BATON ROUGE – Following outstanding performances to secure back-to-back SEC Championships for the second-ranked LSU gymnastics team, sophomore Kennedi Edney was named the Gymnast of the Week and senior Erin Macadaeg was named the Specialist of the Week, the league announced Tuesday.
Edney, who earned the honor for the second time in her career, totaled a 39.775 in the all-around for a new career high. Her score is the third-highest in the nation in 2018 and tied with teammate Sarah Finnegan for the best in the SEC.
KENNEDIIII!!!! She posts a CAREER HIGH and with a 9.975 in the fourth spot!
Watch: https://t.co/riST2N0kXk pic.twitter.com/mUdHs5Kte2— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 4, 2018
The Chino, California native totaled event title wins on bars with a career high 9.975 and vault with a 9.90. Edney also secured a 9.975 on floor for a new career high. In just two seasons, Edney has scored a 9.975 or higher on three of four events.
Macadaeg earned specialist of the week honors for the second time in her career and the first since her freshman year. Macadaeg captured the beam title outright with a 9.95 to set a new season high and tie her career best. Macadaeg, arguably the best leadoff beam worker in the nation, started the beam lineup that posted a 49.525 to tie the Tigers’ season high.
What. A. Start.
Near perfection from @PocketRocket23 for a 9.95 to tie her career high!
Watch: https://t.co/q9uAUnM7j0 pic.twitter.com/5cW3ysE0h6— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 4, 2018
LSU gymnasts have combined to earn 12 SEC weekly honors in 2018 with the top award going to a Tiger in eight of nine weeks. Finnegan has been named the gymnast of the week four times, and senior Myia Hambrick has also earned the top honor in the conference three times. Sami Durante and Christina Desiderio have each been named the freshman of the week. Lexie Priessman was also named the specialist of the week.
The LSU gymnastics team claimed back-to-back SEC regular season titles Sunday against Auburn with a team score of 198.100. The Tigers have now finished their SEC slate with unblemished records in three of the last four seasons. LSU still has two more meets before the SEC Championship. The squad travels to Raleigh, North Carolina to take on No. 24 NC State at 6 p.m. CT Friday.
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.