High expectations are inevitable for a team ranked No. 12 in the preseason just one year after going winless in the Southeastern Conference.
The LSU gymnastics team’s newcomers generated most of the buzz last season, as then-freshman Sarie Morrison led the Tigers with an all-around average of 38.88 and then-freshman Maliah Mathis led the team with a 9.81 average on floor last year.
Morrison and Mathis were expected to headline the group of LSU gymnasts in 2012. But injuries to Morrison, Mathis, sophomore Kaleigh Dickson and junior Shelby Prunty early this season have forced a trio of freshmen to compete immediately.
The hiatus has allowed many of the injured veteran gymnasts to become leaders for the budding group of newcomers.
“Coach always says when you lose, you learn, and when you win, you teach,” Prunty said. “Last year…was a learning year, because we definitely didn’t have the greatest season. Going into this season we just had that much more motivation to win and to teach instead of to learn.”
Freshmen Lloimincia Hall, Jessie Jordan and Rheagan Courville finished first, second and third, respectively, in the all-around competition in LSU’s home-opening victory against Auburn.
Hall is ranked No. 13 nationally on floor with a 9.875 average, while Courville is ranked No. 10 on vault with a 9.90 average after two meets.
“I’m so happy that [the freshmen] are strong and they’re able to come from strong backgrounds where they’re used to this kind of pressure of big meets,” Dickson said. “They’ve been able to come to me and ask me questions, so I feel like I’ve been able to help them.”
Dickson, who held LSU’s third highest average on floor and in all-around last season, said it’s essential for the experienced group of sophomores to be able to guide LSU’s new gymnasts who have been thrust into action.
LSU coach D-D Breaux said she can tell the year of competition has bred maturity in the sophomores.
“We preach to them about staying in the process, about coming to practice and growing each week,” Breaux said. “They’re a little bit dinged up right now, but at the same time we need them to be calm. We need them to be focused.”
Due to their respective injuries, Morrison, Prunty and Mathis were limited to one event each, and Dickson didn’t compete against Auburn.
Breaux said Prunty, who has a wrist injury, has practiced on floor and bars this week, and Breaux expects Dickson, suffering a foot injury, to return to the lineup Friday against Arkansas.
She said injuries are part of the sport and the gymnasts have done well staying mentally tough through the ailments.
“The conversations and the dialogue and the support mechanisms we’ve got in place is helping the kids move toward being tougher,” Breaux said.
 
Contact Rowan Kavner at [email protected].