LINCOLN, Neb. — LSU’s quest for its first appearance in the Super Six finals ended Thursday afternoon as the Tiger gymnastics team concluded its season placing fifth in the first session of the NCAA Championships here at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.
UCLA won the early session outscoring the competition with an impressive 196.950 team score. They will be joined by defending national champion Alabama (196.775) and Michigan (196.125) in the Super Six competition to be held Friday evening.
Arizona State finished in a distant fourth with a 194.225, while LSU followed scoring a 194.000 and Iowa wrapped up the team scoring with its mark of 193.825.
“The scoring was tight and we had to count some mistakes, but the team pushed hard and did a good job,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “With so many freshmen on this team I think we did what we were capable of. It was truly a learning experience for this young team.”
Tight scoring in the first rotation got LSU off to a slow start on the vault as the Tigers scored just a 48.325. April Burkholder was LSU’s top scorer registering a 9.775. She was followed by Brittany Brown who notched a 9.675.
Sitting out the second rotation with a bye, the Tigers returned to action with a solid performance on the uneven bars. LSU combined to score a 48.750 behind a team-leading 9.825 by sophomore Annie Gagnon. Burkholder and junior Lindsay Beddow rounded out the Tigers top three on the event, notching marks of 9.775 and 9.750, respectively.
Miscues on the balance beam in the fourth rotation resulted in LSU posting just a 48.400 team total. The Tigers had three athletes record marks of 9.700 or better as sophomore Jade Jenkins led the team with a 9.775, freshman Megan Durning was next with a 9.725 and Beddow followed with a 9.700.
LSU sat out the fifth rotation with its second and final bye before concluding the meet with a 48.525 on the floor exercise. Freshman Terin Martinjak was the Tigers leading scorer, registering a 9.825, while Gagnon and Jenkins turned in identical 9.775s.
“This team really came around this year,” said Breaux. “They’ve worked hard all season long and I truly believe that this experience is going to make them an even tougher team next season.”
SESSION I TEAM RESULTS
1, UCLA, 196.950. 2, Alabama, 196.775. 3, Michigan, 196.125. 4, Arizona State, 194.225. 5, LSU, 194.000. 6, Iowa, 193.825.
SESSION I INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Top three plus LSU finishers)
All-Around — 1, Jamie Dantzshcer, UCLA, 39.650. 2, Kate Richardson, UCLA, 39.525. 3, Jeana Rice, ALA, 39.475. 20, April Burkholder, 38.575.
Vault — 1, Ashley Miles, ALA, 10.000. 2, Onnie Willis, UCLA, 9.950. 3, Jamie Dantzshcer, UCLA, 9.900. t14, April Burkholder, 9.775. t29, Brittany Brown, 9.675. t33, Rikki L’Heureux, Terin Martinjak, 9.650. t36, Jade Jenkins, 9.575. 39, Lindsey Thompson, 9.550.
Bars — 1, Jamie Dantzshcer, UCLA, 9.950. 2, Jeanette Antolin, UCLA, 9.900. Kate Richardson, UCLA, 9.875. t8, Annie Gagnon, 9.825. t13, April Burkholder, 9.775. t16, t16, Lindsay Beddow, 9.750. t23, Rikki L’Heureux, 9.725. t30, Katherine Hilton, 9.675. 43, Brooke Cazeaux, 8.900.
Beam — 1, Kate Richardson, UCLA, 9.925. t2, Jeana Rice, ALA, Kristen Sterner, ALA, 9.900. t20, Jade Jenkins, 9.775. t27, Megan Durning, 9.725. t29, Lindsay Beddow, 9.700. 32, Brooke Cazeaux, 9.650. 34, April Burkholder, 9.550. 37, Terin Martinjak, 9.350.
Floor — 1, Jamie Dantzshcer, UCLA, 9.950. t2, Ashley Miles, ALA, Kate Richardson, UCLA, Onnie Willis, UCLA, Calli Ryals, UM, 9.900. t12, Terin Martinjak, 9.825. t23, Annie Gagnon, Kelly Lea, 9.775. t35, Jade Jenkins, 9.675. 41, April Burkholder, 9.475. 42, Chelsea Richard, 9.350.