BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — The 2003 SEC Freshman of the Year, April Burkholder, scored an impressive 39.450 in the all-around to pace the 12th-ranked Tiger gymnastics team to a fourth-place finish at the SEC Championships Saturday night at UAB’s Bartow Arena.
Burkholder is the first athlete in LSU history to earn the conference honor, but the second in her family to do so, as older sister Ashley Burkholder won the award in 1996 as a member of the Kentucky gymnastics team.
“April was phenomenal tonight,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “We couldn’t have asked for more from her and she certainly made her case for Freshman of the Year.”
In the team race, Alabama and Georgia separated themselves from the competition early in the meet, but the champion wasn’t determined until Alabama’s final competitor on the floor. The Tide’s Ashley Miles, needing a 9.950 to eclipse the GymDogs, set the arena on fire with a dynamic 9.975 effort to secure Alabama’s narrow 197.575-197.525 victory over Georgia.
With the race for third to be determined in the seventh and final rotation, Florida held a slight .025 lead over the LSU. Unfortunately, two falls on the bars by the Tiger squad in the last rotation opened the doors for the Gators, as Florida finished third with a 195.850 and the Tigers placed fourth for the third straight year with a 195.650. Auburn finished fifth with a 195.025, while Kentucky and first-year team Arkansas tied for sixth with identical scores of 194.875.
“I thought we did a great job tonight,” said D-D Breaux, “We did what we were capable of. Obviously, we made a few mistakes that we need to get corrected, but I’m happy with the overall performance. The freshmen did an absolutely fantastic job tonight and I think we’ve put ourselves in a good position heading into the regional championships.”
The Tigers got off to a strong start in the first rotation scoring a 48.900 on the beam behind a solid 9.875 by freshman April Burkholder. Fellow freshman Megan Durning posted a 9.800, while sophomore Jade Jenkins rounded out LSU’s top-three with a mark off 9.775.
After sitting out a rotation with a bye, LSU returned to competition with a spectacular performance on the floor exercise. The Tigers posted a 49.250 to move into third in the team standings at the end of three rotations.
Just a week after scoring a perfect 10.000 on the event, Burkholder didn’t disappoint, pacing the Tiger squad with a 9.900. Freshman Terin Martinjak was just off Burkholder’s pace, scoring a 9.875, while Brittany Brown turned in a 9.850.
LSU sat out the fourth rotation with a bye, but returned to action in the fifth rotation on the vault. The Tigers recorded a 48.900 behind a trio of 9.800s by Rikki L’Heureux, Martinjak and Burkholder. Companioni and Brown each posted marks of 9.750 to sum up LSU’s scoring on the event.
Following one final bye rotation the Tigers concluded the meet on bars. Two falls by LSU resulted in a meet low 48.600. Sophomore Katherine Hilton and Burkholder led the Tigers with 9.875s to place sixth overall, while Beddow followed with a 9.850.
The Tiger gymnastics team will return to action Saturday, April 12, at the NCAA Regional Championships. LSU’s destination for the regional meet will be determined by Sunday evening, following the conclusion of the other conference championship meets around the country.
2003 SEC CHAMPIONSHIPS
Attendance: 6,322
Coach of the Year: Jeff Thompson, Auburn
Co-Gymnasts of the Year: Jeana Rice, ALA, Chelsa Byrd, UGA
Freshman of the Year: April Burkholder, LSU
TEAM RESULTS
Total – 1, Alabama, 197.575. 2, Georgia, 197.525. 3, Florida, 195.850. 4, LSU, 195.650. 5, Auburn, 195.025. 6, Kentucky, 194.875. 6, Arkansas, 194.875.
Vault — 1, Georgia, 49.650. 2, Alabama, 49.325. 3, Florida, 49.025. 4, Kentucky, 49.000. 5, LSU, 48.900. 6, Auburn, 48.725. 7, Arkansas, 48.425.
Bars — 1, Alabama, 49.275. 2, Georgia, 49.150. 3, Arkansas, 48.825. 4, Kentucky, 48.775. 5, Florida, 48.700. 6, Auburn, 48.675. 7, LSU, 48.600.
Beam — 1, Georgia, 49.375. 2, Alabama, 49.375. 3, Florida, 49.350. 4, LSU, 48.900. 5, Arkansas, 48.900. 6, Kentucky, 48.700. 7, Auburn, 48.425.
Floor — 1, Georgia, 49.350. 2. Alabama, 49.325. 3, LSU, 49.250. 4, Auburn, 49.200. 5, Florida, 48.875. 6, Arkansas, 48.725. 7, Kentucky, 48.400.
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top three plus LSU finishers)
All-Around — 1, Jeana Rice, ALA, 39.600. 2, Courtney Puckett, AUB, Kinsey Rowe, UGA, 39.500.4. April Burkholder, 39.450.
Vault — 1, Chelsa Byrd, UGA, 10.000. 2, Ashley Miller, UGA, Brittany Smith, UGA, 9.925. t19, April Burkholder, Rikki L’Heureux, Terin Martinjak, 9.800. t27, Lauren Companioni, Brittany Brown, 9.750. 41, Lindsey Thompson, 9.350.
Bars — 1, Jeana Rice, ALA, 9.925. 2, Chelsa Byrd, UGA, Cory Fitzinger, UGA, Kristen Stucky, UF, Larissa Stewart, ALA, 9.900. 6, April Burkholder, Katehrine Hilton, 9.875. t10, Lindsay Beddow, 9.850. t16th, Rikki L’Heuruex, 9.800. 39, Annie Gagnon, 9.200. 40, Brooke Cazeaux, 9.175.
Beam — 1, Jeana Rice, ALA, 9.950. 2, Cassie Bair, UGA, Kinsey Rowe, UGA, Erinn Dooley, UF, Kristen Stucky, UF, Michelle Reeser, ALA, 9.900. t7, April Burkholder, 9.875. t21, Megan Durning, 9.800. t24, Jade Jenkins, 9.775. t29, Lindsay Beddow, Lauren Companioni, 9.725. 41, Terin Martinjak, 9.250.
Floor — 1, Chelsa Byrd, UGA, Ashley Miles, ALA, 9.975. 3, Courtney Puckett, AUB, Kristin Sterner, ALA, 9.950. t6. April Burkholder, 9.900. t9. Terin Martinjak, 9.875. t13, Brittany Brown, 9.850. t18, Lauren Companioni, 9.825. t22nd, Kelly Lea, 9.800. t31st, Jade Jenkins, 9.700.