No. 2 LSU gymnastics is bouncing back into Baton Rouge with twice the amount of action this weekend, literally.
While the Tigers are preparing to take the stage in the PMAC against No. 3 Alabama Friday night, they’re continuing the competition Sunday afternoon as they roll about three miles north of LSU’s campus to the Raising Cane’s River Center for a podium challenge.
For newfound gymnastics fans, there might be some questions in the air when it comes to the two events. For example, what are the differences between a podium challenge and a standard collegiate meet, and more importantly, are both events worth attending?
Well, podium challenges often mimic postseason competitions when it comes to college gymnastics.
A typical postseason meet hosts four teams, and as each team competes during their respective rotations, they compete on elevated platforms, or podiums, allowing for a different feeling when it comes to a gymnast utilizing their equipment.
“It’s a little more forgiving than being on top of a basketball floor, or in some cases, like when we go to Florida, equipment’s on concrete, so it has a different feel,” head coach Jay Clark said. “For some kids, it can take adjustment, but in general, they like it because it’s just a little bouncier and a little more forgiving surface to land on.”
The River Center Podium Challenge will not only recreate this style competition in terms of equipment but also in terms of teams, given that LSU will face off against Alabama, No. 27 Arizona and No. 17 North Carolina in a quad-style meet.
Considering the NCAA Regional rounds are hosted within two days of each other, this back-to-back competition almost serves as a practice round when it comes to competing with a quick turnaround.
The privilege to compete in a podium challenge before the postseason — and the privilege to host it in the Tigers’ hometown — is not lost on this team as it hopes its fans are just as excited for this Sunday as it is.
“I love podium so much,” all-around sophomore Lexi Zeiss said. “The equipment’s a little bit softer, and it’s what we’re going to do on nationals, so it’s nice for people to get a good feel of it now. It’s nice we can do it somewhat close to where we are and sleep in our own beds the night before, but also get the feeling of an away meet. So it’s the best of both worlds.”
Following Zeiss’ praise for the style of competition, Clark also added that while there’s already an estimation of over 13,000 sales for attendance to Friday night’s matchup, he hopes that Tiger fans’ support will carry over to Sunday afternoon.
“I hope that doesn’t mean people just say, ‘Eh, won’t go down to the River Center,’” Clark said. “I want some people to get down there. I don’t want to compete in front of nobody on Sunday.”
In addition to the team’s high hopes for a Tiger turnout in downtown Baton Rouge, the regular college gymnastics season is coming to a close faster than fans realize, seeing that LSU is set to host only one more home meet after this weekend.
LSU will travel to Gainesville, Florida, to face No. 4 Florida next Sunday before returning to the PMAC for its final home meet on March 13.
While LSU is also set to host the NCAA Regional level competition from April 1-4, that doesn’t guarantee Tiger fans the chance to see their team in action, given that anything can happen in what Clark refers to as the “meat grinder” that is regionals.
So if you’re looking to get an in-person preview of what the postseason competition format will look like before April, and want to catch the Tigers in action twice this weekend, you may agree with Clark’s idea of a perfect Sunday.
“Go to church, get some lunch, come for a meet, take kids home, get them fed and get them in bed,” Clark said. “That’s the way your Sunday needs to look, and come down and get with us in the River Center on Sunday.”
