The LSU gymnastics program has been one of the most consistent in the nation during coach D-D Breaux’s tenure, but for years the program continually struggled to get the recognition that accompanies a winning team.
Those days are becoming a thing of the past.
In recent seasons, the LSU gymnastics program has seen a consistent increase in its average attendance and season ticket sales.

In 2013, a school-record average of 5,353 people attended the five meets held in the PMAC, which ranked No. 5 in the nation for attendance.
LSU was 4-1 in those meets, including a victory over eventual national champion Florida.
The steady growth of the fan base spilled over into this season as the program set a school record, selling 1,141 season tickets, a 40 percent increase from the 2013 season.
But the increased attendance didn’t only result from the program’s success. The gymnasts themselves have pursued a greater fan base, said senior all-arounder Kaleigh Dickson.
The squad plans to visit sorority and fraternity houses this week to get more support for the upcoming meet against No. 7 Alabama on Friday.
In addition, Breaux will host students for dinner in an attempt to learn what steps are needed to further increase the excitement surrounding LSU gymnastics.
One of the biggest reasons for the increased level of self-marketing is the positive effect she believes a strongly supported gymnastics program can have on its community, Breaux said.
“So much of what young people see today on TV and in their communities is negative, but this is such a positive thing with great role models,” Breaux said.
Last Saturday’s meet against Auburn was the first time the squad had an official student section cheering them on.
Junior all-arounder Llominicia Hall is a veteran who has seen the way other schools’ students passionately support their gymnastics programs, and she said she’s thrilled that a similar level of dedication is starting to become visible in the PMAC.
“You see in so many different arenas how the student section plays a part in the meet,” Hall said.
But even as much as the fan base has grown recently, Breaux realizes it still lags behind some of the other top programs in the country, such as LSU’s opponent on Friday, Alabama.
Last season, the Crimson Tide were the No. 2 team in the nation in attendance with an average that exceeded 13,000.
Breaux said one of the major reasons for this overwhelming number is Alabama’s national championship wins, and she hopes victory will narrow the gap between the two fan bases.
“The talent of our athletes is every bit what [Alabama] has, and we’ve got great tradition here at LSU,” Breaux said. “But we’ve never won a team title, and they have. I think that’s the difference maker.”