Tonight’s meet at 7:30 p.m. in the PMAC against No. 20 Kentucky weighs heavy on LSU coach D-D Breaux’s heart for reasons other than simply gymnastics.
The Tigers will host their annual “Pink and Blue” meet, in support of raising awareness for breast cancer, pink, and prostate cancer, blue.
Breaux, in her 39th season as LSU’s coach, decided to make the change from the Tigers annual “Pink Out” meet to both pink and blue. Breaux wanted to heighten the awareness after she lost her brother-in-law to prostate cancer.
“The Foundation 56, a pink event, has always been very dear to me,” Breaux said. “My sister has a foundation, and 100 percent of what we do is going to research.”
Pink and blue colors will flood the PMAC stands, as LSU (2-0, 0-0 Southeastern Conference) opens conference competition on Friday.
LSU is riding a 17-meet home streak dating back to the 2014 season, and Breaux’s team continues to keep the record alive, following a famous African proverb she linked to her 2016 squad.
“‘If you want to go fast, go alone,’” Breaux said. “‘If you want to go far, go together.’ This team has embraced that going together.”
The Tigers have embraced a “togetherness” motto to cohesively mesh the youthful squad with only three senior gymnasts, all-arounders Jessica Savona, Randii Wyrick and specialist Michelle Gauthier.
Together, LSU received two wins to begin the season, a satisfying feat to Breaux.
Though, the two wins weren’t the most eloquent. Tiger gymnasts said the victories will have to do, especially behind a less-than-healthy bunch.
In LSU’s 195.825-193.625 win against then-No. 21 NC State, Tiger freshman all-arounder Lexie Priessman continued to battle an ankle and shoulder injury. Savona remained limited, as she was in the first meet, with a preseason ankle injury. The Tigers, collectively, are battling the bumps and bruises that come with the beginning of each season.
Even Breaux doesn’t know if the Tigers will be at full torque against the Wildcats.
“We’ll know on Friday,” Breaux said. “We’ve got to get their ankles well. If Lexie’s shoulder is irritated, we’ve got to get that slowed down, or gone. So, they can make those kind of contributions, because they make us a great team.”
Breaux saw improvements from her wounded team behind a low team score in Las Vegas on Jan. 14, which knocked the Tigers from No. 1 in the polls to No. 7 on Monday.
“Although the team score didn’t indicate it,” she said, “we saw a lot of things that got better.”
Breaux said she looks forward to beginning the in-conference season on Friday behind the growing confidence of her pupils.
You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter @Boutwell_TDR