In the gymnastics world, teenagers are considered in the prime age for competition. By 22, a gymnast’s body is basically worn out. So when junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney requested a medical redshirt to compensate for the sophomore season she lost because of a foot injury, she was cautious. “Initially, I was a little nervous,” said the 2007 First-Team All-Southeastern Conference selection. “I thought my body wouldn’t be able to handle it. I had my wrist injury and my foot injuries.” Clare-Kearney fractured her foot during the first meet of the 2006 season, the Super Six Challenge in January. Doctors originally thought it was a sprain because nothing showed up on X-rays, so she continued to practice and ended up needing surgery. Very few gymnasts are granted redshirts because by the time a gymnast is in college, he or she is typically past ideal age. “It’s not like football or basketball where you can be 30 or 40 and still playing the sport, just because of the constant pounding that we’ve been enduring since we were 2 and 3 years old,” Clare-Kearney said. “It’s normally only if it’s a very serious injury, and it’s normally up to the gymnast. A lot of times when you have a serious injury you’re just like, ‘No, I can’t.'” But Clare-Kearney said she feels well enough to compete for two more years, which she has the opportunity to do now as a repeat junior. Her new – or old – classification was announced at the first meet and recorded in all the team’s literature, and Kearney said she is excited for the opportunity. “I’m definitely motivated to do great things for myself, great things for this team, and I want to be here as long as possible,” she said. “Plus all the seniors always say they miss it so much, so I’m glad I get to do an extra year.” LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux said she is looking forward to Clare-Kearney’s extra year of leadership with the team. “Ashleigh has given us good leadership, good performances and a very competitive mindset,” Breaux said. Clare-Kearney, along with Kristi Esposito and Lauren Klein, have stepped up to replace departed seniors Lisa Rennie, Kelly Phelan and Nicki Butler, who greatly contributed this past season’s No. 4 finish at the NCAA Championships. “We’ve got three kids that I feel like are totally different in their dynamics, totally different in what they bring, to the team,” Breaux said. “You always hope to develop a team personality good, solid leadership all around – academically and leadership athletically and leadership in the community. If those three things come together, a team can develop a cohesive team unit and a good personality.” Clare-Kearney said she feels the underclassmen on the squad look up to her because of her seniority and her accomplishments. She averaged a 39.227 all-around score and a 9.945 in the vault this past season. “I definitely try to lead by example,” she said. “Everybody wants to be an all-around [gymnast], everybody wants to be successful in the arena. Because of my drive and motivation and determination, and of course because of my coaches and teammates who push me, I think I’m able to be successful. A lot of people want that for themselves, and they look up to me in that sense.” The Tigers travel to Fayetteville today to face No. 8 Arkansas, who split a triple meet with Michigan and West Virginia this past weekend. The Gym’backs, who are in their sixth year of competition, finished second with a score of 195.250. “Both teams are pretty even on all four events,” Arkansas co-coach Rene Cook said of today’s meet. “LSU is very strong on vault and floor – they always have been. I think beam is one of our stronger events, but that can always go awry given it’s only four inches wide. It really comes down to execution.” Breaux said she is excited to throw her team into top-10 competition so early into the season. “The kids are looking forward to going to Arkansas,” she said. “It’s a hostile environment. The fans tend to be a little rowdy and vocal. They’re right on top of you – the seating is very close to the competitive apparatus, which is a little bit unnerving.” Breaux said the road trip is a good chance to put what her team has learned so far on the line. “We probably have a little bit more difficulty, probably have a little more depth [than Arkansas],” she said. “But we have not put the hammer down as far as putting more pressure on our kids to give us their best performance at this point in time because it’s a long season and this is just the very beginning. We like to kind of roll into our season and solidify our lineup as we go.”
—-Contact Krysten Oliphant at koliphant@lsureveille.com