gymnastics opens season tomorrow in the PMAC at 7:30 (Preview)

Tomorrow gymnastics opens the season in the PMAC vs #19 Arkansas. It will be televised on the SECN. The team has been back for a week in a half and has been training extremely hard, they look ready to make a statement tomorrow. This team has a lot of youth with 7 freshman and 3 sophomores. This will be a team that won't put up a 197.800 first meet but one that builds each week and continuously improves. The talent is there to be another special season.


Vault:

LSU returns 4 of its 6 routines on this rotation that was #1 in the country last year. 5 of the 6 spots are already locked and secured with the last spot to be rotated with a bit throughout the season. As of now, 4 of the 6 spots will field a vault with a 10.0 start value. Freshman Sarah Edwards will make a major splash this year as she will showcase her new vault ( 1 1/2). Finnegan currently trains a 1 1/2 as well, its ready but will likely be competed sometime within the next month. LSU currently has a few other brand new vaults ready to be showcased in the future. LSU will field another top vault lineup this year.

Projected Lineup:

1. Finnegan
2. Macadaeg (Last spot in the air)
3. Edwards
4. harrold
5. hambrick
6. Edney


Bar:

This rotation looks to be improved and likely, the best bars lineup in school history. LSU returns 5 of its 6 spots in this rotation. True freshman Sami Durante is the favorite for this last spot as she has hit 9.9's all fall.She is expected to make an immediate impact and actually improve upon Zamardis production. Ruby harrold's routine is watered down with the removal of the Van Leeuwen (E skill). With proper handstands and a controlled dismount, Ruby should be able to consistently hit the 9.9 mark. Reagan Campbell and Bridget Dean both are excellent on this event and will see opportunities this season, as they are the future of this rotation. Ashlyn Kirby is expected to see opportunities here as well. LSU finished 3rd in the country on bars last year and look to improve on it.


Projected Lineup:

1. Durante
2. hambrick
3. harrold
4. Edney
5. Finnegan
6. Priessman


Beam:


Beam might be this teams best event by far. LSU has 5 or 6 routines all capable of all american status. LSU returns 4 of its 6 routines from a rotation that was #2 in the country last year. This year, the addition of a special freshman class look to leave no drop off on this event. True freshmen Desiderio and Campbell are the favorite to win those last two spots. Desiderio compiled 9.9 and 9.95s all fall and looked like an all american on this event. Competing as an international elite will allow her transition the college gymnastics to be smooth. Campbell had a flawless and breathtaking routine at 101. Campbell's routine is capable of winning a national title on this event. I cannot remember when DD was this over the moon about a freshman beam routine, she is sure to put up major scores all season. LSU is led by the best 1 2 punch in the country with Myia and Erin. LSU looks to improve upon what they did last year on this event. Expect Dean to see many opportunities on this event as she is another freshman who dominated beam all fall. Kirby has also stepped up on this event and will see many opportunities this year.

Projected Lineup:


1. Macadaeg
2. hambrick
3. Desiderio
4. Edney
5. Campbell
6. Finnegan


Floor:


Without doubt LSU's most concern for this season. LSU returned 3 of its 6 routine, but now only 2 with the injury of Mckenna Kelley. The outcome of the season will come down to who steps up on this event. hambrick and Finnegan are all americans on this event. Edney and Desiderio look to be locks on this event. Edney has scored over a 9.9 on this event before and has done so all fall. She has the ability to be an all american on this event with an arsenal of skills. Freshman Christina Desiderio is the next STAR on floor for LSU. She was considered one of the best floor workers in the world prior to her arrival to LSU, she is world class on this event. If she can remain healthy, expect Desiderio to rake in scores all in the 9.9's all season and to be named a first team all american on this event. Two spots still remain to be up in the air. Kirby has had an outstanding fall and has been consistent on this event. Ruby harrold has the ability to score well on this event as well. Julianna Cannamela has made a major splash late this fall and looks to contribute here. Freshman Dean and Campbell are excellent on this event too but both need to have a period where both are completely healthy before we can see them. Don't expect consistency with this rotation lineup, we will see new faces by the week


Projected Lineup:

1. Kirby
2. Cannamela
3. hambrick
4. Edney
5. Desiderio
6. Finnegan

LSU looks to be elite on 3 of the 4 events early on but it will take time to develop our floor lineup. This LSU team has been hit hard with many injuries, in particular this freshman class. It won't be until late February until we see our true potential of our floor lineup. LSU has the pieces to make a major run at a national title. It will be fun to see what new faces step up this year. The potential is sky high. I hope everyone can make it out tomorrow and this season.