The No. 18 LSU gymnastics team posted its third-highest road score of the season in Saturday’s NCAA Regional meet, but it wasn’t enough.
The Tigers posted a 195.350 score, which placed them third in the six-team field.
Only the top two teams advance.
“Short of a couple of bad breaks on floor, we had a great meet,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “I couldn’t be disappointed with the overall team’s performance. … I knew that this region was going to be the most challenging region to get out of, and I think Saturday night proved that.”
This season marks the first time since 2001 that LSU has not advanced to the NCAA Championships.
UCLA and Georgia topped the scoreboard to qualify for the Championships in Cleveland on April 15.
The Bruins dominated the field, posting a 197.425, defeating the runner-up Bulldogs by .675.
Though the team was eliminated from competition, the Tigers are still vying for a championship.
Redshirt freshman Kaleigh Dickson advanced to the Championships as an all-around participant. She qualified with a 39.075 all-around score.
“I had no idea [I had qualified],” Dickson said. “I walked out of the locker room and [assistant coach Ashleigh Clare-Kearney] came up to me and told me, ‘Congratulations,’ and gave me a big hug and I asked her what that was for and then she told me.”
While Dickson awaits her chance to compete for a national championship, there will be something missing in Cleveland.
“It’s a bittersweet feeling because I wanted us to qualify as a team,” Dickson said. “But I’m really happy that I get to go individually and represent LSU and my team. I know that they’re all behind me and supporting me.”
The Tigers have much to look forward to in the future, however, as all but one member of this year’s squad — senior Sam Engle — will return.
“Now we know what it’s like to not make it, and hopefully we can use that as motivation,” said junior Ashley Lee. “A lot of the girls will be one year wiser, and we can come back next year a little more experienced and know what it takes and the feelings of disappointment and wanting to not be in that position again. So we can take this meet and make it a positive.”
 
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