Sofly225

I said the same during the season about beam. It’s to late in the game barring an injury. This the 6 they are going with. Leadoff has to be steady Eddie. Annie never found consistency and idk Alexis kinda has issues with vertigo at the wrong time. I feel like I’d rather have a for sure calm hit from Konnor. My question has always been why not swap Haleigh and Aleah and change that darn leap pass for Kiya. We definitely have the puzzle, it’s just some of the pieces aren’t fitting. Proud of the team for making the final 8. The question is will this team be enough to win it all?

I played sports for years. I could definitely tell when I was just better than an opponent talent wise or how the culture and staff contributed to that success. With gymnastics it’s no defense. It’s only on u as the gymnast and staff. So obviously you have to compare all the different aspects of the program. I was happy DD got a great assistant to elevate the program. Once he became a head coach at Georgia, for whatever reason it was a regression in that program. Idk all the details but he was gone from there. Now Georgia current coach is horrible but still there and has been there for far to long .When Jay arrived you could definitely tell the progression of the program. He did implement a lot of changes. I just felt he brought the recruitment and the social aspect to LSU that DD was missing. We had a string of regular season championships, 3 sec titles and 3 runner ups. Yes OU was the only team that really beat us during those runs. So to be the second best program for those amount of years was a great accomplishment. Well then the experience of DD, Bob and ACK moved on. I used to question decision making of skills and him keeping certain 5th years in the lineups they shouldn’t have been in. Loyalty is one thing but compare to last year with the injuries to key gymnast we saw the resilience of the athletes . We may have never seen Elena, Tori or Alexis in lineups . Those ladies were just as important as Haleigh and Aleah. Beam and to an extent bars has kept us behind Florida,Utah and OU since 2019. So to answer your question @LSUgymfan420, they have an entire new coaching staff together and should have a system of checks and balances so to speak. It’s no excuse for certain things like injuries, sickness etc because every team deals with that. If a gymnast is struggling mentally what do you do? They have a lot of talent meaning the skills and athleticism, but the mentality is lacking when it comes to performing under pressure and competing to win on the road against a really good team or at a championship meet. I remember the year Sarah Edwards got hurt at Florida(2020) and I saw the same thing with KJ when she was on floor at Missouri this year say directly to Jay I’m sorry. Why are you sorry for getting hurt or messing up. One thing to be disappointed it’s another thing to say sorry. Please go watch these on YouTube. Like I don’t think I could perform well if I get hurt and feel like I need to apologize for an injury. You can be prepared In practice but if it doesn’t translate on the floor in the moment yes part of it is the gymnast, but majority of it in the college setting is on the coaches. That’s why they make the big bucks. Gnat is the beam coach, if she’s constructing a routine and either the skills constantly gets deducted or the gymnast can’t perform under pressure, a change should be made(whatever that is). Although it’s a complete staff with each coach having an event, it’s on the head coach, Jay to help make the necessary corrections

Well if Jay and co aren’t tough enough how can the gymnast be tough enough? Just saying !!!

My few concerns for this team to make a run for Nationals are confidence on the road, all round landings and beam. 1-6 LSU has the best vaults and floor in the country. They have to land better as a team. Bars has been a massive improvement from years past, but again landings are critical. I wonder if they don’t practice on hard surfaces to preserve their bodies. Again it’s a long season and LSU hasn’t been known to pace their athletes. Beam is my biggest question mark. I get Sierra has found her consistency as leadoff, but she doesn’t stick that dismount and her cap is probably 9.8-9.85 . Alexis is the number 2. She will get hit with that low front tuck landing. Nationals they will eat her up. Konnor is the star of the rotation. I think she can score regardless of her placement. Kiya is hot or cold. But also her leap pass is a problem for me. Change it coaches. Bryant is money and should be anchor imo. Now Aleah. Love her and she is the prettiest inconsistent gymnast if thats a thing. Even a past gymnast on the fb group mentioned that she can’t handle that spot and it cost meets at Missouri and Florida. She has the talent to do that routine, but she looks so scared up there no matter the situation. She does not have the consistency to be an anchor this year. That is totally on the coaches. To compete they need that score to be 9.9+ . She is in the top two beamers on the team but has been the dropped score more than not. This is why KJ and Jenny Rowland stay on top. They construct great routines with minimal deductions. They coach as if they are judges. I just don’t understand some of the decision making especially with the experience of Jay. They have the talented gymnast, recruitment, resources, and following. It’s time for results which are championships. Hopefully we can get some 198’s on the road before regionals . LSU has the distinction of being the best team to never have won a National title. It starts with SeC and Regionals. The staff has to learn how to win. Easier said then done but I’m kinda tired of the excuses given the resources the school has and the salary’s of these coaches. That’s why I love Kim Mulkey. Experience, talent, heart and confidence equals championships. No matter the sport

Bars actually was a strength with sticks this meet. Once they figure out beam they will be unstoppable. I do worry a little about vault. Those landings need to be there. Also maybe just maybe, move Sierra from leadoff to score higher .

I think I heard personal reasons

Spot on post. To add, my biggest thing moving forward is this coaching staff. The gymnastics is there, but I question and have been questioning Jay Clark since he took over. Why is Kiya in the all around first meet with so much depth? It baffles me to even consider her doing the leg events first meet out. There are too many other ladies who could step in. Again coaching. Bars definitely an upgrade with Konnor and Savannah. Lord, beam is so important in a gymnastics meet. If Konnor has all this talent in the world, why couldn’t she do something easier after a fall ? I know there are backups for a gymnast with her talent. There are many girls fighting for spots and don’t know how practices go. Sierra has built in deductions on her leaps and basically only has stuck that dismount once last year. I’m sorry but that’s not gonna cut it. A clear distinction from OU is those ladies are prepared every year . LSU hopped around a lot and if you really look at some of the faces as the ladies were performing they seemed so nervous and rushed. KJ seemed rushed on that first pass, Aleah breathing heavy on her floor. LSU has the talent but OU has the winning mindset and attention to details. That’s what wins championships. This staff has to get these ladies to settle down, find consistency and have fun. The girls can have trust in each other get along well and all that good stuff but this is sport. The gymnastics is there, the mental toughness and coaching has to step up in order for LSU to ever win a national title.

I just don’t see Kiya and Aleah locks on bars. If Konnor can consistently keep her form and improve that landing, she really has the best form on the entire team. Yes making sure she is healthy is key but she will need the numbers. Aleah only stuck that dismount once last season as much as I love her. Same with Cowan. If she can stick that lay, her form is what keeps her spot. LSU has to pin point those bars and beam rotations to compete with Oklahoma. Last year and history are of the past. Will the coaches find the correct 6 when it counts is yet to be seen. We could literally field two top 10 teams out of the 22 on the squad. I have all the confidence the coaching staff will put the team first and pick the ladies who are consistently clean with the best form and stick landings.

I love your lineups but depends on Jay and the coaches. I think lineups are up for grabs. I was so impressed with Amari, Chase and Cowan. To win we’re gonna need to highest potential scores. It’s tough to leave people like Alyona and Sierra out of lineups but they have form issues. Definitely prefer Konnor and Cowan over Livvy and Kiya on bars. Alexis Jeffrey should be the new leadoff on beam. I would slot Annie at second. Konnor, Haleigh , Aleah, Kiya. I actually liked Coen beam as well so look out for her. Like someone mentioned this year talent wise is one of the best. All the pieces have to fit to win on the final night.

It’s so hard to speculate these lineups. I do know based of Jay’s history I would not expect Konnor to be in more than one or two events . His goal is to get her healthy which has been a worry for her in elite. She hasn’t competed since 2022 Nationals. My question about the rest of the team is the freshman like Coen and Drayton. Annie Beard and Bryce Wilson contributed very little but has potential. The injury status of KJ, Kai, and Kiya.