BATON ROUGE – The LSU gymnastics team and many supporters gathered inside the L’Auberge Even Center Friday night to celebrate the historic 2016 season and the accomplishments of the squad.
Head coach D-D Breaux, associate head coach Jay Clark, assistant coach Bob Moore and volunteer assistant Ashleigh Clare-Kearney gave out awards, plaques and flowers to the gymnasts for their achievements in the classroom, competition arena and in the community. The staff also recognized freshmen Kennedi Edney, Ashlyn Kirby and Ruby Harrold for the first time.
The banquet began with the presentation of letter winners and remarks from Breaux and LSU Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics Joe Alleva. The first award of the evening was the senior award handed out to Michelle Gauthier, Jessica Savona and Randii Wyrick.
Kristen Hobbs Cain, the L Club, special events and community relations coordinator, then presented the captains for 2016. Ashleigh Gnat and Michelle Gauthier earned the award for their contributions to the program in and out of the gym.
The entire team was recognized for winning the Community Service Cup as the LSU sport that completed the most service hours per student-athlete on the roster. It marked the fifth-straight year that the team has won the award.
The team also won the Tiger Cup that is awarded to the LSU sport that has the highest total achievement in the areas of academics, community service and athletics.
Sydney Ewing, Gauthier, Gnat, Myia Hambrick, Erin Macadaeg, Kylie Moran Shonacee Olivia, Savona, Wyrick and She Zamardii were recognized as SEC Academic Honor Roll members. Sarah Finnegan, McKenna Kelley Lexie Priessman and Kaitlyn Szafranski were honored as SEC First-Year Academic Honor Roll members.
Wyrick was acknowledged as a recipient of the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholarship Award. The awards are presented to undergraduate student-athletes who have excelled in the classroom as well as in athletics.
Gnat was then honored for her school record six perfect 10.0 scores. The senior set the individual LSU record and led the nation with the six perfect scores, which featured a school record four on floor.
Finnegan, Hambrick and Gnat were recognized for their All-SEC performances at the conference meet. Finnegan tied for second on beam and Hambrick finished in a tie for third on bars. Gnat scored a perfect 10.0 score on floor to win the SEC Championship
Finnegan along with Kelley were also recognized as All-SEC freshman team performers. Kelley finished in a tie for third on floor.
The final presentation was for Finnegan, Priessman, Hambrick, Ewing, Gnat and Savona for their All-America honors in 2016. The group totaled 17 honors to raise the number of total All-Americans at LSU to 184 and continue a streak of 25 years with All-American honors at the NCAA Championships.
LSU begins its first practice of the fall in preparation for the 2017 season on Monday.
The season ticket request list is free to join and is available now for the upcoming season at www.LSUtix.net. All new seating will be assigned based on LSU priority point ranking as of Oct. 31, 2016.
LSU will host six home meets in the Maravich Center in 2017, starting with Southeastern Conference power Georgia. The Tigers will also take on Texas Woman’s, New Hampshire, and George Washington along with SEC foes Missouri and Florida.
LSU will offer a free preview of the 2017 team in Gymnastics 101on Monday, Dec. 12 inside the Maravich Center. Labeled a “Gymnastics Showcase,” Gymnastics 101 will provide fans a first look at the 2017 Tigers who will perform routines on all four events.
Fans can follow the Tigers on the team’s social media channels: @LSUgym on Instagram, Twitter and Snapchat, www.Facebook.com/lsugym and at YouTube.com/lsugymnastics.