Jan. 17, 2003
The 22nd-ranked University of Kentucky gymnastics team (194.125) earned a split-decision Friday, defeating the Centenary Ladies (189.400), but falling to the 14th-ranked LSU Lady Tigers (195.825) at Memorial Coliseum. Leading the GymKats were junior Aronda Primault and sophomore Michelle Gales, who placed second and third in the all-around, respectively.
Kentucky (2-1) started strong, posting a 48.825 on the uneven bars. Senior Melanie Zaharias rebounded from a fall last week to take the vault title with a 9.850. Primault and senior Julia Gore placed second and third on the event, respectively. LSU competed on bars first, scoring a 49.200 to lead after one rotation.
The Wildcats proceeded to the uneven bars, where they totaled 48.075 points. Junior Julie Joy scored a 9.825 to lead UK and place fourth overall on the event. Gales scored a career-high 9.775, while Primault contributed a 9.725. The second rotation was strong for Centenary, who put up a 48.125 on the floor exercise despite a pair of deductions.
At the halfway point, LSU (5-0) carried a 1.100 lead over UK. The Lady Tigers lead would grow after posting a 49.275 on floor. Kentucky’s beam rotation saw Primault score a 9.825 to lead the team, followed closely by 9.775’s from Gales and senior Mindy Smith.
Kentucky’s highest team event score came on floor. Gales had Kentucky’s highest individual event score of the evening, a 9.875, which grouped with strong performances from Primault, Gore, Joy and Zaharias, gave the GymKats a 48.950.
LSU’s April Burkholder captured the floor, beam and all-around titles, totaling a 39.325 to lead the Lady Tigers. Lindsay Beddow and Annie Gagnon shared the bars crown, each scoring 9.875 for LSU. Centenary’s top individual score of the evening was Tara Mitchell’s 9.750 on floor.
The Cats will hit the road for their first away meet on Friday, Jan. 24, at 7 p.m., when they travel to Gaineville, Fla., to face Minnesota, Bowling Green and the homestanding Lady Gators. Florida is currently ranked fifth in the nation, while the Golden Gophers are 12th.
Team Scores1. Louisiana State 195.8252. Kentucky 194.1253. Centenary 189.400
Attendance: 1,271
Individual Apparatus Results
Vault: UK – 48.825; LSU – 48.550; CC – 46.550
1. Melanie Zaharias (UK) 9.8500; 2. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.8000; 3. Julia Gore (UK) 9.7750; 3. Rikki L’Heureux (LSU) 9.7750; 3. Terin Martinjak (LSU) 9.7750; 6. Michelle Gales (UK) 9.7000; 6. Kara Prestigiacomo (UK) 9.7000; 6. April Burkholder (LSU) 9.7000; 6. Lauren Companioni (LSU) 9.7000; 10. Julie Joy (UK) 9.6000; 10. Jade Jenkins (LSU) 9.6000; 12. Kaela Meinert (CC) 9.4000; 12. Tara Mitchell (CC) 9.4000; 14. Kim Faulkner (CC) 9.3500; 15. Janelle Thibault (CC) 9.3250; 16. Brittany Brown (LSU) 9.2500; 17. Sarah Racioppi (CC) 9.0750; 18. Carmen Reid (CC) 9.0000.
Bars: LSU – 49.200; UK – 48.075; CC – 47.550
1. Lindsay Beddow (LSU) 9.875; 1. Annie Gagnon (LSU) 9.875; 3. April Burkholder (LSU) 9.850; 4. Julie Joy (UK) 9.825; 5. Rikki L’Heureux (LSU) 9.800; 5. Kelly Lea (LSU) 9.800; 7. Michelle Gales (UK) 9.775; 8. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.725; 8. Janelle Thibault (CC) 9.725; 10. Jade Jenkins (LSU) 9.700; 10. Tasha Rogers (CC) 9.700; 12. Julia Gore (UK) 9.675; 13. Kaela Meinert (CC) 9.575; 14. Jennifer Jackson (CC) 9.350; 15. Melanie Moeck (CC) 9.200; 16. Bonnie Kulosa (CC) 9.150; 17. Lindsay Cameron (UK) 9.075; 17. Krista Prestigiacomo (UK) 9.075.
Beam: LSU – 48.800; UK – 48.275; CC – 47.175
1. April Burkholder (LSU) 9.850; 2. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.825; 3. Terin Martinjak (LSU) 9.800; 4. Michelle Gales (UK) 9.775; 4. Mindy Smith (UK) 9.775; 6. Megan Durning (LSU) 9.750; 7. Lindsay Beddow (LSU) 9.700; 7. Annie Gagnon (LSU) 9.700; 9. Melanie Zaharias (UK) 9.600; 9. Sarah Racioppi (CC) 9.600; 11. Christen Moulden (CC) 9.525; 12. Kaela Meinert (CC) 9.375; 13. Bonnie Kulosa (CC) 9.350; 14. Sarah Ball (CC) 9.325; 15. Julia Gore (UK) 9.300; 16. Jade Jenkins (LSU) 9.225; 17. Julie Joy (UK) 8.350; 18. Janelle Thibault (CC) 7.450.
Floor: LSU – 49.275; UK – 48.950; CC – 48.125
1. April Burkholder (LSU) 9.925; 2. Terin Martinjak (LSU) 9.900; 3. Michelle Gales (UK) 9.875; 4. Julia Gore (UK) 9.825; 4. Lauren Companioni (LSU) 9.825; 4. Jade Jenkins (LSU) 9.825; 7. Aronda Primault (UK) 9.800; 7. Brittany Brown (LSU) 9.800; 9. Rachel Franzella (LSU) 9.775; 10. Julie Joy (UK) 9.750; 10. Tara Mitchell (CC) 9.750; 12. Melanie Zaharias (UK) 9.700; 12. Sarah Ball (CC) 9.700; 14. Janelle Thibault (CC) 9.600; 15. Kaela Meinert (CC) 9.550; 16. Sarah Racioppi (CC) 9.525; 16. Carmen Reid (CC) 9.525; 18. Krista Prestigiacomo (UK) 9.125.
All-Around
1. April Burkholder (LSU) 39.325; 2. Aronda Primault (UK) 39.150; 3. Michelle Gales (UK) 39.125; 4. Julia Gore (UK) 38.575; 5. Jade Jenkins (LSU) 38.350; 6. Kaela Meinert (CC) 37.900; 7. Julie Joy (UK) 37.525; 8. Janelle Thibault (CC) 36.100.
