BATON ROUGE — Behind impressive all-around performances by senior Kelly Phelan and junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney the Purple team defeated the Gold team, 196.70-195.75, Friday evening at the LSU gymnastics intrasquad meet held at the team’s practice facility.
Phelan, a senior All-American from Orlando, Fla., turned in the evening’s top all-around mark, scoring a 39.55 behind four scores of 9.85 or better. Clare-Kearney was nearly as good, notching a 39.45 as she also scored above 9.85 on each of the four events.
“As far as four events go those two are as solid as you can get,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux on the pair’s performances.
Breaux was not only pleased with efforts put forth by Phelan and Clare-Kearney, but by the team as a whole.
“I am very pleased with what I saw tonight,” said Breaux. “I thought the group showed a lot of poise and competitiveness. I think tonight we showed that we not only have a lot of depth, but we have a lot of good depth.”
That point was illustrated on the night’s first event, the vault, as five athletes posted scores of 9.90 or better and another two added 9.85s. Clare-Kearney and senior Nicki Butler and led all scorer as each were awarded 9.95s. Just off their pace were Phelan, junior Emily Ellis and freshman Kayla Rogers who all scored 9.90s.
On the bars, two-time All-American Lisa Rennie and freshman Susan Jackson paced the squad with scores of 9.90. Butler, Phelan and freshman Yvette Triay added 9.85s.
The beam saw Phelan and junior transfer Kristi Esposito rise to the top as they each scored a 9.90. They were followed by Clare-Kearney, Ellis and sophomore Amanda Morales who tallied scores of 9.85.
Wrapping up things on the floor exercise, the Tigers saw two athletes, in Phelan and Jackson, turn in top marks of 9.90. Clare-Kearney, Ellis, Butler and Esposito were not far behind with 9.85s.
The Tigers season gets underway Jan. 5 when they travel to Fayetteville, Ark., for the Super Six Challenge.