LSU Gymnasts Place 6th at NCAA Championships

The LSU Gymnastics team turned in a good performance at the 2009 NCAA National Championships, but it only got them 6th place. It's tough when you are competing with a gym full of talented athletes that make up ultra powerful teams. This was the first time the Tigers went to the Super Six in back to back years.

The Georgia Bulldogs took the 1st place title with a final score of 197.825 for the 5th year in a row. This was the 10th first place finish for the school.

Second place went to the Alabama Crimson Tide, who also won the SEC Championships. The Tide finished with a final score of 197.575, which was followed very closely by Utah with a 197.425. Florida Gators came in 4th place with a 196.725, Arkansas 5th with 196.475 and LSU 6th with 196.375.

The meet was close and scoring was very tight, as was expected of the elite "super six" teams competing for the national title.

While LSU didn't come out of the meet with a team title on Friday night, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney did capture her dream the following night in the individual competition. In fact, Ashleigh came home with a pair of titles, taking first place in the individual routines on the floor and vault.

On Vault in the individuals, LSU took first and second place. Ashley Clare-Kearney scored a 9.900 with her two vaults averaged for first with Susan Jackson right behind her with a 9.8938. Jackson took first place on vault in the NCAA's last year. A third Tiger, Staci Schwitkis, won 10th
place on vault, scoring 9.6813.

On floor, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney delighted the crowd with a near perfect routine, scoring a 9.950 and tying Georgia's Courtney Kupets for the national title.

Two Tigers placed on the uneven bars, Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, 9th place with a score of 9.850 and Summer Hubbard coming in at 16th place with a 9.050.

The two national titles won by Kearney marks the first time in LSU history that a gymnast has won two national titles in one year. As she ends her collegiate gymnastics career at LSU, she goes out being nominated for the highest gymnastics award, the 2008-2009 Honda Sports Award for Gymnastics.

Overall, it has been another stellar year for the Gym Tigers. They continue to improve individually each year and also as a team. With outstanding coaches like DD Breaux, Bob Moore and Phillip Ogletree on staff, it is certain that the Tigers will have another successful season in 2010.

Source: www.lsusports.net