Myia Hambrick* was crying before she even began her floor routine that anchored LSU’s 198.100-195.625 win over Auburn.
The senior all-arounder just watched the two gymnasts before her, sophomore Kennedi Edney and junior Sarah Finnegan, score 9.975 and 10 respectively.
“I was just so proud of [Sarah] and Kennedi went before her and that was one of the best routines I’ve ever seen her do,” Hambrick said. “The whole thing was just really great and I was like ‘I don’t even know if I can go right now.’ They’re just so good. I just really love them. I’m so proud.”
After a pep talk from volunteer coach Ashleigh Gnat, Hambrick competed and finally got a 10 after four straight scores of 9.975 to push the Tigers to a score of 198-plus for the third time this season.
“Personally, I don’t think that routine is much different than any other one I’ve done,” Hambrick said. “I didn’t train any different. I wasn’t like ‘I have to get the 10,’ but it’s good to see good gymnastics be rewarded across the board, Sarah included and even Kennedi.”
Edney set the momentum for Finnegan and Hambrick, as she put on a near flawless performance for a career high 9.975 in the fourth spot of LSU’s floor lineup. Edney set them up perfectly to put on some of the best performances of their careers.
After that, it would have been hard for any judge to not give Hambrick and Finnegan the first 10s of their careers. This is the first time in school history LSU has hit back-to-back 10.0 scores.
“[LSU coach D-D Breaux] always says, ‘momentum is a dangerous drug,’ and we definitely caught that out there on the floor,” Finnegan said. “Throughout the whole meet, there was definitely some great routines on bars and beam. We had a little jump in vault but we picked it back up and finished strong.”
For the second season in a row, LSU gymnastics went undefeated in the Southeastern Conference to win to regular season title.
LSU had already clinched the regular season title after Florida’s loss to Missouri last week, but that did not stop the Tigers from coming out strong.
“It’s a huge achievement,” Hambrick said. “And to do it in back-to-back years is amazing. I think winning at the SEC Tournament is great but for me, the season SEC championship is almost more impressive. You have to be on your game every time you see those teams. That’s a testament to how hard this team works.”
The Tigers struggled to open the meet and could not stick their landings on vault, only having two scores of 9.90 or higher from Hambrick and Edney.
LSU recovered quickly on bars, totaling a 49.550 in the event. Edney set another career high 9.975 on bars, while Finnegan anchored with a 9.925
The Tigers really hit their stride on beam as senior all-arounder Erin Macadaeg tied her career high on beam with a 9.95 to lead off the rotation that finished with a score of 49.525.
Both Edney and freshman all-arounder Christina Desiderio set career highs on beam at 9.925.
Led by Hambrick, Finnegan and Edney, LSU’s 49.700 on floor is tied for the second highest in school history.
Despite Hambrick and Finnegan’s history-making perfect scores, Edney dominated in the all-around. Edney set a career high 39.775, which is tied for second highest in the nation this season.
Hambrick and Finnegan followed closely behind at 39.725 and 39.600 in the all-around.
The finale was an emotional ending to an SEC season that started off shaky for a normally great LSU team.
“The emotions were definitely there, especially knowing that we’ve worked so hard this whole season,” Finnegan said. “Capping off the regular season with being undefeated in the SEC is amazing because it’s the greatest conference in the nation. Knowing that we’re going up against all those great teams and come out on top in each and every meet is amazing.”
*Editor’s Note: Myia Hambrick is a former employee of The Daily Reveille
