The No. 3 LSU gymnastics team toppled No. 2 Florida, 197.950-197.425, Friday night to keep its undefeated Southeastern Conference alive in front of the largest crowd in program history at 12,217.
LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux wanted her gymnasts to “sharpen the edge of their sabers” in preparation for the Tigers’ (9-1, 6-0 SEC) meet against the Gators (5-2, 4-2 SEC), and they showed their preparation as the record-setting crowd pulled out all the stops to ensure victory..
“The atmosphere was amazing; our crowd was electric,” said senior all-arounder Rheagan Courville. “I feel so proud of all of my teammates for taking the pressure and applying it to [Florida]. “
Courville won the all-around title by scoring a 39.625 to tie former LSU gymnast April Burkholder for the most in a career with 25.
Both teams got out to a hot start in the first rotation. Florida jumped out to a small lead after scoring a 49.450 on bars, while LSU tallied a score of 49.425 on vault.
Sophomore all-arounder Sydney Ewing stretched her streak of scoring more than or at a 9.900 on vault to four-straight meets with a score of 9.900, and Courville anchored the lineup with the only other 9.900 in the event.
LSU took the lead and never let it go after the second rotation by scoring a 49.500 on bars. The rotation was bolstered by 9.900 scores from junior all-arounder Jessica Savona and sophomore all-arounder Shae Zamardi, whose score tied her career-high.
Florida freshman all-arounder Alex McMurtry gave Florida a chance to retake the lead by scoring a 9.975 on vault, but Courville answered right back with a 9.950 in the anchor spot on bars to give LSU the lead at the midway point, 98.925-98.875.
Freshman all-arounder Myia Hambrick was the lone blemish in the Tigers’ beam lineup during the third rotation. She ended up with a 9.725 after a near fall.
But classmate all-arounder Erin Macadaeg scored a 9.900 in the face of adversity, and Courville and senior all-arounder Jessie Jordan scored a 9.900 and 9.925, respectively.
“I just try to stay as calm as possible before going on the beam,” Jordan said. “I know that last spot is so crucial to the teams score. I have some incredible teammates to set me up to score high on that routine.”
Florida junior all-arounder Bridgette Caquatto helped the Tigers extend their lead going into the final rotation by falling on floor, leading to a score of 9.300. Caquatto’s score came after freshman all-arounder Kennedy Baker scored a 9.950, more than any score by LSU in the third rotation.
The Gators suffered another fall in the leadoff spot on beam, this time by Baker. The Tigers took advantage of Florida’s miscues by posting four scores of 9.900 or more on floor to secure the victory.
Senior all-arounder Lloimincia Hall delivered the final dagger in her usual anchor spot on floor with a frenzy-inducing 9.975.
Hall won the floor title to surpass LSU greats Ashleigh Clare-Kearney and Burkholder for most in a career.
“[Hall] went and that was the cream on the top,” Breaux said. “It was Savona going first and getting us a 9.900 that opened the door for [Jordan] and [Gnat], who were absolutely incredible tonight. It was a team effort.”
LSU will compete in its seventh-straight SEC meet against Alabama at 8:00 p.m. Feb. 27 in at Coleman Coliseum in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.