When LSU coach D-D Breaux took over the Tigers’ gymnastics program, Gerald Ford was president of the United States.
Five presidents and 30 years later, Breaux has established LSU as one of the most successful gymnastics programs in the Southeastern Conference.
Two meets into her 30th season, Breaux said she is pleased with how No. 14-ranked LSU has progressed coming into Friday night’s meet against the University of Illinois at 7 p.m. in the PMAC.
“I think we are right where we need to be right now,” she said. “We are certainly where we expect to be.”
Junior gymnast Ashleigh Clare-Kearney is trying to build on her performance against the University of Iowa on Friday, which made her this week’s SEC Gymnast of the Week.
Clare-Kearney did not post a score lower than 9.775 in any event against Iowa, winning the meet’s all-around competition. She also placed No. 1 in the beam, with a 9.850.
Clare-Kearney missed all of last season after breaking her foot performing in the first meet of the season.
Senior gymnast Kelly Phelan said she is proud of how hard Clare-Kearney worked to get prepared for this season.
“I’m certainly very happy for her,” Phelan said. “After seeing how hard she has worked to get here, and how tough it was for her to miss [last season], she is very deserving of everything she receives.”
Clare-Kearney said she never doubted she would return to top-form.
“It was difficult, and sometimes I had a negative attitude about the injury,” she said. “But, I always believed in myself that I could get back and be 100 percent.”
Phelan has also been a big part of LSU’s early success, placing No. 2 in the all-around behind Clare-Kearney against Iowa.
Phelan is one of only three seniors on this year’s team, but she said she embraces being a team leader.
“I love that role,” she said. “I remember when I was a freshman how much I appreciated having people help me, so I want to be able to help some of the younger girls.”
This season the flu bug has been a problem for the Tigers, sweeping through several of the LSU gymnasts.
Breaux said the team is still dealing with the sicknesses.
“We’re still not over that,” she said. “It’s somewhat better, but some of the girls have regressed with it and some have progressed with it.”
Illinois comes to the meet following a loss against the University of Missouri.
Breaux and Phelan admitted they do not know much about the Missouri team, but Breaux said her concern is with how her team performs.
“It’s not like I have to execute a defense,” she said. “Ultimately the outcome will be decided by how well we perform compared to how well they perform.”
—–Contact Casey Gisclair at [email protected]