When an LSU gymnast completes a perfect 10 routine, most fans believe they have seen the best performance possible.
Unless, of course, another perfect routine follows a few minutes later.
April Burkholder and Terin Martinjak each recorded a perfect 10 on the balance beam, as No. 6 LSU defeated Centenary for the second time this season, 197.650-194.725 on Friday night at the Gold Dome in Shreveport.
On Jan. 30, LSU (11-4) beat Centenary 196.500-190.100 in the PMAC.
The Tigers’ score of 197.650 is a season high and the second-best score in team history. In 2002, LSU recorded a 197.675 against Centenary and Rhode Island in a tri-meet.
The score also is the Tigers’ sixth straight score of 197 or better. Coming into this season LSU had recorded only four scores of 197 or better in team history.
For Burkholder and Martinjak the 10s are both career highs, and the first perfect scores recorded on beam by an LSU gymnast since Amy McClosky in 1996. Burkholder now has four perfect scores this season and has recorded a 10 in every event except the uneven bars.
The Tigers also turned in another stellar performance on the vault. Burkholder and freshman Nicki Butler had identical scores of 9.975 to capture the event title, while Phelan and sophomore Lindsey Thompson each recorded a 9.900 to tie for third.
LSU showed no signs of problems in the bar rotation that plagued the Tigers in their first meet against Centenary.
All-American junior Annie Gagnon continued her domination on the uneven bars, winning the event with a score of 9.950. Gagnon, ranked No. 6 nationally on bars, has now won the event title on bars in seven of the last eight meets.
Freshman Lisa Rennie and senior Lindsay Beddow tied for second place on the event with identical scores of 9.850.
On the floor, LSU failed to win the individual event title after Centenary’s Kristina Menne scored a 9.950 to earn the win. Rennie placed second with a score of 9.925, and Britanny Brown was third with a 9.900.
Burkholder, the No. 3 all-around gymnast in the nation, did not capture the all-around title as she sat out the floor competition. LSU coach D-D Breaux said she juggled the lineup to rest some of her gymnasts in preparation for Saturday’s Southeastern Conference Championships.
“I wanted to get some other kids in the lineup and help our depth a little,” Breaux said.
Breaux said the team’s performance at the meet was great preparation for the SEC Championships.
“We were really pleased to get a season-high at meet like this one,” Breaux said. “It’s always more challenging when there’s no crowd and the girls are looking forward to the SEC Championships. But they stayed focused and knew that their performance tonight was all part of the preparation for next weekend’s Championships.
“The kids are all healthy and I think ready for the SECs.”