For the fourth consecutive week, the No. 8 LSU gymnastics team will leave Baton Rouge, this time taking its longest Southeastern Conference road trip of the season to Columbia, Mo.
LSU leads the all-time series against Missouri 24-6, including the most recent regular-season win in the 2011 Metroplex Challenge. However, this will be its first trip to Columbia since the 1998 season.
“This trip is a hard trip for us,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “Last week to Kentucky, it became a hard trip because of the weather. We hope that the way [this trip is] designed it will run smoothly for us. I’m concerned. I don’t want to get there and my kids are tired.”
It’s been 28 days since the Tigers have competed under the lights of the PMAC, but according to Breaux, the extended road stint was all part of her plan to see better competition.
Breaux intentionally accepted the trip so her team could compete in the Metroplex Challenge in Fort Worth, Texas,, where LSU finished second two weeks ago.
“With all the great gymnasts in Texas and the opportunity to be on such a big stage, it was extremely important to me to do whatever we can to be one of those teams in that competition,” Breaux said. “Oklahoma is kind of the host team and I don’t want Oklahoma to have the limelight of that competition every year.“
LSU junior Sarie Morrison said the long time away can be tiring but the experience prepares the Tigers for their return home and eventual postseason run.
Morrison is currently second on the team in individual titles this season with six, behind only sophomore Rheagan Courville, who has eight.
The middle of the season is tiring enough for collegiate gymnasts but an extended road stint creates a need for a tapered practice schedule to maintain athletes’ health.
“We try to cut the numbers out and do things where they have to compete against each other to be successful,” Breaux said. “We want to create a pressure situation but without the numbers or without having to work as hard. We want to work smarter.”
The Tigers will see at least one familiar face at Missouri when former LSU All-American Jennifer Lyerly steps on the sidelines as an assistant for Mizzou.
