GAINESVILLE, Fla. — For the second straight week mistakes on both the bars and beam proved costly for the 16th-ranked LSU gymnastics team as it fell, 197.200-195.300, to No. 8 Florida Friday night at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center.
“Tonight was a real up and down performance, I felt like we were on a rollercoaster all evening,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “Just when I thought we had something going, a wheel would fall off.
“We did have some outstanding performances though from April (Burkholder) in the all-around and Lisa (Rennie), Annie (Gagnon) and Lindsey (Thompson) in their events.”
April Burkholder was outstanding in the all-around for the second straight week, tying for second-place with Florida’s Breanne King with a 39.475.
The Gators took the early, 49.150-48.575, lead after the first rotation as miscues by LSU’s first two performers on the uneven bars forced the Tigers to count a fall towards the team total.
LSU’s next four competitors on the event were unfazed by the situation and went on to finish the rotation with solid sets. Freshman Lisa Rennie posted a career-high 9.900 to place second overall. All-American Annie Gagnon followed with a 9.875, while sophomore April Burkholder scored a season-high 9.825.
The Tigers were impressive in the second rotation, scoring a season-best 49.150, behind an event-winning 9.925 performance by Burkholder. Sophomore Lindsey Thompson set a career-high on the event for the second straight week, scoring a 9.875 to finish in a two-way tie for second place.
Florida extended it’s lead to a full point in the third rotation with a 49.400 performance on the beam, to the Tigers’ 49.150 on the floor. Burkholder and fellow sophomore Brittany Brown led the LSU squad with identical marks of 9.900. Sophomore Terin Martinjak and Rennie added scores of 9.875 and 9.850, respectively.
LSU added a 48.425 on the beam to cap off the evening’s competition. Burkholder once again led all Tigers, scoring a 9.825.
LSU continues the season Fri., Jan. 23, when it opens the home schedule against No. 2 Alabama at 7 p.m. in the PMAC.
TEAM RESULTS
1. UF 197.200 (VT – 49.150), UB – 49.325, BB – 49.400, FX – 49.325)
2. LSU 195.300 (VT – 49.150, UB – 48.575, BB – 48.425, FX -49.150)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winner plus all LSU competitors)
All-Around – 1, Orley Szmuch, 39.550. t2, April Burkholder, 39.475.
Vault – 1, April Burkholder, 9.925. t2, Lindsey Thompson, 9.875. t6, Rikki L’Heureux, 9.800. t6, Kelly Phelan, 9.800. 10, Nicki Butler, 9.750. 12, Brittany Brown, 9.725.
Bars – 1, Erin Pendleton (UF), 9.925. 2, Lisa Rennie, 9.900. t3, Annie Gagnon, 9.875. t6, April Burkholder, 9.825. 9, Katherine Hilton, 9.750. 11, Nicki Butler, 9.225. 12, Kelly Phelan, 9.150.
Beam – 1, Kristen Stucky (UF), 9.925. t5, April Burkholder, 9.825. 7, Kelly Phelan, 9.800. t8, Lindsay Beddow, 9.775. t8, Terin Martinjak, 9.775. 11, Lisa Rennie, 9.250. 12, Jade Jenkins, 9.125.
Floor – 1, Orley Szmuch (UF), 9.925. t2, Brittany Brown, 9.900. t2, April Burkholder, 9.900. t4, Terin Martinjak, 9.875. t6, Lisa Rennie, 9.850. 10, Kelly Lea, 9.625. t11, Kelly Phelan, 9.575.
Attn: 3,803