FORT WORTH, Texas – LSU senior gymnast Rheagan Courville and sophomore Ashleigh Gnat tied for fifth place on bars and floor, respectively, to lead a group of six Tigers at the NCAA Individual Event Finals on Sunday afternoon inside the Fort Worth Convention Center Arena.
Courville (fifth place), Shae Zamardi (ninth) and Randii Wyrick (12th) competed on bars, while Myia Hambrick (eighth) competed on vault, Jessie Jordan (eighth) on beam and Gnat (fifth) on floor to end the 2015 season.
“It was a tremendous experience to have six kids in individual event finals,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “It represented our consistency and how well our gymnasts have conducted themselves through the season.
“To have a freshman, two sophomores, a junior and two seniors out here, it represented the entire spectrum of our team. I was very proud, and I know the entire coaching staff was proud of the young ladies and the way they competed today.”
Gnat earned the highest score of the meet for LSU with a 9.9125 on floor to tie for fifth place in the event.
“Ashleigh is one we are looking at to be with those rising seniors and be that solid rock next season,” Breaux said. “We are really counting on her, and the experience she had today and all season was huge.”
In her final performance as a Tiger, Courville tied for fifth on bars with a 9.900 after a solid routine that ended with none other than a stuck landing.
“Rheagan has been in this meet every year, and she did really well,” LSU head coach D-D Breaux said. “She was spectacular not just in this meet but in her outstanding career.”
Zamardi tallied a 9.8625 to place ninth on bars, narrowly missing a spot on the podium.
“Shae has grown so much in a year because she has become responsive and worked so hard at her craft,” Breaux said. “Her growth has been amazing, and we will look for big things out of her as a junior next season.”
In her final routine as a Tiger, Jordan scored a 9.8250 to tie for eighth place on beam.
“This is the first time in Jessie’s four years she made event finals, and it’s the first time she has competed and represented LSU without being in a team setting,” Breaux said. “She was happy to be on the floor one last time for herself and to represent LSU.”
Freshman Myia Hambrick recorded a 9.8167 on vault to take eighth place in the event.
“There is little emotion with Myia. She’s a lot like Jessie Jordan,” Breaux said. “She is so level-headed, and she goes about her business. Myia’s a great athlete, and I know she has a big career ahead of her.”
Wyrick posted a 9.2875 to finish 12th on bars.
“Randii is that high-spirited person who will be that senior who keeps everyone grounded while having a great time,” Breaux said. “We are very excited she got another event finals experience and has been a part of this great team.”
LSU (25-6) wrapped up the 2015 season with a school-record 13 All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, including eight first-team marks.
“We had so many firsts for this season and so many great team victories,” Breaux said. “Our team can walk away feeling proud when they reflect on this season.”
The Tigers will return 10 letterwinners in 2016, including six All-Americans in Sydney Ewing, Gnat, Hambrick, Jessica Savona, Wyrick and Zamardi.
LSU will also welcome five freshmen in 2016 with Julianna Cannamela, Sarah Finnegan, McKenna Kelley, Lexie Priessman and Kaitlyn Szafranski set to join the squad in the fall.
Fans can renew or purchase 2016 season tickets by logging on to www.LSUtix.net.
NCAA INDIVIDUAL EVENT FINALS RESULTS
Vault
1. Elizabeth Price (Stanford) 9.9333
2. Bridget Sloan (Florida) 9.9250
t3. Haley Scaman (Oklahoma) 9.8917
t3. Kayla Williams (Alabama) 9.8917
5. Kari Lee (Utah) 9.8750
6. Ali Jackson (Oklahoma) 9.8583
7. Brandie Jay (Georgia) 9.8500
8. Myia Hambrick (LSU) 9.8167
Bars
1. Georgia Dabritz (Utah) 9.9625
t2. Brittany Rogers (Georgia) 9.9500
t2. Bridget Sloan (Florida) 9.9500
4. McKenzie Wofford (Oklahoma) 9.9250
t5. Rheagan Courville (LSU) 9.9000
t5. Elizabeth Price (Stanford) 9.9000
t5. Keeley Kmieciak (Oklahoma) 9.9000
t5. Katie Bailey (Alabama) 9.9000
9. Shae Zamardi (LSU) 9.8625
10. Brenna Dowell (Oklahoma) 9.8500
11. Erika Aufiero (Oregon State) 9.8250
12. Randii Wyrick (LSU) 9.2875
Beam
1. Samantha Peszek (UCLA) 9.9500
2. Ivana Hong (Stanford) 9.9375
3. Madeline Gardiner (Oregon State) 9.9250
4. Chayse Capps (Oklahoma) 9.9125
t5. Kytra Hunter (Florida) 9.8750
t5. Rebecca Clark (Oklahoma) 9.8750
7. Keeley Kmieciak (Oklahoma) 9.8625
t8. Jessie Jordan (LSU) 9.8250
t8. Talia Chiarelli (Michigan) 9.8250
t8. Caitlin Atkinson (Auburn) 9.8250
t8. Alex McMurtry (Florida) 9.8250
12. Nicole Artz (Michigan) 9.8125
13. Kayla Williams (Alabama) 9.2250
Floor
1. Kytra Hunter (Florida) 9.9625
t2. Nina McGee (Denver) 9.9500
t2. Brenna Dowell (Oklahoma) 9.9500
4. Haley Scaman (Oklahoma) 9.9375
t5. Ashleigh Gnat (LSU) 9.9125
t5. Georgia Dabritz (Utah) 9.9125
t7. Talia Chiarelli (Michigan) 9.9000
t7. Sachi Sugiyama (Michigan) 9.9000
t9. Samantha Peszek (UCLA) 9.8875
t9. Mary Beth Box (Georgia) 9.8875
11. Hollie Blanske (Nebraska) 9.8500
12. Kennedy Baker (Florida) 9.7750
13. Taylor Rice (Stanford) 9.7625
14. Kari Lee (Utah) 9.6125
15. Bridgette Caquatto (Florida) 9.3375