2004 LSU Gymnastics Preview
Having always expected the most from her teams, 2004 is no different for LSU head coach D-D Breaux, who enters her 27th season at the helm of the Tiger gymnastics program.
“I expect them to be the best team we have ever had,” said Breaux. “I think we’ve got more depth then we’ve had in the past and just as much talent.”
With expectations for the 2004 campaign at an all-time high, the team has shown an equal commitment to reaching new levels, diving into a challenging preseason program that should put them on the fast track to achieving their season goals, a return trip to the NCAA Championships and a berth into LSU’s first ever Super Six Finals.
“We have done more in the preseason then we have ever done before,” said Breaux. “We have conditioned harder, lifted weights and been more committed as a team to our conditioning and training program. Assuming everyone stays healthy, strong and focused, these are the things that are going to help make a difference at the end of the season, when it counts.”
The Returning Squad
Anchoring the Tigers’ charge to the Super Six is a group of five upperclassmen that is headlined by lone senior, Lindsay Beddow. Beddow was a staple in LSU’s bar and beam lineups a year ago and should again be a force on those two events, while also making a case for spot in the floor lineup this season.
Beddow will be supported by fellow upperclassmen Annie Gagnon, Jade Jenkins, Lauren Companioni and Katherine Hilton, who comprise a talented junior class that played a vital role in the Tigers’ success a year ago.
Returning off her most successful season to date is Annie Gagnon. Gagnon earned All-America honors on the bars last year and will again be looked to as a leader on that event. Breaux hopes to use Gagnon in the all-around this year, but that will likely come later in the season as Gagnon is still recovering from a foot injury that required surgery in the fall. “If we can get Annie 100% healthy and hitting on all four cylinders she will be an impact all-arounder,” said Breaux.
Another All-American dotting the LSU lineup is Lauren Companioni. Companioni earned All-America honors on the floor as a freshman and has the possibility of garnering such accolades again after making solid contributions on the vault, beam and floor in 2003. “We need Lauren on the floor of competition,” said Breaux. “Her drive, her determination, her ability to lead and her spirit on the floor speaks volumes about her and that’s what helps get teams through rough spots.”
Fellow junior Jade Jenkins returns this fall training three events, the vault, beam and floor. Jenkins was a constant in the Tigers’ beam and floor lineups last season and also saw limited action on the vault and bars throughout the year. With an impressive off-season under her belt Breaux expects her to be a solid contributor on all three events.
Katherine Hilton, a bar and beam specialist for LSU, worked her way into the Tiger’s bar lineup last season and proved to be one of LSU’s top performers on the event by the end of the year. She should again be a major contributor on the bars and could also crack the beam lineup this season. “I would never say never for Kat,” said Breaux. “Once she puts her mind to something she is strong willed enough to carry though with the task.”
LSU returns a strong seven-member sophomore class that returns for the 2004 campaign seasoned and ready to go after producing over half of the Tigers competitive routines a year ago. The group is headlined by 2003 SEC Freshman of the Year April Burkholder. Burkholder posted one of the most successful freshman campaigns in LSU history, shattering the school record in the all-around (39.875) and tying the school record mark on the floor exercise (10.0). After recording the Tigers’ top marks in every event last season, Burkholder is once again expected to pace the Tigers in 2004. “April continues to set the standard,” said Breaux. “She works hard everyday in practice and its shows. I expect her to be ever bigger and better this season.”
Breaux also expects great things from fellow sophomore Terin Martinjak. Martinjak was one of the Tigers’ top performers on the vault, beam and floor last year. She is expected to add bars to her repertoire this season, which could make her one of the top all-around threats in the conference. “Terin has been very focused and determined this preseason,” said Breaux. “I fully believe that we will be our best team if Terin becomes a strong all-arounder.”
Rikki L’Heureux, Kelly Lea and Lindsey Thompson are also training the all-around and are expected to once again be mainstays in the Tiger lineup. L’Heureux was one of LSU’s most consistent performers on the vault and bars last year and will again be counted on in those events, as well as on the balance beam. Lea was a steady performer on the bars and floor for the Tigers in 2003 and after an impressive off season could also make waves on the vault and beam. Thompson worked her way into the vault lineup towards the end of last season and should see action on that event again, while also contending for spots on the other three events.
Last, and certainly not least, from the talented sophomore class are Brittany Brown and Megan Durning. Brown produced impressive results on the vault and floor for the Tigers last season and has upgraded her difficulty on both of those events this year. Durning was one of the Tigers’ most dependable athletes a year ago and Breaux believes she will continue that role this season. A rock in the LSU beam lineup, Durning was also a solid contributor on the vault and floor when called into action. “Megan was a staple, a real ‘go to’ person for us last year,” said Breaux. “In a pressure situation, she’s the one I want.”
The Freshmen
The Tigers welcome a trio of freshmen to the team in Nicole Butler, Kelly Phelan and Lisa Rennie. Breaux believes all three come to LSU with potential to help in the all-around.
“These are three freshmen who will definitely make us a better team,” said Breaux. “Nicole and Kelly could make us or break us on the vault. If they do what they are capable of doing we are going to be a great vaulting team, while Lisa is a great bar worker. She has strong, beautiful lines that should make her an impact performer on the event.”
Butler is an elite level gymnast from Virginia Beach, Va., who finished second in the all-around and first on the vault at the 2002 U.S. Challenge, while Phelan, a native of Orlando, Fla., was a three-time national qualifier who earned runner-up honors on the floor at the 2003 national championships.
Rennie comes to Baton Rouge from Las Vegas, Nev., where she was a four-time national qualifier that finished second on the bars at the 2003 national championships.
The Schedule
Never one to dodge the tough competition Breaux and her Tiger squad will be tested from beginning to end during the 2004 season as the six of the teams on the Tigers’ slate rank among last season’s top 25.
“This is a get ready quick schedule,” said Breaux. “We start with a quad meet at Michigan State and then jump right into the fire with meets against Florida and Alabama.”
The Tigers open the 2004 campaign with a two-meet road swing that includes a quad meet at Michigan State on Jan. 9 and the conference opener at Florida, Jan. 16.
LSU then returns to Baton Rouge to open the home schedule with defending SEC champion and national runner up, Alabama, on Jan. 23. The Tigers continue the home stand, Jan. 30, with a tri-meet featuring Centenary and Texas Woman’s.
Feb. 6 takes the Tigers back on the road, traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., for a match up with second-year team Arkansas. LSU then takes on Georgia in Athens the following week.
The Tigers continue the conference slate at home, welcoming Kentucky to the Maravich Center, Feb. 20, before traveling to Denton, Texas for a tri- meet with Texas Woman’s and Arizona, Feb. 23.
LSU then closes out the regular season home schedule against Ohio State on March 5, before concluding the regular season all together against Centenary in Shreveport on March 12.
The Tigers then head to Duluth, Ga., for the SEC Championships on March 20, before returning home to host the NCAA Central Regional Championships, April 2, in the PMAC.
The 2003 season will come to a conclusion, April 15-17, at the NCAA Championships, when defending national champion, UCLA, hosts the event at the Pauley Pavilion in Los Angeles, Calif.