Following in her sister’s footsteps into college gymnastics, LSU sophomore Lauren Companioni has begun to leave her own mark in the world of NCAA gymnastics.
Companioni was the first LSU gymnast of the season to be named Southeastern Conference Gymnast of the Week after taking the beam and floor titles with duplicate scores of 9.925 against Arkansas on Feb. 28.
“I was very honored,” Companioni said. “I had no idea it was coming.”
She found out about the award from her mom after the announcement was posted on the Internet.
“SEC gymnastics is so competitive, arguably the most competitive conference,” Companioni said. “So it was a real honor.”
After her sister, Lisa, graduated from the University of North Carolina, where she completed her gymnastics career, she took a job in New Orleans. Since their family is from Tampa, Fla., Companioni was very excited her sister took a job close by. She said having her sister at all the home meets was very encouraging to her.
“I would look up to the stands and look for her,” Companioni said. “It meant so much to me that she was there.”
Companioni also attributes part of her balance beam success to advice her sister has given her.
“My sister always told me to pretend you just fell, and you’re now getting a second chance,” she said.
Companioni feels this type of thinking eases the pressure and helps her keep steady on the four inch beam, which she called “physically the easiest but mentally the toughest” of the events.
Companioni has become one of the Tigers most dependable gymnasts as Breaux has placed her in the vault, beam and floor lineups.
Companioni feels the most important factors in her success is her ability to maintain a positive attitude and having great teammates.
Aside from her athletic accomplishments, Companioni has earned academic honors as well.
She was named Mortarboard Scholar Athlete of the Year for 2002-03 season after acquiring a 4.0 overall college GPA.
Companioni said she has always been focused on school as well as gymnastics. Before coming to college, she had to travel 30 minutes to get to her gym. She said after getting to the gym she only had time to eat and then do homework.
“I don’t know any other way,” Companioni said. “I grew up adapting to time management skills, and they’ve stuck with me.”
“She’s very smart,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux.
Breaux said sophomore year can sometimes be academically challenging to student athletes, but Companioni has excelled. Breaux said Companioni wants to go to medical school.
“She approaches everything she does with a lot of enthusiasm,” said Breaux, who noticed her competitive spirit in recruiting her.
Breaux said Companioni’s enthusiasm probably was what led her teammates to vote her this year’s team captain.
“She always tries to be happy and help others around her be happy,” said junior teammate Lindsay Beddow.
Beddow trained at LaFleur’s gym in Tampa, Fla., with Companioni before coming to LSU. She said Companioni has the same attitude inside and outside the gym.
“She has a way of talking to everybody,” Beddow said. “She gets us motivated. Everybody feels they can talk to her, and she has a good relationship with the coaches.”
Companioni said while she did not decide to come to LSU because Beddow was here, it was an added bonus to have someone at LSU who knew her.
“She’s a good performer,” Beddow said. “She has good training habits, and it’s natural for her to compete.”
Companioni will return to action when the No. 14 Tigers travel to Seattle for regional postseason competition April 12.