The No. 4 LSU gymnastics team will compete for the NCAA title at the Fort Worth Convention Center in Fort Worth, Texas, this weekend, and it will be exceptionally meaningful for seniors Jessie Jordan and Lloimincia Hall. They have a chance to compete at home for the last gymnastics competition of their careers.
Jordan grew up in Houston, but moved to Dallas — a hotspot for gymnastics in Texas — for almost two years to further her gymnastics career. She said Dallas is a special place because it helped her fall back in love with the sport when constant traveling began to take the fun out of it.
“I love Dallas,” Jordan said. “In my eyes, a part of my family lives in Dallas because I met so many special people and a lot of girls that will be life-long friends. I’m excited to go back and excited for my family to be able to travel there so easily.”
For Hall, a Dallas native, it’s the city that made her who she is today. Hall forged countless meaningful relationships in each of the four gyms she trained at during her club career.
She said her signature gymnastics style is a result of learning something new from each gym and incorporating it into who she is as a person and a gymnast.
“They are excited,” said LSU gymnastics coach D-D Breaux. “I don’t think a moment goes by that [Hall] doesn’t think about the fact that she’s going home.”
Jordan said she and Hall have an added advantage going into the semifinal meet because they have each competed at the Fort Worth Convention Center more than a dozen times.
The duo didn’t have the opportunity to stay in Texas for college because there are no Division I gymnastics teams in the state. Hall said she became emotional when she learned she would be returning home for her last college meet because it has always been her dream.
“When that happened last year I got very emotional, because there are Texas girls on just about every [Southeastern Conference] team, so for us to end our career in Texas is just wonderful to me,” Hall said. “It’s something that I dreamed of when I was a little girl. We all dream of being able to end our career at home.”
“For my family members, it’s bittersweet to be able to see that’s where I began and that’s where I shall end.”
Hall said she expects family and friends to show up in large numbers this weekend. Meanwhile, Jordan’s family is making the trip from Houston to the heart of Texas.
Breaux said she expects both families will meet a wave of purple and gold cheering on the Tigers to a chance at their first national championship.
“I know we have a big crowd coming out and a ton of LSU fans so it’s going to be an exciting meet for us and a little bit of a home team advantage,” Jordan said.
You can reach Jacob Hamilton on Twitter @jhamilton_TDR.