ATHENS, Ga. — Despite scoring a season high in points, the fifth-ranked LSU gymnastics squad fell to the Georgia Gym Dogs, 197.550-195.925.
Competing against the second-ranked Gym Dogs in front of 10,224 Georgia fans, the Tigers managed to put forth one of their best efforts of the season.
“Our team continued to fight throughout the meet,” said head coach D-D Breaux. “They showed great tenacity and they stayed in their zone. They never got concerned with what Georgia was doing. I just wish the meet would have been a little closer.”
The Tigers started the afternoon on the bars, scoring a 48.825. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, a junior from Manchester, Conn., tied for third in the event with the Gym Dogs’ Grace Taylor and Tiffany Tolnay. The three scored a 9.825. Katie Heenan of the Gym Dogs took home the event title with a score of 9.950.
LSU moved to the vault for the second rotation, in which they scored a 48.825. A score of 9.925 was good enough for Clare-Kearney to share the event title with the Gym Dogs’ Courtney Kupets. Heenan placed third for Georgia.
The Tigers found themselves trailing after the first two rotations, 98.475-97.800, but still competed to the best of their ability.
In the third rotation, the Tigers took to the floor with the determination to regain some ground on Georgia. Strong performances were turned in by junior Lauren Klein (9.900) and sophomore Susan Jackson (9.875), both of Spring, Texas. However, Georgia put together a score of 49.575 to trump the Tigers’ team score of 49.150.
While not placing individually in the top three on the beam, the Tigers did manage to score a season high in the final rotation, with a score of 48.950. Senior Kristi Esposito tied for fourth with a score of 9.850, tops for LSU.
The Tigers’ overall score beats their previous season high of 195.900, which they scored at Arkansas last week. Their previous season high on the beam was accomplished during the same event, scoring a 48.825.
Next up for the Tigers is a dual meet will Kentucky on Friday, Feb. 1 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. Georgia ? 197.550 (VT ? 49.150, UB ? 49.325, BB ? 49.500, FX ? 49.575)
2. LSU ? 195.925 (VT ? 49.000, UB ? 48.825, BB ? 48.9500, FX ? 49.150)
Individual (Winner plus all LSU competitors)
All-Around ? 1, Courtney Kupets, UGA, 39.750. 2, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 39.375. 3, Susan Jackson, 39.250. 4, Sabrina Franceschelli, 38.525.
Vault ? t1, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.925. t1, Courtney Kupets, UGA, 9.925. 5, Susan Jackson, 9.825. 6, Nicole Lyons, 9.800. 9, Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.700. 12, Lauren Klein, 9.200.
Bars ? 1, Courtney Kupets, UGA, 9.925. t3, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.825. t7, Susan Jackson, 9.775. t7, Nicole Lyons, 9.775. t10, Kristi Esposito, 9.725. t10, Staci Schwitkis, 9.725. 12, Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.575.
Beam ? 1, Courtney McCool,UGA, 9.975. t4, Kristi Esposito, 9.850. t7, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.775. t7, Samantha Engle, 9.775. t7, Susan Jackson, 9.775. 12, Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.575.
Floor ? 1, Courtney McCool, UGA, 9.975. 4, Lauren Klein, 9.900. t5, Susan Jackson, 9.875. 8, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.825. 9, Samantha Engle, 9.800. 10, Kristi Esposito, 9.750. 12, Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.625.