DENTON, Texas — A trio of 10.00s and a third straight score of 197-plus catapulted the 10th-ranked LSU gymnastics team to a tri-meet victory over No. 11 Arizona and defending USAG national champion, Texas Woman’s, Monday night at Kitty Magee Arena.
The Tigers finished with a 197.100 to edge both the Wildcats (197.050) and the Pioneers (193.475).
LSU started the meet on a strong note, scoring a 49.325 on the beam as all Tiger scorers posted marks of 9.825 or higher. Sophomores Terin Martinjak and April Burkholder paced the squad with identical marks of 9.900.
The Tigers built on the momentum in the second rotation, recording the eighth best team total in school history (49.425) behind a pair of 10.00s by Martinjak and freshman Nicki Butler.
It was the first perfect mark for either Martinjak or Butler and the first time in school history the Tigers have had two athletes record 10.00s in the same rotation.
Kelly Lea and Kelly Phelan also turned in impressive marks on the event as each recorded career-highs, notching 9.950 and 9.900, respectively.
On the vault, LSU turned in the second-best team total in school history, 49.425, as sophomore April Burkholder punctuated the rotation with her first career 10.00 on the event. The perfect score marked her third of the season and the fourth of her career.
Butler and freshman Lindsey Thompson also recorded career-highs on the event with scores of 9.950 and 9.900, respectively.
In the final rotation, the Tigers had to count a fall towards the team score but still managed a 48.925. Lindsay Beddow and Katherine Hilton tied for first-place on the event with matching scores of 9.900.
LSU returns to action Friday when it hosts Auburn in a 7 p.m. dual meet at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
TEAM RESULTS
1. LSU 197.100
2. Arizona 197.050
3. Texas Woman’s 193.475
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (LSU competitors only)
Vault
April Burkholder, 10.00
Nicki Butler, 9.950
Lindsey Thompson, 9.900
Rikki L’Heureux, 9.825
Jade Jenkins, 9.750
Terin Martinjak, 9.300.
Bars
Lindsay Beddow, 9.900
Katherine Hilton, 9.900
Kelly Phelan, 9.875
Lisa Rennie, 9.850
Kelly Lea, 9.400
Annie Gagnon, 9.350
Beam
April Burkholder, 9.900
Terin Martinjak, 9.900
Megan Durning, 9.850
Lisa Rennie, 9.850
Annie Gagnon, 9.825
Lindsay Beddow, 9.775.
Floor
Nicki Butler, 10.00
Terin Martinjak, 10.00
Katie Johnson, UA, 10.00
Kelly Lea, 9.950
Kelly Phelan, 9.900
Jade Jenkins, 9.575
Lindsey Thompson, 9.050.