re: Remove

Looking from the outside just about sports in itself, if I’m wrong please correct me but every personality of a team is different. Some are quiet some are more vocal and some show by example. We lost 3 great classes between 2017 through 2019. How did we expect role players to become leaders ? I don’t know any of the ladies personally but Dean, Durante, Edwards, Campbell and Desiderio were never the stars for the team and to think it would change was ludacris. Again, I feel it starts with the gymnast. Gymnast are usually very hard workers and excellent students. U have to be self motivated to see where u need to improve. Not in the actual gymnastics because form is form. That’s taught way before college. But mental toughness is one of the most important factors in a gymnast. I know injuries play a huge role in the mind of a person. But what I see is the lack in coaching. Everyone has always said Jay Clark is a great recruiter but the last few classes have come in with pre existing injuries. This super senior class only had one gymnast perform more than one event. That’s a huge bulk of the roster who doesn’t participate for the team. Also remember we are dealing with the affects of not really having a senior class since Ferrer who was injured and retired due to mental problems and a walk-on who only competed a handful of times. Look at the junior class. Kai has been injured more than healthy and Kiya and Alyona also dealing with their bodies are put even more pressure on to perform because of lack of depth. Yes on the outside the roster is huge, but the numbers were never really there for the team to succeed. Now the sophomore class. Dunne and Arenas I feel haven’t been the gymnast we thought they should be for whatever reason. I noticed Chase Brock wasn’t even on the floor for regionals. She had so much potential last season and has been mia. Then Jay Clark being stubborn has not progressed the freshman to where they should be. I kept getting so irritated with him during interview saying this isn’t what we’re capable of, using these big words, just not really getting into why the performances where what they were. I loved DD when it came to interviews. She had a fire about her with true honesty. Remember 2015 we didn’t make it to super six and she was talking about the beam implosion specifically Macadaeg. She said “the freshman lost her mind”. After that season that freshman became our lead off the rest of her career and I think maybe fell once in three years. Progression is the key and Jay Clark needs to be held accountable for that. Not only that there needs to be a change in mental preparation. The program has risen since he has stepped on campus, but he’s not the assistant or associate coach, he’s the head coach. He has to self reflect on what works and what doesn’t and as he says about the ladies, get out of his own way. Or we’re going to have serious issues with recruits and the program if we don’t get the expected results. Even though we haven’t one an NCAA title, during the 2014-2019 seasons we had hope. Being undefeated at home, winning SEC’s for 3 years straight and the chance to win a national title were great and it gave hope to the athletes and the fans of the program. Something is missing and time will tell if we have the right gymnast or the right staff to be back on top. As I see it, given the new format, we haven’t progressed and everyone else has. We have been losing more meets throughout the regular season, but this has by far been one of the worst seasons rankings wise and championship performance. We lost too Missouri three times this season. It’s a reflection of what we are not doing and what that program is doing.

I guess the question here is “Is this ‘rock bottom’ for the LSU program?” In some ways I feel yes and in other ways I feel no. I’ve had a few days to lick my wounds and put things in perspective.

Most of us never thought this team would contend for a national title this year. They don’t have the vaults like Michigan and OU, beam like Florida and Utah, bars like OU and Florida, and floor like Michigan and Florida. I’m speaking in terms of consistency here. Yes, we have the talent, but the consistency was never there. Hasn’t been for two years now. I’m not an insider to the program but I feel maybe Jay hasn’t held the gymnasts accountable for their mistakes. He tends to go with the same people. He doesn’t know lineup order. He doesn’t push the envelope and take chances. We should have saw more people compete this year, especially after losing to Florida. The regular season championship was out of reach and there was literally nothing to lose (plus no one was beating Florida this year). I’ve seen a few comments on social media comparing LSU and Georgia. I don’t think we’re headed that way necessarily because the girls have a lot of heart and determination. Just feel they are being failed in a lot of ways.

What 4 girls would go to Nationals? I thought it would only be Bryant on vault and Kiya for AA if UCLA goes.

Aaaand in true fashion of this season, Mizzou continues to be a thorn in our side. So Kiya will go on vault.

Controversial ending though cause it appeared the last Mizzou girl went OOB on floor but the judges didn’t see it

I wonder if Kiya would give her spot up to Haleigh. To keep the streak of All-American going for LSU. Even with a step Kiya wouldn’t score as high as Haleigh.

It’s such a reflection of this season that our best vaulter isn’t going to nationals but the 2nd best is

Of course this happened by .025

I’m so done with this season. Good riddance.

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I wonder if Kiya would give her spot up to Haleigh. To keep the streak of All-American going for LSU. Even with a step Kiya wouldn’t score as high as Haleigh.

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I actually wondered about that same scenario. I would have loved to see them both go, but Haleigh has a real shot at the title. Kiya is the type of person I could see doing that. But it may not even be allowed.

I’m sick at how the season ended, but maybe this is exactly the wake up call Jay needs. If we had made it to nationals but finished last I think he would have considered this year a success. There’s no way he can look at this outcome as anything but a huge disappointment and not acceptable for LSU. I don’t know what the fix is, but he better figure it out! The fact that some girls regressed over the years is so disappointing Two years ago I would have picked Campbell as the next star to follow in the footsteps of Gnat and Finnegan. I would not imagine that Edwards would be taking the same big step after. every. vault. How is that not fixed in 5 years? I do credit Dean, though, with improving over her 5 years. I mean, that’s the way it should be, right? She really came through big for us this year. I wish I knew why we didn’t see Dunne on beam, Finnegan on bars, KJ on beam, and why we never saw AJ on anything. I know Jay wanted her to have to earn her acceptance onto the team, but in his interviews early on it sounded like he planned to use her later in the season. So many questions.

Someone posted part of an interview with the OU coach, where she talked about how her girls were all business in the gym. I think maybe we’re lacking in that department. Of course, I’m not at practices so it’s just a guess on my part. Hayleigh and Kiya, who everyone agrees is the backbone of the team, seem a lot more serious and focused. I hope Jay can get that kind of businesslike attitude from the whole team next year. I think the sting of this season will be a big motivator to turn this ship around before it sinks.

Just want to add that I was really pumped for Jay to take over the reins. I was a fan and still have faith that he can get it right. This year has just been a very big letdown.

Sarah E. could have had more opportunity to stick the landing with a Y double considering her power. I've always wondered why she didn't train for it.

I am amazed at how high the scores were for the teams that are headed to championships. Lots of 10's.