TULSA, Okla. — The fourth-ranked LSU gymnasts opened their weekend road trip in a big way, earning a program and season-high 197.850 to Oklahoma’s 195.750 in a victory over the ninth-ranked Sooners behind a 39.825 all-around performance from junior All-American April Burkholder.
She claimed her fifth all-around title of the season and second straight with perfect 10s on the vault and the beam highlighting the evening for LSU.
The team total was the highest ever in program history, surpassing the previous mark of 197.675 set versus Centenary and Rhode Island on March 14, 2002.
“She did a beautiful job tonight,” head coach D-D Breaux said of Burkholder’s performance. “She competed with a lot of maturity and was a real team leader.”
The Tigers took control from the beginning and never looked back.
“I feel like they came with the level of intensity that we needed at this point in the season,” Breaux said. “They realized the sense of urgency to eliminate the mistakes and perform like a championship-level team. That’s what they did tonight.”
Behind three performance of 9.900 or better on the bars, LSU opened the night with a .4-point lead after the first rotation. The Tigers scored a season-high 49.325 on the event.
Lisa Rennie notched a career-high 9.950 to lead the team followed by Annie Gagnon with a 9.925.
The Tigers continued their stellar performance on the next rotation, scoring another season-high on the vault. They scored a 49.450, the highest this year and the fourth highest in program history.
Burkholder led the way, earning a perfect 10 to win the event. Not far behind were Nicki Butler with a 9.925 and Ashleigh Clare-Kearney with a 9.900.
The Tigers moved to the floor still with the lead over the Sooners. They scored a 49.350 behind a 9.950 from Clare-Kearney, who won the event title with that score.
On beam, LSU put together the strongest performance on that event in program history. Collectively, the Tigers scored a 49.725 behind Burkholder’s second 10.00 of the competition. Terin Martinjak notched a 9.950 and three Tigers followed in third place with 9.925s.
“They all competed with intensity,” Breaux commented of her team. “One thing I told them was that they need to build on each other’s momentum, and that’s what they did.”
The Tigers travel next to Denton, Texas, for a Sunday meeting with Texas Woman’s at 3 p.m.
Team Competition
1. LSU – 197.850 (VT-49.450, UB-49.325, BB-49.725, FX-49.350)
2. OU – 195.750 (VT-48.925, UB-48.850, BB-48.950, FX-49.025)
Individual Scores (Winner plus all LSU competitiors)
AA – 1. April Burkholder 39.825
VT – 1. April Burkholder 10.00, 2. Nicki Butler 9.925, 3. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 9.900, 4. Kelly Phelan 9.850, t7. Rikki L’Heureux 9.775, 8. Annie Gagnon 9.725
UB – 1. Lisa Rennie 9.950, 2. Annie Gagnon 9.925, 3. April Burkholder 9.900, t6. Katherine Hilton, Nicki Butler 9.775, 7. Kelly Lea 9.700,
BB – 1. April Burkholder 10.00, 2. Terin Martinjak 9.950, 3. Annie Gagnon, Lisa Rennie, Kelly Phelan 9.925, 5. Lauren Companioni 9.825
FX – 1. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney 9.950, t2. April Burkholder 9.925, 3. Kelly Phelan 9.875, 5. Lauren Companioni 9.825, t6. Lisa Rennie 9.775, t7. Nicki Butler 9.750