GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 6 LSU gymnastics team fell to the No. 3 Florida Gators, 197.925-196.325, Friday night in Gainesville, Fla.
The Tigers strong performance came in front of the tenth-largest crowd in Florida gymnastics history (6,705).
“As a whole, we had a great effort,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “We had a super team effort. Our freshmen are learning how to compete.”
The Tigers started the evening on the bars, where last week they scored a season high 49.275 against Auburn and West Virginia. They proved that score was no fluke, beating their season high with a 49.300. Sophomore Susan Jackson tied a career high with a 9.900. Senior Kristi Esposito (9.825) and sophomores Summer Hubbard (9.875) and Sabrina Francheschelli (9.825) either matched or passed their season highs.
“We performed especially well on the bars,” added Breaux.
In the second rotation, the Tigers moved to the vault, scoring a 49.475, also a new season high. The score tied for the fifth best score in school history on the vault. Jackson crushed her career high with a 9.975 for the Tigers’ lone event title. Junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney tied for second, scoring a 9.950, which tied her season high. Freshman Paige Cipolloni surpassed her career high with a 9.800, while fellow freshman Nicole Lyons (9.900) and Staci Schwitkis (9.850) also tied their career highs.
Despite the strong start, the Tigers found themselves trailing Florida after the first two rotations, 98.975-98.775. The Gators held a three-way tie at the top for the bars vault title with Melanie Sinclair, Amanda Castillo and Nicola Willis all scoring a 9.950. Sinclair and Tiffany Murry tied for second on the vault with a 9.950.
Moving to the floor for the third rotation, the Tigers scored a 48.925. Jackson tied a career high with a 9.900 to lead the Tigers. In addition to their performances, the Tigers had strong outing from sophomore Kayla Rogers, who scored a career high score with a 9.850.
The Tigers slightly trailed the Gators, 148.375-147.700, after three rotations.
On the beam, Lyons continued her strong night, beating her career high with a 9.875. Esposito tied her season high with a 9.875. Jackson and Franceschelli both posted 9.750s. As a team, the Tigers scored a 48.625.
In the all-around, Jackson finished fourth, with a 39.525. Clare-Kearney came in sixth with a 38.825.
The Tigers are now 8-2 on the season, including a 3-2 record in the SEC.
Up next for the Tigers is a dual meet against Alabama on Friday, Feb. 22 at 7 p.m. at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The meet will be the first annual Etta James Memorial Meet, in honor of former LSU linebacker Bradie James’ mother who succumbed to breast cancer in 2002. Donations received at the entrances will go to Foundation56 and so will a sizable donation if 7,500 fans attend the meet.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. Florida — 197.925 (VT — 49.350, UB — 49.625, BB — 49.400, FX — 49.550)
2. LSU — 196.325 (VT — 49.475, UB — 49.300, BB — 48.625 , FX — 48.925)
Individual (winner plus all LSU competitors)
All-Around — 1. Amanda Castillo (Florida), 39.575; 4. Susan Jackson, 39.525; 6. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 38.825
Vault — 1. Susan Jackson, 9.975; t-2. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.950; 5. Nicole Lyons, 9.900; 6. Staci Schwitkis, 9.850; t-9. Paige Cipolloni, 9.800; 12. Kayla Rogers, 9.650;
Bars — t-1. Melanie Sinclair (Florida), 9.950; t-1. Amanda Castillo (Florida), 9.950; t-1. Nicola Willis (Florida) 9.950; t-4. Susan Jackson, 9.900; t-6. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.875; t-6. Summer Hubbard, 9.875; t-10. Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.825; t-10. Kristi Esposito, 9.825; 12. Nicole Lyons, 9.700
Beam — 1. Corey Hartung (Florida), 9.900; t-2. Kristi Esposito, 9.875; t-2. Nicole Lyons, 9.875; t-9. Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.750; t-9. Susan Jackson, 9.750; 11. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.375; 12. Samantha Engle, 9.200
Floor — 1. Amanda Castillo (Florida), 9.950; 4. Susan Jackson, 9.900; t-6. Kayla Rogers, 9.850; 8. Sabrina Franceschelli, 9.800; 10. Kristi Esposito, 9.750; 11. Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9.625; 12. Samantha Engle, 8.600