GAINESVILLE, Fla.- The seventh-ranked LSU gymnastics team solidified its place among the nation’s elite, finishing tied for second at the Southeastern Conference championships here at the Stephen C. O’Connell Center Saturday evening. It marked the Tigers highest finish since a second place finish in 1995.
The Tigers finished tied with Georgia with their second highest total of the season and fourth highest total in school history, an impressive 196.825. Alabama snapped Georgia’s run of four straight titles, coming up with a 197.200 to win the title. Florida finished fourth followed by Kentucky and Auburn.
The total was also the Tigers’ highest ever at an SEC Championship.
Entering their final rotation, the Tigers knew they needed to match their season high of 49.325 on the floor to tie Georgia, which had already finished the competition and had a bye on the last rotation. When Nicki Arnstad came up with a 9.90 to earn second place in the event in the Tigers’ final opportunity of the evening, the Tigers had forged a tie with the second-ranked Gym Dogs.
Arnstad’s score capped a rotation in which no Tiger scored less than 9.85. Shanyn MacEachern scored a 9.875, while Marina Degteva, Kim Descalopoulis and Beth Boudreaux all went 9.85.
“We did everything we possibly could have tonight,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux, who following the meet was named Co-SEC Coach of the Year with Alabama’s Sarah Patterson, her fourth such honor. “Our team knew what was at stake and that it would take an unbelievable effort in that final rotation and they responded. I think we earned some respect tonight and showed that the margin between the top schools is very, very close and that we belong in that group.”
After receiving the rotational draw they wanted Friday afternoon, the Tigers made the most of it. The Tigers started out on vault, matching their second best total of the season with a solid 48.950 behind a pair of 9.85s from MacEachern and Kerry Descalopoulis.
During the second rotation, however, the Tigers turned it up a notch. The Tigers came up with a season-best score of 49.375 on the bars, as no Tiger scored lower than 9.825.
Boudreaux came up with a 9.90 in the fourth spot, while Abbey Burns closed the rotation out in style with a 9.90 of her own, as the two finished tied for second overall in the event. Marina Degteva went 9.875, while Brooke Cazeaux and MacEachern each received scores of 9.85.
The Tigers were put to the test on their third rotation, the beam. After a sub-par workout on the beam on Friday, Breaux stopped practice, gathered her team and delivered a wake up call. Saturday night, her team responded.
“I think they realized the opportunity they had and that they wanted it more than they were willing to go,” said Breaux. “They put it all together and that was a huge rotation for us.”
After a 9.775 by MacEachern to open the beam, Boudreaux and Burns came up with identical 9.825s. Stacey Wegener then registered a 9.85 and freshman Rebecca Lightsey capped it all off with a 9.875, giving the Tigers a 49.150. Lightsey’s score was her second-highest of the season and earned her third place in the event.
The Tigers will now wait and see which of the six NCAA Regionals they will end up in. Regional announcements will be made on Monday.
The SEC Championships will be aired on Fox Sports South in the Baton Rouge area on March 25 at 1 p.m.
Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championships
March 18, 2000
Stephen C. O’Connell Center
Gainesville, Fla.
Team Scores- 1, Alabama, 197.200. 2 (tie), LSU, Georgia, 196.825. 4, Florida, 195.775. 5, Kentucky, 194.650. 6, Auburn, 192.500.