BATON ROUGE – For the second consecutive meet the 10th-ranked LSU gymnastics team earned a season-high team score as the Tigers cracked the 197 barrier in a 197.150-195.400 victory over Iowa Friday night in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
LSU (7-4-1) built on last week’s 196.925 by posting a season-best 49.425 floor score to close the meet with the new season high, and the Tigers finished the home schedule undefeated at 6-0.
LSU’s four All-American seniors were sensational on Senior Night, led by Susan Jackson‘s ninth all-around victory with a 39.525.
Senior Kayla Rogers was phenomenal in her final meet in the PMAC, tying her season highs on vault and floor with a 9.875 and 9.90, respectively.
Senior Sabrina Franceschelli displayed tremendous consistency, posting three 9.85’s on vault, bars and floor.
Senior Summer Hubbard was also outstanding in her final home competition with a 9.875 on beam and floor and a 9.825 on bars.
“Not only are these seniors outstanding athletes, but they are also good students and fabulous in the community,” head coach D-D Breaux said. “These four kids compete and come with their game face on every time, and if it doesn’t go well they come to practice ready to go again.”
The Tigers opened strong on vault with a 49.325. Rogers led off with a 9.875, and Franceschelli followed with a 9.85. Sophomore Ashley Lee tied Rogers and Jackson for the vault title with a 9.875. Gloria Johnson posted a 9.85, and freshman Ericka Garcia‘s 9.80 was dropped. Jackson capped the event with a 9.875.
Iowa (7-10) earned a season high with a 195.400, and the Hawkeyes posted a 48.875 on bars in the first rotation. Houry Gebeshian led Iowa with a 9.875, and Rebecca Simbhudas scored a 9.825.
LSU tallied a 49.200 on bars in the second rotation to keep on pace for a 197. Franceschelli led off with a 9.85, and freshman Shelby Prunty tied her season high with a 9.80. Garcia earned a 9.825, Samantha Engle scored a 9.80 and Hubbard recorded a 9.825. Jackson won the title as she anchored the event with a 9.90.
Iowa scored a 48.750 on vault, and LSU increased its lead to 98.525-97.625. Annie Szatkowski led the Hawkeyes with a 9.825.
The Tigers recorded a 49.200 on beam as Prunty tallied a 9.80 to lead off. Garcia posted a 9.825, and Hubbard earned a 9.875. For the second straight week Engle won the beam title, scoring a 9.90. Jackson anchored the event with a 9.80, and Johnson’s 9.775 was dropped.
Iowa could not keep pace as the Hawkeyes tallied a 48.900 on floor, led by Jessa Hansen’s 9.85.
Needing a 49.275 on floor to capture the team’s first 197 total of the season, the Tigers turned in a season-best 49.425. Rogers led off with a 9.90. Franceschelli earned a 9.85, Hubbard tied a career high with a 9.875 and Engle posted her season high with a 9.85.
When Jackson stepped on the floor she only needed a 9.80 for LSU to earn a 197, and she was nearly flawless as she finished with a 9.95.
Iowa started strong on beam with three scores of 9.825 or better, but the Hawkeyes could not maintain it and finished with a 48.875.
“What we need to do next week is continue to develop our consistency, and we have to continue to press and push,” Breaux said. “We are excited to have a 197 score to raise our RQS, but we have to maintain our focus and get ready for Centenary.”
LSU will take the momentum on the road to Shreveport next week to face Centenary at 6 p.m.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. LSU 197.150 (VT – 49.325, UB – 49.200, BB – 49.200, FX – 49.425)
2. Iowa 195.400 (VT – 48.750, UB – 48.875, BB – 48.875, FX – 48.900)
Individual (Includes first place and all LSU competitors)
All-Around – 1. Susan Jackson 39.525
Vault – t1. Susan Jackson 9.875; t1. Kayla Rogers 9.875; t1. Ashley Lee 9.875; t4. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.85; t4. Gloria Johnson 9.85; t7. Ericka Garcia 9.80
Bars – 1. Susan Jackson 9.90; 3. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.85; t4. Ericka Garcia 9.825; t4. Summer Hubbard 9.825; t7. Samantha Engle 9.80; t7. Shelby Prunty 9.80
Beam – 1. Samantha Engle 9.90; 2. Summer Hubbard 9.875; t4. Ericka Garcia 9.825; t7. Susan Jackson 9.80; t7. Shelby Prunty 9.80; 9. Gloria Johnson 9.775
Floor – 1. Susan Jackson 9.95; 2. Kayla Rogers 9.90; 3. Summer Hubbard 9.875; t4. Samantha Engle 9.85; t4. Sabrina Franceschelli 9.85; t11. Ashley Lee 9.625