LSU gymnastics last claimed the Southeastern Conference title in 1981, but the Tigers ask to do it again at 5 p.m. on Saturday in Duluth, Georgia, at the Arena at Gwinnett Center.
Last season, LSU returned to Baton Rouge unsatisfied with its performance at the event. The team finished with a score of 197.325 and a third-place finish.
“Last year, we did not come out with the result that we wanted,” said sophomore Ashleigh Gnat. “So that has pushed us a little bit more this year. We really have our eyes set on the prizes. We are excited.”
No. 3 LSU was granted a No. 2 seed for the meet by the SEC league office on Tuesday.
The Tigers will be paired with three of the nation’s top 10 teams — No. 2 Florida, No. 5 Alabama and No. 8 Auburn — in their session. They will also face No. 9 Georgia, which is set in the group performing before LSU.
“Looking into the SECs, there will be four of the very best teams in the nation going head-to-head,” said LSU coach D-D Breaux. “It’s going to be fierce, it’s going to be fast and it’s going to be intense competition. I think we are ready.”
The elite competition doesn’t faze the Tigers because they believe that their superior opponents elevate their performance.
“The competition around us brings out the best in us,” said senior all-arounder Rheagan Courville. “It’s not like we are going to be paying attention to anybody else or paying attention to scores. We are going to be focused on each other, and focused on us.”
Courville, and seniors and all-arounders Jessie Jordan and Lloimincia Hall have set the standard high for their younger counterparts at the SEC meet this season. LSU believes that is something that could give it an edge during the meet.
“I think [we have] positive unselfish leadership,” Breaux said. “Leadership that is focused on the team, which is the most important factor. We have not only some great leaders right now, but we have great first followers. The kids that are willing to pick up the rally cry and say ‘Yeah, you’re right. Lets go,’ that is the team that is going to win the championship.”
The seniors have set a standard of excellence as Hall was named the SEC Specialist of the Week on Tuesday for her floor routine against Centenary. She has now scored consecutive perfect 10s at the event.
Courville and Jordan joined the perfect-10 club in their final home meet, posting the scores on vault. Those scores, along with new school-record team and event scores caused chatter among upcoming opponents.
“We have created a lot of talk from other teams, and I think they are going to be paying attention and watching us because that is something we haven’t had in past years with this team,” Courville said. “I just feel like we are as good as it gets.”
Breaux said her team has something to prove to their opponents, who will be aiming to beat the Tigers because of the team’s perfect record in conference competition.
“It puts a bullseye on us and says ‘Hey, you beat us once but can you beat us twice,’” Breaux said. “That is the hardest thing to do. We have got to say we beat you once, but we are better now. Let’s have a great week of training in preparation for SECs and let’s see who really is the best team.”
You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter
@CBoutwell_TDR.