The No. 2 LSU gymnastics team’s 2015 season actually began in 2007, when the program began to scout its current seniors: Jessie Jordan from Houston, Texas; Lloimincia Hall from Dallas, Texas; Rheagan Courville from Baton Rouge and Britney Ranzy from Chesapeake, Virginia.
Assistant coach Jay Clark has been a part at LSU for three years and didn’t take part in the formation of this year’s squad. But he currently holds the program to a high standard during his turn as recruiting coordinator.
“Our recruiting process is pretty long and extensive,” Clark said. “We start looking at them around eighth grade. At this point, it has gotten progressively younger and younger over the last several years.”
Clark believes the program must be grounded in a high level of experience and exposure which could begin prematurely for certain gymnasts.
The former Georgia head coach stays very busy with a giant field of performers to examine, looking across the map for the next great star.
“We are watching invitationals,” Clark said. “[I am] going out on the road and pulling scores off of the Internet. I have a lot of coaches who are at these events to keep in contact and tip me off to these [prospects].”
The Tigers experienced sustained success in recent years, giving the program the chances to explore possibilities with each performer.
Their selection varies in comparison to most collegiate programs because the team must assess what pieces it needs add to become a successful and cohesive unit.
“It’s like putting a puzzle together,” Clark said. “There isn’t one specific style or one thing that we look for. We are looking for overall balance. We are looking for the best all-arounders that we can find. But after that, it is about identifying where your strengths and weaknesses are, trying to fill those gaps.”
Clark and other coaches plan out events to attend throughout the year as part of the “puzzle piecing” process for potential gymnasts. He said the Tiger coaches attend the Junior Olympic National Championships every year and the U.S. Elite National Championships.
The Tigers must assemble a team from all regions of the nation who compete against each other on nationally-recognized championship stages.
LSU has only four gymnasts on its roster from its home state.
“We have to recruit nationally,” Clark said. “Actually, it is unusual for any team in the South to have this many in their home state. In general, with the exception to Florida and North Carolina, the Southeast does not produce high level gymnastic talent. That can always change.”
The Tigers execute a large portion of their recruiting in Texas, California, Ohio, Michigan and Indiana.
Coaches believe it’s much easier to stay inside the U.S. to find the kind of talent the program needs. However, the Tigers’ current lineup has two international gymnasts, and recruiting can be a complicated process.
“There is a lot more ‘red tape’ and bureaucratic stuff we have to do when you recruit internationally,” Clark said. “We have two now that are from out of the country in [sophomore] Shae [Zamardi] and [junior] Jessica [Savona]. Those types have to be in a pretty special talent.” 
Clark’s recruiting operation is a never-ending cycle of watching and monitoring the progression of gymnasts throughout the globe. Never having an off day is just a requirement in finding the best performers in the country.
“So, we will finish a competition Friday night, and we are on an airplane early Saturday morning,” Clark said. “This happens throughout the season.
Every Tuesday or Wednesday through the fall, I was in a gym watching kids train. And whenever our day off from training during the season is, I am usually out somewhere, watching.”
You can reach Christian Boutwell on Twitter @CBoutwell_TDR.