Collegiate gymnasts come to LSU with successful backgrounds. They start their careers doing backflips on their trampolines when they are six years old, hoping to becoming Junior Olympic National Champions. These gymnasts are all trained the same way, through club gyms. 
Making the transition from club gymnastics to collegiate competition is a difficult task, but that doesn’t mean it’s not feasible. 
“When I first came to college I realized that college is a lot different from club [gymnastics],” said LSU freshman all-arounder Erin Macadaeg. “[Club] taught me how to be an elite athlete and how to train in front of a lot
of people.”
Incoming Tiger gymnasts come in with high levels of experience, with the competition in club gymnastics similar to collegiate meets. 
Macadaeg and freshman all-arounder Myia Hambrick both ended their successful club careers as level 10 gymnasts. Macadaeg finished 2014 as a member of the Junior Olympic National Team and also acquired a first-place floor title and second place on vault at the 2014 Region 1 Championships. 
Hambrick, a six-time Junior Olympic National Championships qualifier, ended her club career as a national runner-up on beam from 2012 to 2014. She nearly had a full sweep at the 2014 Region 8 Championships, finishing first in bars, vault, floor and all-around. 
Having this grounded gymnastics foundation benefits the Tigers. Because of their involvement with club gyms, gymnast already excel in many basic areas of the sport. 
“We find that the kids that come from those type of programs have a lot of longevity,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “Their performances are the same week in and week out. And they make mistakes, but they have a great foundation that we are not having to coach around their problems.”
Club gymnastics is all an individual effort. During the early stages of the gymnast’s career, they gain attributes to be successful in a high level of
competitive gymnastics. Club gymnastics   teaches  these gymnast  more  than  just technique when performing.
“It really teaches you how to work with a team,” said LSU senior all-arounder Rheagan Courville. “You are really more by yourself in a club. It is truly amazing to get to college and have this team behind you. It’s like a sisterhood. You have support from everyone. Coming from a [club] background really teaches you to manage how to take care of yourself, but it is just really great to get on a team like here at LSU.”
LSU gymnastics seeks to become a better team each and every year. Breaux said she believes that the team she has this year could be a very
special group.
The most recent club gymnast on the LSU roster are Macadaeg and Hambrick. Each gymnast seems to be battle-tested and prepared for the tough competition faced early this season. 
“They come in with so much power, knowledge, and it is just really great to be able to teach them how to be a part of this team,” Courville said. “They really see just how amazing it is. They adapt so fast. They also bring a lot of energy and high spirit to the team.” 
You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter @CBoutwell_TDR.