SHREVEPORT, La. — Behind a school record 39.875 in the all-around by freshman April Burkholder the 12th-ranked LSU gymnastics team turned in its highest score of the season, 197.225, to defeat in-state foe Centenary (194.600) and Texas Woman’s (194.575) Friday night at the Gold Dome.
“We competed lights out tonight,” said head coach D-D Breaux. “We had a couple mistakes on the bars but we didn’t lose any momentum. April (Burkholder) truly competed at the level she was capable of, she couldn’t be denied tonight and was absolutely phenomenal.”
Burkholder became just the third gymnast in LSU history to score a perfect 10.000 on the floor exercise, to lead LSU to a school record 49.600 on the event. Not counting a score below 9.875, the Tigers’ Jade Jenkins and Brittany Brown finished tied for third with career-high marks of 9.925, while Annie Gagnon and Lauren Companioni each posted marks of 9.875.
LSU also dazzled the crowd with season-high marks of 49.400 on the vault and bars to top the field on both events. Burkholder won the vault with a phenomenal 9.950, while freshman Rikki L’Heureux followed with a career-high 9.900 and Jenkins, Lauren Companioni and Brittany Brown rounded out the Tigers scoring on the event, posting impressive marks of 9.850.
On the bars, Burkholder once again led the Tiger squad and the meet’s field with a 9.950. Gagnon finished in second with a career-high 9.900, while L’Heureux, Lindsay Beddow and Brooke Cazeaux all tied for third with identical marks of 9.850.
On the balance beam, Burkholder won her fifth event title on the event of the season, posting a career-high 9.975. She was followed by teammates Jenkins and Terin Martinjak who each notched solid marks of 9.850 to tie for third.
The Tigers begin postseason action next weekend when they travel to Birmingham, Ala., for the 2003 SEC Championships. The meet will be held at Bartow Arena beginning at 6 p.m. (CST),
– Agate to follow (Top three only) –
Team Totals – 1, LSU. 197.225. 2, Centenary, 194.600. 3, Texas Woman’s, 194.575.
Vault – 1, April Burkholder. 9.950. 2, Rikki L’Heureux, 9.900. 3, Jade Jenkins, Lauren Companioni, Brittany Brown, 9.850
Bars – 1, April Burkholder, 9.950. 2, Annie Gagnon, 9.900. 3, Rikki L’Heureux, Lindsay Beddow, Brooke Cazeaux, 9.850.
Beam – 1, April Burkholder, 9.975. 2, Kaela Meinert (CC), 9.875, 3, Jade Jenkins, Terin Martinjak, 9.850.
Floor – 1, April Burkholder, 10.000*. 2, Sarah Racioppi, CC, 9.950. 3, Jade Jenkins, Sarah Ball, CC, Brittany Brown, 9.925.
All-Around – 1, April Burkholder, 39.875*. 2, Luci Romberg, TWU, 38.950. 3, Kaela Meinert, CC, 38.850.
* school record