After an impressive season that landed the young LSU gymnastics team in the NCAA tournament ending ranked No. 15 in the country with a regional qualifying score of 196.485, the Tigers took little time off and have been working hard to improve their fitness and gym skills.
“In fall practice this year, we’ve been dedicated to all the work we do,” said junior Jade Jenkins. “Everything that we do we do for a purpose. We have a goal in mind. We want to make a statement at nationals.”
There are three new Tigers on the roster this year and coach D-D Breaux said she expects significant contributions from the incoming class.
“As a group of three, the whole infrastructure of the team is not centered around them like it was with the six freshmen last year,” Breaux said. “They are contributing to a really strong infrastructure. Their contribution will be significant in the level of difficulty and depth of this team.”
Freshman Kelly Phelan, an Orlando, Fla. native, said she is happy to be at LSU and she is anticipating the upcoming season.
“So far it has been good,” Phelan said. “It is easy to fit in. It is like a second family. I’m looking forward to competition and hoping to do well.”
Nicole Butler of Virginia Beach, Va. and Las Vegas native Lisa Rennie are the other two members of the incoming class.
Senior Annie Gagnon said the freshman class has already impressed her.
“I’m very impressed,” Gagnon said. “They’re leaders already. They work hard and are consistent even though they are freshmen.”
Sophomore Terin Martinjak was one of the six highly touted freshmen on last year’s team. She said she expects more from the Tigers this season.
“We’ve been working really hard,” Martinjak said. “The team has come together so much more than last year. We’re all really excited about next year. The three freshmen are great. They adjusted really well and fit in wonderful with the team. The six sophomores coming back are all ready to go. I can’t wait.”
Last year’s Southeastern Conference freshman of the year, April Burkholder, said she believes the Tigers are on pace to eclipse last season’s performance.
“I feel like it is going really well,” Burkholder said. “We’re a lot stronger and more prepared than we were at this time last year.”
Breaux said this has been the best fall training since she has been at LSU and credited it to maturity, high expectations and team pride.
“They came in more prepared for this to be difficult and demanding,” Breaux said. “The new strength coach, Jeff Tillman, has demanded a higher level of intensity. You will pretty much get what you demand. That has been a real asset. Everybody is feeling a greater sense of pride of being apart of LSU and what is going on here. That makes it a whole lot better.”
Junior Katherine Hilton said LSU began fall practice attempting to learn new skills and routines, but now they are beginning to finalize their routines.
“Around this time you decide whether you are going to keep those new skills or just perfect the ones you already have,” Hilton said.
The team practices works on their routines throughout the week and the coaches use Fridays as a day to evaluate performance.
“We train really hard during the week and Friday being the day where you get a really short warm up and have to perform,” Breaux said.
The Tigers’ season does not begin until Jan. 9 at Michigan State, but they will be holding two intra-squad meets, one Nov. 25 and the other Dec. 5.
“December 5 is the date we are targeting to be at our first little peak,” Breaux said.