FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. ? LSU’s ninth-ranked gymnastics team could not overcome shaky performances on the beam and floor as it scored a 194.125 to place fourth at the season-opening Super Six Challenge Friday night at Arkansas’ Barnhill Arena.
“Even with two bad events I think we still came away with a decent score,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “We are perfectly capable of much more, but I am glad to get this meet behind us. It is a hard meet to open the season with.”
The competition was all among the best in the nation as each of the teams in the six-team field are currently ranked among the preseason top 20.
Third-ranked Florida rose to the top, running away with the team title after totaling a 196.550. Nebraska and Penn State finished second and third, respectively, with scores of 195.200 and 194.575, while Denver (192.975) and Arkansas (192.800) rounded out the team scoring.
The Tigers got the meet off to an electrifying start on the vault, scoring an impressive 49.450 behind a perfect 10.00 performance by junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney. The team score, the sixth highest vault score in school history, gave LSU a commanding lead after one rotation as the Gators were the closest competitor at .600 points behind with a 48.850.
Clare-Kearney, who was competing in her first meet since the 2006 season opener where she suffered a season-ending foot injury, couldn’t have asked for a better welcome back performance. The Manchester, Conn., native nailed a yurochenko full twist to put the exclamation point on a set of six solid vault performances by the Tigers. The meet-winning 10.00 marked the first of Clare-Kearney’s career and the first by a LSU athlete since the since the 2005 season.
“We have seen that kind of performance from Ashleigh time and time again in practice,” said Breaux. “After missing last season she has had a better level of training and is in a good place both mentally and physically and it showed tonight.”
LSU had five others contribute outstanding efforts in the rotation as seniors Kelly Phelan and Nicki Butler posted near perfect 9.925s, junior Emily Ellis added a 9.850 and freshmen Kayla Rogers and Sabrina Franceschelli followed with a pair of 9.750s.
After sitting out the second rotation with a bye the Tigers returned to action on the bars where they tallied a solid 48.850 to maintain a .400 point lead over Florida (97.900).
Freshman Summer Hubbard and Butler led the team with a pair of 9.850s, freshman Susan Jackson and Phelan weren’t far behind with matching 9.825s.
The team standings took a dramatic turn in the fourth rotation as an unsteady performance by the Tigers on the beam resulted in just a 47.350 effort that dropped them to third overall. Meanwhile the Gators were outstanding on the bars, tallying a 49.575 to move into the lead (147.475). Nebraska also edged the Tigers in the rotation, adding a 49.125 on the vault to move into second.
LSU’s top scorer on the beam was Clare-Kearney as she turned in a 9.750. Jackson was just off her pace with a 9.725.
While the Tigers sat out the fifth rotation with a bye, Penn State recorded a 49.050 on the bars to move ahead of LSU in the team standings (145.925).
The sixth and final rotation saw LSU maintain its place in the team standings as the Tigers tallied a 48.475 on the floor after having to count several routines with out of bounds deductions.
Esposito led all Tiger scorers on the event, posting a 9.825. Hubbard followed with a 9.750, while Phelan added a 9.700.
“Overall I am not displeased,” said Breaux. “I see where we have room to improve. I am looking forward to another week of training and another week of readiness before we head to Iowa.”
Up next, the Tigers remain on the road as they travel to Iowa City, Iowa, for a dual meet with the Hawkeyes on Friday, Jan. 12.
SUPER SIX CHALLENGE RESULTS
Team Results
1. Florida ? 196.500 (VT ? 49.050, UB ? 49.575, BB ? 49.075, FX ? 48.850)
2. Nebraska ? 195.200 (VT ? 49.125, UB ? 49.400, BB ? 47.750, FX ? 48.925)
3. Penn State ? 194.575 (VT ? 48.575, UB ? 49.050, BB ? 48.650, FX ? 48.300)
4. LSU ? 194.125 (VT ? 49.450, UB ? 48.850, BB ? 47.350, FX ? 48.475)
5. Denver ? 192.975 (VT ? 48.675, UB ? 48.675, BB ? 46.750, FX ? 48.800)
6. Arkansas ? 192.800 (VT ? 48.700, UB ? 48.075, BB ? 47.575, FX ? 48.500)
LSU Individual Results
All-Around ? Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 38.725. Kelly Phelan, 38.200.
Vault ? Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 10.00. Nicki Butler, 9.925. Kelly Phelan, 9.925. Emily Ellis, 9.850. Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.750. Kayla Rogers, 9.750.
Bars ? Nicki Butler, 9.850. Summer Hubbard, 9.850. Susan Jackson, 9.825. Kelly Phelan, 9.825. Amanda Morales, 9.500. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.350.
Beam ? Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.750. Susan Jackson, 9.725. Nicki Butler, 9.625. Kristi Esposito, 9.400. Lauren Klein, 8.850. Kelly Phelan, 8.750.
Floor ? Kristi Esposito, 9.825. Summer Hubbard, 9.750. Kelly Phelan, 9.700. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.625. Susan Jackson, 9.575. Lauren Klein, 9.275.