BATON ROUGE — All-American gymnasts April Burkholder and Annie Gagnon were among nine student-athletes and six LSU teams honored by the Louisiana Senate and House of Representatives June 16 at the state capital.
Head coaches and select student-athletes were each recognized for their successes both in the classroom and on the playing field during the 2003-04 season. Senator Jay Dardonne of Baton Rouge recognized the teams in the Senate Chamber, while Representatives Donald Ray Kennard and Sharon Weston-Broome presented the teams with commendation in the House Chambers.
Burkholder and Gagnon as well as head coach D-D Breaux represented the Tiger gymnastics team that finished seventh at the NCAA Championships this past season.
Others honored included head coach Nick Saban and offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth of LSU’s national champion football team and head coach Pat Henry and All-Americans John Moffitt and Neisha Bernard-Thomas of the Tiger and Lady Tiger national championship track and field teams.
Head women’s basketball coach Pokey Chatman, guard Seimone Augustus and forward Tillie Willis were recognized for taking the Lady Tigers to their first ever Final Four appearance, while head softball coach Yvette Girouard, pitcher Kristin Schmidt and third baseman Julie Wiese were honored for their accomplishments in the Women’s College World Series.
Unable to attend the ceremonies, but also recognized were head baseball coach Smoke Laval and the Tiger baseball squad for their participation in the College World Series.