If collegiate gymnastics is a game of perception, then No. 1 LSU is winning.
Associate head coach Jay Clark introduced the concept of the game of perception last season when the coaching staff met to discuss the team’s philosophy. With only five schools having ever claimed a national championship, the Tigers (7-3, 3-2 Southeastern Conference) sought to place themselves in the conversation among elite squads.
LSU’s midseason résumé has done just that, with a slew of high road scores pushing the Tigers to a No. 1 ranking for the first time since 2005. Now that LSU has made its presence felt across the country, it must maintain its image against Missouri at 7 p.m. tonight in the PMAC.
“In a sport that is so subjective, it’s important that you start quickly and be very consistent,” Clark said. “That’s how you win the battle of perception, not just in the eyes of the fans or the judges but even in your own minds. We had to shake off any apprehension about saying what it was that we want to accomplish and be able to clearly state that we want to go after a championship.”
Missouri (6-4, 0-3 SEC) is the first non-ranked opponent to meet LSU in a dual-meet since the Tigers’ season-opening victory against Centenary on Jan. 10. LSU’s 197.470 regional qualifying score is almost three points better than Missouri’s, but senior all-arounder Sarie Morrison doesn’t expect a weaker opponent to cause a lapse in focus.
“We might have more of an edge and focus because we are No. 1 right now, and this team has never done that,” Morrison said. “It’s giving us this extra boost of energy with the hype from all the fans. We know now that we’re the best in the country.”
Tonight’s meet marks the end of an arduous month-long road stretch for the Tigers, during which they competed at No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 3 Florida.
Two days after blowing past No. 13 Arkansas, LSU decisively defeated the Sooners, 197.650-197.325. The Tigers scored a school record 197.875 team score just six days later at the Metroplex Challenge despite finishing second in the four-team field.
LSU lost to the Gators by half a point to close its road swing, but the time away from home allowed the Tigers to gain valuable experience and grow closer as a team.
“We know we’ve been sticking to our process and doing what we’re supposed to be doing,” said junior all-arounder Rheagan Courville, the No. 1 gymnast in the nation. “It’s great to see it all come together because it’s a momentum you get when you see you’re hard work is paying off.”
Though LSU proved its worth away from Baton Rouge, the road took a physical toll on the squad.
Junior all-arounder Jessie Jordan, the No. 1 beam performer in the country, battled a sore back for the past few weeks, and an aggravated Achilles’ tendon injury kept junior all-arounder Britney Ranzy out of the vault lineup against Florida, according to LSU coach D-D Breaux.
Clark called the battle of perception an ongoing process, and taking down Missouri is the next step for the Tigers. With a relatively easy slate for the three weeks leading up to the SEC Championship, LSU is aiming to tip the scale of perception even further in its favor.
“The consistency and the high level of difficulty throughout the season is what has put us here,” Breaux said. “What we need to do now is eliminate the small deductions and the things keeping us from a 198. That’s an achievable, attainable score for us, and that’ll be our goal for the next three weeks.”
“We know now that we’re the best in the country.”