Gymnastics Meet Next Monday (Gymnastics 101 Preview)- PMAC 6:30

Next Monday the gymnastics team will compete in a mini meet in the PMAC at 6:30 in preparation for the 2018 season. It is free to the public. This meet is a way to show a preview of what the team will look like this year, and it allows for the gymnasts to perform in an arena on hard surfaces. The team practices primarily on soft surfaces to protect their bodies for the season.

This year we have a lot of new faces, 7 freshman. LSU returns a lot of routines from last year. This junior class will continue to lead this team. LSU will be without Mckenna Kelley this season due to a ruptured achilles. LSU will have a lot of shoes to fill but I feel safe to say LSU is one of the top 3 or 4 teams in the country, and is able to score a 49.300-49.500 on each event. In terms of our best event, beam and bars have been raved about all fall but LSU will be elite on vault and floor as always.


Vault:
LSU loses two 10.0 vaults from last season. LSU many options for replacements in these two spots. People to watch:

Sarah Edwards- True freshman I expect to make an impact on vault. Very dynamic and powerful. She did not receive the best training but I expect eventually, not this year for her to be able to compete a yurchenko 1 1/2.

Edit: She WILL compete a 1 1/2 on Monday!!!

Lexie Priessman- She competes a 1 1/2 and has been consistent all fall. LSU expects her to be a main stay in the vault lineup

Juliana Cannamela- She was hit hard by injuries last year but she is in the best shape of her life and has exploded onto the scene, don't count her out. She hit a stuck vault in super six with a 9.90 her freshman season.

hambrick, harrold, Edney all compete a 1 1/2 which are 10.0 vaults. Finnegan CAN compete a 1 1/2 and is expected to showcase it sometime this year but probably not until mid season.

Bars:

LSU returns every routine from last season losing only Zamardi. Jay Clark expects a much improved bars effort this year.

Ruby harrolds start of her routine was restructured to reduce difficulty. She was hammered for her release from high to low from a ridiculously hard skill she performed last season. Ruby looks fantastic as of now. Only concern is her dismount, she still performs the same one from last season. She sticks it only 50% of the time

Finnegan and Priessman will be All Americans again on this event. Both will score 9.9 or 9.95 every week. Edney also is capable of all american honors here as well she is extremely clean.

LSU has about 4-5 9.90 routines here.

True Freshman Sami Durante is expected to win the job for the last position. One of the cleanest bar workers on this team and has consistently scored 9.90's all fall.


Beam:
LSU returns 4 of its 6 routines but this event is considered by many as LSU's best event. LSU has NEVER had a deeper team on beam. This lineup is highlighted by hambrick, macadaeg , and Finnegan. Edney looks to keep her spot. Two of these positions are likely to be won by two true freshman.

Christina Desiderio- She is a former elite and is dynamite on this event. She can score in the 9.90's

Reagan Campbell is an all american in the making on this event. She is a beamer and is likely your future lead off for years to come after Erin graduates. She will be a major impact by mid to late season

Watch out for Dean another true freshman, she is excellent on this event. Keep an eye on Kirby, Li and Cannamela. All can rack up major scores



Floor:

With the loss of Kelley LSU now only returns 2 of the 6 floor routines. there will be a lot of opportunities on this event. Edney is almost a lock to win one of the spots, her floor routine is clean and very difficult and will score in the 9.9's

Desiderio is a name fans need to put an asterisk next to her name because she is the next great on floor. She is world class on this event and can be an all american on this event easily this season.

Ruby harrold is expected to be a major contributor on this event. She cleaned up her tumbling this fall and has looked fantastic.

Lexi Priessman will be used here at some point, if she stays healthy, Lexi is a future all American on this event. She can do it all

I saw Cannamela perform a routine a week back and if she performed it like I saw it, she can easily win a spot. She can score in the 9.90's as well. Sky high tumbling

We will likely see Kirby and a Campbell floor routines at some point.


I would not expect a lot of major action from freshman early this season as DD like to work them in, but expect a lot to be major contributors by the end of the year. This is still a dynamic team even with its losses can compete for a national title. Expect LSU to rank in the top 4 when polls are released soon. I hope my information helps give people an idea of what to expect from this team this year. Let me know if yall have any questions.