. Terin Martinjak, 9.800, 3. Jade Jenkins, 9.775; 4. Megan Durning, 9.725; 11. Lindsay Beddow, 9.625, t12. Annie Gagnon, 9.600.
Floor – t2. Jade Jenkins, 9.850; t5. Brittany Brown, Rachel Franzella 9.825; t9. April Burkholder, 9.775; 21. Megan Durning, 9.175; 23. Lindsey Thompson, 9.000.
All-Around – 1. Jade Jenkins, 39.175; 3. April Burkholder, 38.700.