The LSU gymnastics team closed out the regular season with its sixth straight win Friday night, defeating Centenary 196.650-192.400.The score was the highest road score for LSU this season.”[Posting a high road score] feels amazing,” said junior Sabrina Franceschelli. “It was a great win that we really needed.”LSU junior Susan Jackson won the all-around title, posting a score of 39.550. Franceschelli finished second in the all-around by posting a career-high all-around score of 39.325.LSU senior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney only competed in one event — the uneven bars — and won the individual title. The title was the 109th of her career, tying the school record.”[Clare-Kearney] has been a part of a lot of great LSU gymnastics,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux in a radio interview following the meet. “And she will be missed next year.”With Clare-Kearney out of the all-around, other younger gymnasts were put into the lineup. LSU freshman Ashley Lee and sophomore Paige Cipolloni stepped into the vault lineup, where they scored a 9.775 and a 9.750, respectively. LSU sophomore Kirstie Viens also posted a 9.800 on floor.LSU junior Summer Hubbard tied her career high on the bars and the balance beam and tied a season high on the floor exercise.”It was a big confidence boost,” Hubbard said. “I went out there and felt confident and relaxed, and I’m confident to go into the postseason.”Hubbard was just one of the many Tiger gymnasts to surpass season and career highs Friday. Clare-Kearney tied her season high on the uneven bars, posting a 9.925. Franceschelli tied her career high on vault with a 9.825 and posted a season high 9.850 on the floor exercise.Jackson scored a 9.975 on floor, tying her career high.Junior Kayla Rogers tied a career high on vault, posting a 9.900.Freshman Gloria Johnson’s 9.900 on floor was a career high as well.Sophomore Staci Schwitkis tied her career high on the balance beam with a 9.850.LSU now prepares for the Southeastern Conference championship meet Saturday in Nashville, Tenn.Breaux said competing in the SEC meet is tougher than competing for the national championship because of the meet’s length and intensity.”[The SEC meet] is longer than any other meet we’re in, and the pressure is unbelievable,” Breaux said. “Six of the best teams in the country are in the same arena at the same time. No other conference can say that.”——Contact Rob Landry at [email protected]
Gymnastics: Tigers claim sixth consecutive victory
By Rob Landry
Sports Contributor
Sports Contributor
March 14, 2009