With the help of the second highest score in school history, the No. 10-ranked LSU gymnastics team knocked off No. 18 Auburn 197.525-195.525 Friday night in the PMAC.
Several gymnasts set or tied their career highs in different events.
Coach D-D Breaux said the score should help the team move up in the polls, and the expectations for the team will be bigger.
“If we move up like I think we will, the challenge is now on us because we will have to perform at that level,” Breaux said.
Breaux said if the team does move up, they will get stronger competition in upcoming meets.
“It puts a huge bulls-eye [on us],” Breaux said.
Freshman Nicki Butler scored a career high on the vault with a score of 9.975 and tied her career high on bars with a score of 9.85. Butler said she was happy with her near perfect score.
“One judge gave me a 10,” Butler said. “I was even happy with that.”
Breaux said she knows why Butler didn’t get a 10 on her vault.
“Sometimes the judges like to see that vault with a little bit more rise, a little bit more dynamics,” Breaux said. “Her vault doesn’t rise, doesn’t have that nice high pop.”
Butler said scoring well on vault gave her momentum going into the other three events.
Freshman Lisa Rennie set a new career high on bars and tied her career high on beam. Rennie said she is happy with her routine on bars but wants it to get better.
“I was really excited because the last three meets I did stupid mistakes I shouldn’t have done on bars,” Rennie said. “I had to fight through the whole routine, which isn’t what I like to do at all. I still know where there needs to be improvement.”
Breaux said Rennie’s bar routine was good but needed improvement.
“It’s not as good as it should be,” Breaux said. “At another meet she’s going to get nailed because she’s not really getting on top of that bar. The judges are going to begin to whip those kids who aren’t getting into that top handstand position.”
Freshman Kelly Phelan overcame a fall on her bar routine and scored a career-high on beam. Phelan said she was glad to be able to put the fall behind her.
“I was really upset about falling on bars because I’ve been training really hard on bars. I guess I wasn’t focused enough, but after the fall I had to remember that it isn’t about me, it’s about the team so I stayed focused and did a good beam and floor [routine].”
Breaux said Phelan needs to put the past behind her.
“She bounced back, but she’s got to leave that emotion, realize it’s a fall and [think] ‘I gotta go, I gotta finish the routine, I’ve got other events to do.’ Emotionally she’s not handling, not doing well, and you’re not going to be on top, you’re going to have misses,” Breaux said.
Breaux said she was happy the freshmen stepped up and had a good meet.
“They’re making a huge contribution,” Breaux said. “The sophomores have matured and they’ve stepped up into this leadership position, and we’re getting good scores from juniors and seniors, but the freshmen are plugging in the lineup and performing well.”
Sophomore April Burkholder won a sixth consecutive all-around title. Burkholder said she would have liked to compete better than she did.
“I could’ve done better my first three events,” Burkholder said. “I was kind of upset.”
Breaux said Burkholder expects herself to win the all-around title at every meet.
“I think she’s set the bar there for herself,” Breaux said. “She probably knows she didn’t have a great meet tonight. She had to fight and hang on through the pressure.”