EAST LANSING, Mich. — Miscues on the beam and bars proved to be too much for the 10th-ranked LSU gymnastics team to overcome Friday night at the Michigan State quad meet, as the Tigers finished second with a 194.875. No. 17 Arizona took home the team trophy with a 195.425, while Michigan State finished third with a 193.250 and Western Michigan rounded out the competition with a 192.125.
“This team tonight was not the same team that I have seen in training,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “I feel this performance was uncharacteristic. When you compete scared, you make mistakes, and I think we competed scared tonight.”
The Tigers got off to a slow start on the beam in the first rotation, having to count a fall towards the team score to post just a 48.175. However, sophomores Terin Martinjak and April Burkholder were impressive, picking up right where they left off in 2003, recording marks of 9.825 and 9.800, respectively.
LSU rebounded in the second rotation with six dynamic floor performances that garnered a 48.925 from the judges. Freshman Kelly Phelan and Burkholder led all Tigers, scoring identical marks of 9.850. They were followed closely behind by Martinjak’s 9.800 and sophomore Brittany Brown’s 9.775. Freshman Nicole Butler rounded out the Tigers’ scoring on the event, posting a 9.625.
The momentum continued for the Tigers in the third rotation as a 49.025 on the vault pulled them into a two-way tie for second in the team standings with Michigan State (146.100). Arizona held the slight led in the team race with its 146.250.
Individually, Burkholder was nearly perfect on the vault with her meet-winning 9.950, while Butler was close behind with a 9.850. Sophomore Rikki L’Heureux turned in a solid 9.775 and sophomores Lindsey Thompson and Brown closed out the Tigers’ scoring with matching marks of 9.725.
The Tigers concluded the meet with a 48.775 on the bars, but it wouldn’t prove to be enough to upend the Wildcats who tallied a 49.175 on the vault to secure the win. Junior Katherine Hilton led all scorers with a 9.850, while freshman Lisa Rennie and sophomore Annie Gagnon added a 9.800s.
LSU continues the season next Friday when it opens the SEC slate against Florida in Gainesville, Jan. 16.
TEAM RESULTS
1. Arizona 195.425
2. LSU 194.875
3. Michigan State 193.250
4. Western Michigan 192.125
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winner plus all LSU competitors)
Vault – 1, April Burkholder, 9.950. t4, Nicole Butler, 9.850. 7, Rikki L’Heureux, 9.775. t8, Brittany Brown, 9.725. t8, Lindsey Thompson, 9.725. t13, Terin Martinjak, 9.650.
Bars – 1, Jamie Duce (UA), 9.875. 2, Katherine Hilton, 9.850. t4, Annie Gagnon, 9.800. t4, Lisa Rennie, 9.800. t17, Kelly Phelan, 9.675. 20, April Burkholder, 9.650. 23, Lindsay Beddow, 9.650.
Beam – 1, Jaime Miles (MSU), 9.900. t4, Terin Martinajk, 9.825. t8, April Burkholder, 9.800. 13, Jade Jenkins, 9.750. 16, Kelly Phalen, 9.600. 21, Lindsay Beddow, 9.200. 24, Lisa Rennie, 8.600.
Floor – 1, Katie Johnson (UA), 9.875. t2, Kelly Phelan, 9.850. t2, April Burkholder, 9.850. 5, Terin Martinjak, 9.800. t6, Brittany Brown, 9.775. t14, Nicole Butler, 9.625, 16, Kelly Lea, 9.600.
All-Around – 1, Monica Bisordi (UA), 39.300. 2, April Burkholder, 39.250