FORT WORTH, Texas – No. 2 LSU gymnastics posted a season high in back-to-back meets as the Tigers racked up a 197.425 to place second at the Metroplex Challenge Saturday night in the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena.
Rheagan Courville won the all-around title for the second straight week with a 39.625 total to move into sole possession of second place in LSU history with 23 career all-around titles.
Courville also captured the vault title with a 9.95, her 25th career vault crown. She tied for the bars title with a 9.95, her fourth bars title in as many meets this season and the 14th of her career.
No. 1 Oklahoma (8-0) won the Metroplex Challenge with a 197.700, while LSU (6-1, 3-0 Southeastern Conference) finished second with a 197.425. No. 8 Arkansas (2-4, 1-2 SEC) came in third with a 196.250, and Iowa State (1-6-1) placed fourth with a 193.400.
LSU earned a season-high 49.500 on vault, 49.400 on bars, 49.125 on beam and 49.400 on floor to finish with the season-best 197.425.
“We have still not had our best meet yet, but we are progressing each week,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “We will stay in the process and continue to get better and better as we go through the season. To be in this championship setting with some great teams is something that will make us a stronger team going forward.
“I’m excited to get back in the gym and work on some minor corrections and then go out there against Georgia.”
LSU opened the meet with a 49.400 on bars, led by Rheagan Courville‘s 9.95 in the anchor spot. Shae Zamardi tied her career best with a 9.90, followed by Jessie Jordan‘s 9.875, Randii Wyrick‘s 9.85 and Jessica Savona‘s 9.825.
Courville led the way for the Tigers on beam with a 9.875. Ashleigh Gnat and Jessie Jordan tied for second on the squad with 9.825s, and Myia Hambrick and Sydney Ewing added 9.80s to help the Tigers post a 49.125 in the event.
Lloimincia Hall brought the crowd to its feet with a 9.925 to anchor the floor lineup and propel the Tigers to a 49.400. LSU also received solid 9.875 scores from leadoff performer Jessica Savona, Jordan and Gnat. Courville added a 9.85, and Hambrick tallied a 9.80.
LSU closed strong by shattering the season high on vault with a 49.500 in the final rotation. Courville anchored the lineup with a stuck vault to score a 9.95, and Jordan finished right behind her with a 9.925. Ewing earned a career-high 9.90, and Hall posted a solid 9.875 in the leadoff spot. Competing the difficult double-twisting yurchenko vault for the first time in her collegiate career, Gnat scored a 9.85 to help the Tigers tally the season-high vault total.
LSU will return home next week to take on No. 11 Georgia at 6:45 p.m. CT on Feb. 6 in the Maravich Center. Tickets to the showdown with the Gym Dogs are available for purchase at www.LSUtix.net.
MEET RESULTS
Team
1. #1 Oklahoma 197.700 (VT – 49.450, UB – 49.400, BB – 49.350, FX – 49.500)
2. #2 LSU 197.425 (VT – 49.500, UB – 49.400, BB – 49.125, FX – 49.400)
3. #8 Arkansas 196.250 (VT – 49.250, UB – 49.100, BB – 48.800, FX – 49.100)
4. Iowa State 193.400 (VT – 48.500, UB – 48.900, BB – 47.475, FX – 48.525)
Individual (Includes first place and all LSU competitors)
All-Around – 1. Rheagan Courville 39.625, 2. Jessie Jordan 39.500, 6. Ashleigh Gnat 38.975
Vault – 1. Rheagan Courville 9.95, 2. Jessie Jordan 9.925, t3. Sydney Ewing 9.90, t9. Lloimincia Hall 9.875, t12. Ashleigh Gnat 9.85, 16. Myia Hambrick 9.825
Bars – t1. Rheagan Courville 9.95, t1. McKenzie Wofford (Oklahoma) 9.95, t3. Shae Zamardi 9.90, t5. Jessie Jordan 9.875, t8. Randii Wyrick 9.85, t11. Jessica Savona 9.825, 23. Ashleigh Gnat 9.425
Beam – t1. Chayse Capps (Oklahoma) 9.90, t1. Haley Sorensen (Oklahoma) 9.90, t3. Rheagan Courville 9.875, t8. Jessie Jordan 9.825, t8. Ashleigh Gnat 9.825, t11. Myia Hambrick 9.80, t11. Sydney Ewing 9.80, t17. Lloimincia Hall 9.75
Floor – 1. Haley Scaman (Oklahoma) 9.95, 2. Lloimincia Hall 9.925, t6. Jessie Jordan 9.875, t6. Ashleigh Gnat 9.875, t6. Jessica Savona 9.875, t10. Rheagan Courville 9.85, t14. Myia Hambrick 9.80