The LSU gymnastics team opened up the 2003 season by traveling to the Bahamas and winning the Bahamas Breeze Invitational. LSU sophomore gymnast Jade Jenkins debuted as an all-around performer and took home the all-around title scoring 39.175.
“I was not surprised when she won the all-around,” said head coach D-D Breaux. “It was just an indicator that hard work does pay off.”
Jenkins said this was the most memorable thing to happen to her so far in her young LSU career.
“It was a really special moment to get to compete in the all-around and know that my team and coaches had that much faith in me to put me in on all four events, and to come out winning the all-around my first time was even better,” Jenkins said.
During her freshman year, Jenkins started off not competing, but she eventually worked her way into the lineup for one event. Some of her problems as a freshman were due to failing to workout the summer prior to coming to LSU.
“She took some bad advice from a girl on Alabama’s team,” Breaux said. “I don’t know if it was an attempt to sabotage us or just give us bad advice because it really cost Jade a year.”
Junior Lindsay Beddow also did not workout the summer before she came to LSU and went through a similar experience.
“It was almost exactly what I went through,” Beddow said.
Both had to work hard their freshman year to get into competition shape and faced much criticism from coaches, Beddow said.
“I was behind, and it was kind of discouraging. I felt like I wasn’t as good as everyone else,” Jenkins said.
Beyond trying to catch up with her teammates and get into good gymnastics form, Jenkins had to adjust to college life.
“I felt like their were so many obstacles,” she said. “There were so many different demands than high school gymnastics.”
Many of Jenkins teammates saw her as a shy girl who hardly talked much of her freshman year.
“We didn’t start to get to know her until midway through her freshman year,” said junior Chelsea Richard.
During the summer Jenkins stayed in Baton Rouge to train with some of her teammates.
“I chose to stay the summer after my freshman year and workout because I felt like I needed to catch up with everyone else,” Jenkins said.
Richard also stayed for the summer, and she said she noticed a difference in Jenkins’ personality and skill throughout the summer training.
“She’s a totally different person,” Richard said.
Jenkins felt her summer training paid off and said she is continuing to reap the benefits of it.
“I worked hard and got in better shape,” Jenkins said. “It paid off this year.”
Although Jenkins had been a member of the team for more than a year, she said she really did not feel a part of the team until the meet in the Bahamas.
“I finally felt like I belonged on the team,” Jenkins said. “I was happy that my scores could count toward the team.”
Jenkins is now a regular performer for LSU. She always competes in at least two events per meet. With seven freshman on the team, she also is expected to be a leader.
“It’s more pressure at times this year than there was last year because there is more expected of me,” Jenkins said.
Breaux believes Jenkins, a 2002 Academic All-American, has stepped up and leads the team academically and in the gym.
“She leads by example,” Breaux said. “She works hard and never complains and is very disciplined in her academic work.”
Jenkins’ teammates said she has opened up to them and has become a great personality on the team.
“Jade is really fun to be around,” freshman April Burkholder said.
They also say they love to watch Jenkins perform on the floor in meets because her personality comes through during her routine.
“It’s fun to see her on the floor,” Richard said. “When she’s out there she is having fun and isn’t nervous.”
Jenkins credits her teammates for helping her achieve what she has at LSU.
“My favorite part about LSU is definitely my teammates,” Jenkins said. “I don’t think I would be able to do it without them.”