Three freshmen defined the LSU gymnastics squad in 2012. Rheagan Courville, Lloimincia Hall and Jessie Jordan impressed in their first season as Tiger gymnasts. All three won all-around titles, ranking nationally in the all-around well into the season, and earned Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Week honors, the first time for three LSU gymnasts to did so.
All of them, along with senior Ashley Lee, were named to the All-SEC team. The four conference team spots marked another school record.
LSU coach D-D Breaux, who led the program for her 35th year this spring, had high praise to heap on the newcomers mid-way through the season.
“Without a doubt … this is probably the most talented, top to bottom, freshman class we’ve had,” Breaux said.
The proficient youth carried LSU to the program’s 23rd NCAA Championships appearance. Despite a late series of ailments that limited Jordan to the balance beam, the team posted a score of 196.550, its third-highest nationals score in team history.
The Tigers placed ninth out of 12 teams at the championship meet.
Courville put up the highest all-around score in afternoon pool, a 39.475, and was the lone Tiger to advance to the individual championships at the Sunday session, where she finished seventh nationally on vault with a 9.7313 mark. She was named a First Team All-American for the two accomplishments, while Hall, Lee and sophomore Sarie Morrison garnered Second Team honors for their performances on the floor exercise, vault and uneven bars, respectively.
“I’m so happy that I will be able to take this learning experience with me,” Courville said after the national meet. “I hope that I can use this nationals as a starting point to get even better for next year.”
Lee is expected to be the only departing gymnast.
“It was such an overwhelming feeling, and I’m so thankful for how well it went,” Lee said of her final meet. “I don’t think I’ll ever forget those feelings or having my team there with me.”
The team signed Junior Olympic standout and rising freshman Randii Wyrick for the 2013 class to replace the senior leader.
Wyrick placed fourth in the all-around at the Junior Olympic National meet in 2010 and won the vault in 2011. She’s set to compete for a third time on Thursday.
 
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