When the LSU gymnastics squad finally competes for a 2012 national championship berth, it will do so against a familiar foe in a familiar location.
The No. 9 Tigers drew the No. 2 seed for the Seattle Regional on April 7, when they will meet first-seeded Alabama, who is ranked No. 4. The top two teams at each of the six regional meets receive an automatic bid to the national championship.
LSU previously clashed twice with Alabama this season. The Tigers fell, 197.025-196.575, to the Crimson Tide in a dual meet at the PMAC on Feb. 24 and placed fourth at the SEC Championship on Friday, while the Tide finished third.
This season, the squad has also faced Iowa, Arizona and Washington, all of whom will be in attendance in Seattle, but LSU assistant coach Philip Ogletree said the team has its sights set on the conference rival.
“The first and second seeds usually in the past have gone on to nationals,” Ogletree said. “We have a lot of confidence going in. Going against ‘Bama is something we’re familiar with. It’ll be the third time this year, and hopefully we’ll see them at nationals as well.”
LSU was successful in its last trip to Alaska Airlines Arena in Seattle, where the squad won a tri-meet against Washington and Seattle
Pacific with a score of 196.450. Ogletree said that while the initial 2,500-mile trip was taxing, the team would be prepared the second go-round.
Freshman Lloimincia Hall said the team would be at an advantage because they are familiar with everything from the equipment down to the mat’s color scheme, which LSU shares with host school Washington.
“We know what to expect going there,” said senior Ashley Lee. “We had a good meet in Washington, so I think this is a great regional for us. I don’t want to go and make it to nationals, I want to go and win. It’s exciting.”
Lee joined Hall and two other LSU freshmen, Rheagan Courville and Jessie Jordan, on the All-SEC team after Saturday’s conference meet. Youth has carried the Tigers throughout the regular season, and Ogletree said postseason inexperience will not be a factor after the tough SEC meet.
“SEC is the toughest meet of the year, tougher than nationals,” Ogletree said. “It’s longer, and you already have five of the top 10 teams there, so I think that meet right there prepares you for postseason
competition.”
 
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Contact Alex Cassara at [email protected]