DURHAM, N.H. — A sweep of the meet’s team and individual honors catapulted the third-ranked LSU gymnastics team to the NCAA Northeast Regional Championship Saturday night at the Whittemore Center Arena.
Behind four scores of 49.050 or better the Tigers tallied a 197.125 in winning their second straight regional title and their third in the last four years.
The win sends LSU to the NCAA Championships, scheduled for April 21-23 in Auburn, Ala., for the seventh time in the last eight years. No. 10 Oklahoma will join the Tigers at the national meet after earning runner-up honors with a 195.550.
New Hampshire (194.700), Arkansas (193.950), Pittsburgh (193.100) and Rutgers (191.350) rounded out the meet’s team standings.
“This is always the hardest meet of the year,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “It means so much because it is the only meet that can get you to that next level.
“The team did a great job. They never let up all night. We had a minor break on beam, but we kept the pressure on them and they responded with five great sets. We couldn’t have asked for more.”
Individually, junior April Burkholder led the Tigers sweep of the individual accolades claiming the all-around crown, her seventh of the season, with a 39.575. Sophomore Nicki Butler was just off her pace finishing third overall with a 39.300.
The Tigers opened the meet with a 49.050 on the bars to take the early teamlead, one that would not be relinquished over the remaining five rotations. LSU was led by All-American Annie Gagnon on the event. She posted a 9.950 in garnering first-place accolades. Burkholder and sophomore Lisa Rennie added 9.800’s, while freshman Ashley-Clare Kearney and sophomore Nicki Butler rounded out LSU’s scorers with marks of 9.775 and 9.750, respectively.
The Tigers extended their lead to over a point in the second rotation, notching a 49.150 on the beam. Burkholder, Rennie and sophomore Kelly Phelan all tied for top honors, posting a trio of 9.850’s.
LSU sat out the third rotation with a bye but returned to competition with an electrifying floor performance in the fourth. The Tigers scored a meet-high 49.450 behind five scores of 9.850 or better. Burkholder was near perfect with her meet-winning 9.975, while Phelan finished tied for second with a 9.900.
The Tigers carried their momentum from the floor to the vault in the fifth rotation, capping their meet with an outstanding 49.475 effort. The score, the fourth best in school history, was highlighted by meet-winning 9.950’s by Burkholder, Butler and Clare-Kearney.
Up next, LSU will await its session assignment for the NCAA Championships. An announcement is expected Monday afternoon.
TEAM RESULTS
1. LSU – 197.125 (VT – 49.475, UB – 49.050, BB – 49.150, FX – 49.450)
2. Oklahoma – 195.550 (VT – 49.025, UB – 48.950, BB – 48.225, FX – 49.350)
3. New Hampshire – 194.700 (VT – 48.925, UB – 47.925, BB – 48.825, FX – 49.025)
4. Arkansas – 193.950 (VT – 48.225, UB – 48.025, BB – 48.825, FX – 48.875)
5. Pittsburgh – 193.100 (VT – 47.950, UB – 48.450, BB – 48.050, FX – 48.650)
6. Rutgers – 191.350 (VT – 47.325, UB – 47.800, BB – 47.950, FX – 48.275)
INDIVIDUAL RESULTS (Winner plus all LSU competitors)
All-Around – 1, April Burkholder, 39.575. 3, Nicki Butler, 39.300.
Vault – t1, April Burkholder, 9.950. t1, Nicki Butler, 9.950. t1, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.950. 6, Kelly Phelan, 9.850. t10, Rikki L’Heureux, 9.775. t13, Annie Gagnon, 9.750.
Bars – 1, Annie Gagnon, 9.950. t7, April Burkholder, 9.800. t7, Lisa Rennie, 9.800. t9, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.775. t12, Nicki Butler, 9.725. t16, Kelly Lea, 9.675.
Beam – t1, April Burkholder, 9.850. t1, Kelly Phelan, 9.850. t1, Lisa Rennie, 9.850. t1, Vanessa Berrios, UNH, 9.850. t1, Leila Tait, PITT, 9.850. 6, Annie Gagnon, 9.825. t11, Nicki Butler, 9.775. t37, Terin Martinjak, 9.300.
Floor – t1, April Burkholder, 9.975. t2, Kelly Phelan, 9.900. t6, Lauren Companioni, 9.875. t8, Nicki Butler, 9.850. t8, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.850. t13, Lisa Rennie, 9.800.