LSU Gymnastics Place Third, Score Season High at Metroplex Challenge

The LSU Gymnastics team competed in the Metroplex Challenge Saturday, January 29, 2011 in Ft. Worth, Texas at the Convention Center. The Tigers, currently ranked 25^th in the nation, scored a season high of 195.550 giving them a third place finish in the Challenge.

The Tigers met some tough competition with No. 6 Alabama, No. 10 Nebraska and Missouri also competing in the meet. Alabama won the Challenge with a final score of 196.825 with Nebraska coming in second with a final score of 195.600. Missouri came in last place with a score of 193.400.

It was a great night for the Tigers despite not winning the Challenge as they improved on three out of four events and set some season high scores on events and individual records. The Tigers set a season high score on bars with a 48.900, followed by a season high on beam with 48.950 and a third season high on the floor with a 48.725.

The Tigers scored their highest on vault with a 48.975. Maliah Mathis had the highest individual score on vault with a 9.825. This score tied her previous career high score. Sarie Morrison also tied her career high on vault with a 9.875.

On bars five LSU gymnasts scored season highs or tied their previous record. Sarie Morrison scored 9.875, giving her a career high on bars, Samantha Engle put up a 9.775, and the remaining three gymnasts all tied or scored career highs with a 9.75 on the event.

The Tigers had to count a fall on the floor exercise by Janelle Garcia, but that didn't stop Maliah Mathis from scoring a 9.875, enough to tie for the individual first place title.

The Tigers were much improved this week on the balance beam with three gymnasts putting up three career high scores from Maliah Mathis with a 9.725, a 9.825 from Kaleigh Dickson and a 9.85 from Sarie Morrison.

Taking all around titles at the Metroplex Challenge were Sarie Morrison, 3^rd with Kaleigh Dickson tying for a 6^th place finish. Both Morrison and Dickson are freshmen.

Individual titles for the Tigers were earned as follows:

Vault: Sarie Morrison, t4 with 9.875; Maliah Mathis, 8th with 9.825; Ashley Lee, t9th with 9.80; Janelle Garcia, t13th with 9.75; Kaleigh Dickson, t15 with 9.725 and Erica Garcia with 9.65.

Bars: Sarie Morrison, t3 with 9.875; Samantha Engle, t11 with 9.775; Kaleigh Dickson, t13th with 9.75, Shelby Prunty, t13th with 9.75; and Sarah Zoldos also t13th with 9.75. Erica Garcia placed 18^th with a 9.70.

Beam: Sarie Morrison and Shelby Prunty, t3rd with 9.875, Kaleigh Dickson, t8 with 9.825; Maliah Mathis, t13th with 9.725; Erica Garcia, t17th with 9.675 and Janelle Garcia, with 9.55.

Floor: Maliah Mathis, t1 with 9.875; Kaleigh Dickson, t4th with 9.825; Sarie Morrison, t8th with 9.80; Shelby Prunty, t15th with 9.725; Ashley Lee, 21^st with 9.50 and Janelle Garcia with a 9.075.

All-Around: Sarie Morrison, 3^rd wth 39.400 and Kaleigh Dickson tied for 6^th with a 39.125.

Head coach, D-D Breaux was pleased with the efforts the Tigers put forth saying, "We needed to create some momentum, and they did. They went out there and created the kind of team atmosphere that other people want to be a part of. We had great momentum and performances, and this is going to help us build up as we move forward."

The Tigers will next take on Brigham Young University in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center on Friday, February 4, 2011 at 7:00 pm Central Standard Time.

Source:

LSU Sports: Gymnasts Scores Season High at Metroplex