Many storylines will be present for LSU’s gymnastics team heading into its first meet of the season against Maryland on Friday night in the PMAC.
The Tigers are ranked No. 6, return four All-American seniors and have a group of freshman that may possibly be the most heralded group LSU coach D-D Breaux has brought into the gym.
All of these positives come despite the loss of two-time national champion Ashleigh Clare-Kearney, who finished her final year of eligibility last spring while helping lead the Tigers to a second-straight Super Six appearance.
But the loss of freshman Kaleigh Dickson, whom Breaux said at a Tuesday press conference was going to provide a solid base to an already shaky lineup for the Tigers, to a knee injury puts the Tigers in a predicament for which Breaux doesn’t particularly care.
“The biggest concern is lack of depth,” Breaux said. “I’m not a real patient person, and me having to be patient and go slow by spoon feeding the freshmen group to bring them along and try to raise the bottom to be at the same level as the top is difficult.”
That leaves the Tigers to rely on that core group of seniors that has already been a part of two Super Six appearances and is looking for a third.
Sabrina Franceschelli is one of those seniors, and Breaux said she is looking for Franceschelli to step up and compete with fellow senior and 2008 vaulting national champion Susan Jackson for becoming the top all-around gymnast on the team.
Franceschelli said that is a role she is looking forward to. She added that filling that role will require more than just being a top gymnast to help the team.
“I’ve been just trying to be with the team and be a positive influence on everybody,” Franceschelli said. “I’m trying to be a leader on the team. In terms of my skills, I’m just going to keep everything that I have from last season and try to clean things up to contribute on all four events.”
 
—-Contact Andy Schwehm at [email protected]