re: LSU Gymnastics Recruiting Thread (2024 and 2025 Recruiting Classes)

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Though you didn't ask me, I'll add my two cents here - it is because Cammy's vault has very poor form and was inconsistent at Utah. In addition, I think she has been injured and perhaps not training as much - so, in this one case, I think that going with a full over a 1.5 makes sense.

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Well geez, didn’t she come here mainly as a vault specialist?

The leg events. She probably had a shot at getting in the lineup last year as they were experimenting with chase and Kiya being injured, but this year with Amari and Savannah and Kiya back, it was unlikely. overall I don’t think she was recruited to come here as much as she followed the Griffeths- for example, someone else may be able to confirm, but I suspect that she is not on scholarship, so it may have just been about giving us some added depth, perhaps getting competition time, and ending her career on her own terms (as she has alluded to being unhappy at Utah)

I just think maybe it wouldn’t kill us to give her a chance in a meet. What if someone goes down and can’t vault. With all the depth we talked about during preseason we have seen 7 vaulters. That just doesn’t seem smart. Not saying this weekend but maybe against Carolina. Also I wonder if chase has a mental thing like Bryce got on beam after her fall last season.

Surprised no one is talking about it but Elena confirmed on TikTok she’s done for the year. It will be interesting to see if she comes back next year.

It is unfortunate to hear. While not a star, we are missing the depth Elena brought.

We could use her vault right now. She has a more consistent single than KJ does and I don't think people realize it because KJ gets a lot of pomp and circumstance.
KJ Johnsons last 10 vaults
- 1 score of 9.9+
- avg of 9.840

Elena's last 10 vaults
- 5 scores of 9.9+
- avg of 9.875

Not just done for the year but it seemed to imply she’s done with sport :(

So I am a little late to post in the meet thread, so posting my thoughts on here.

Overall, we got improvement on the road and a much better score to count so that’s positive. Also notable though is Anya pilgrim is obviously the heir apparent to trinity Thomas’ auto 9.975 on every apparatus which is annoying.

Now on the apparatus commentary.

Vault: we have got to start finding the landings, including Haleigh, though I thought Amari and Kiya were really bright spots. I have said it from the beginning we need 6 10 starts - I know Jay loves KJ’s full, but she hasn’t been sticking it and it won’t serve us well in the post season.

Bars - goodness gracious they have to start finding landings. I also wish they could figure out why Alexis’ technique is to land so low. Judges don’t like that even when she sticks. Konnor was severely underscored last night and while judging was conservative on bars for both teams - Florida’s bar team had significant errors and scores for those team were on par with ours.

Beam - why in the world was this the week to try beard again?? That makes no sense. Annie has a ton of potential on beam but it’s clear she now has a mental block, so it’s probably time to give up the experiment for this year. Alexis has shown some consistency, though the various form issues she and Sierra have are worrying for post season (sierra’s leap form and Alexis cat jump
To straddle quarter and her standing front ruck). Kiya has been shaky all year which is worrisome and just don’t think Aleah can handle the pressure of anchoring when there is a drop score - or they need to modify her series asap, because it has been about 4 times out of the last 5 that she has significantly bobbled it. Konnor was a highlight as was Haleigh. I wonder if you don’t move Konnor to anchor … maybe Sierra, Alexis, Kiya, Aleah, Haleigh, Konnor?

Floor: this was the true bright spot. This is the best case floor lineup. I know people love Sierra and her performance quality is great, but this absolutely our best lineup and they did great last night - I think it was Amari, KJ, and Haleigh’s best floor performances all year and Aleah was perfection honestly. Konnor overcooked her double layout just ever slo slightly but was still great and Kiya was sturdy as well.

All in all - I think this team can do it, they have to dial in bars/vault landings, but beam is still worrying (which is unfortunate because they absolutely can be one of the best teams in the nation, they are just inconsistent).

That said we hung with Florida and honestly even had a chance to win it if Aleah had done what she is capable of.

I will say this about Beard:
I like her a lot. she has poise and you can't teach that. I view her as the potential leadoff for the next 2 years.

That being said, she hasn't been done any favors being kept cold and then "tag you're in" for some of the biggest meets of the season. She made her debut on National TV on ABC. Then after a month of not doing beam, here go do beam on the road at Florida. If he wanted to work her back in, he should have waited until next week or the quad/UNC. At the end of the day, when you get put in the lineup you gotta rise to the occasion.

hopefully Jay shuffles the beam order. I would go
Sierra
Jeffrey
Aleah
Konnor
Kiya
Haleigh

I would go Sierra, Jeffrey, Aleah, Kiya, Konnor, then Haleigh. If Aleah hits, no matter where she’s placed, she’s going to score well.

Nina Ballou is not having a good Nastia Luikin Cup.