A total of 12,609 fans gathered in the PMAC Sunday afternoon to watch the LSU gymnastics team compete against the Florida Gators for the first-ever regular season SEC Championship.
It was the third-largest crowd in PMAC history. Notable guests in the crowd included Chris Blair, “the voice of the Tigers,” and Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards.
But no one in the crowd was louder than LSU student Madi Miller. Miller, a freshman mechanical engineer major, sat front row in the student section. She cheered ferociously as the Tigers won the meet 198.150 to 196.600, effectively capturing the 2017 SEC Gymnastics Championship.
Senior Ashleigh Gnat’s perfect 10 on the vault early in the meet popped the crowd and got a big ovation from Miller.
“Yeah ‘Bugs!’ That’s a ten! That’s a ten,” Miller said.
Miller said Gnat is a great leader for the team and probably her favorite athlete at LSU.
“She puts her whole heart into everything she does,” Miller said. “The few times I’ve gotten to talk to her she’s been super sweet. LSU will miss her greatly when she graduates.”
Miller grew up in Lafayette loving LSU gymnastics.
“The amount of talent they have is just phenomenal,” Miller said. “It’s a show. When you go you can’t beat it. I would argue it’s as good as going to an LSU football game.”
Miller said one of her favorite LSU routines is sophomore Sarah Finnegan’s beam routine.
“Wait until Finnegan gets up there…it’s mind-blowing,” Miller said.
Finnegan fell off the beam during her routine while attempting a triple spin, but Miller calmly cheered her on. She finished the routine with 9.325 score.
Miller is a member of the “Very Ferocious Tigers.” VFT members are allowed to sit in the first five rows during the home gymnastics meets. Miller said each LSU gymnast gets four VFT passes to give to whomever they want. She said sophomore Lexie Priessman gives her four passes for every home meet.
Miller said she met Priessman after a meet earlier this season. Priessman noticed her “Dragon Bait” sign in the crowd and walked over to Miller to meet her. Earlier this year LSU Gymnastics Head Coach D-D Breaux compared her gymnasts to “a bunch of fire-breathing dragons,” hence why Miller and her friends hold up a dragon bait sign when the visiting team comes near the student section.
The Tigers are 12-1 this season and ranked No. 2. No. 1 Oklahoma posted a higher score than them (198.35 to 197) during the Quad Meet on February 17.
LSU made the NCAA Super Six last season and finished No. 2 in Division 1 Gymnastics. The Tigers have a good chance to go to the Super Six in St. Louis, Mo. this season. Miller said she may get to go.
“It’s over spring break…I’m thinking about it,” Miller said. “I’m looking into it. There’s a possibility I’ll be there…no promises.”
The LSU gymnastics team returns to the PMAC Friday night for their final meet of the regular season. They will face New Hampshire at 7:30 p.m. Seniors Ashleigh Gnat, Sydney Ewing and Shae Zamardi will be honored for the Tigers senior night.