After an impressive performance on Friday at the Pete Maravich Center, where the No. 2 LSU Gymnastics had their highest score of the year (198.325), head coach Jay Clark spoke to the media as they prepared for their toughest matchup of the regular season, in Norman, where they will face the No. 1 Sooners on Friday night.
“Our performance on Friday night was the most complete that we’ve had. This is the right time of the year where you want to… if you have to, a kind of turning. It’s only a turning point if we continue to move forward,” said Coach Clark.
The reigning national champions, the Oklahoma Sooners, have proved to be the toughest matchup in the sport, as they have won four out of the last six NCAA Championship. Coach Jay Clark understands that LSU is the contender when the Tigers are looking to regain the crown.
“We certainly know who Oklahoma is and we have the utmost respect for them. I mean, they are the gold standard, right? They are the dynasty. It’s exciting. You know you come to a place like LSU, hopefully so you can contend with teams like that.”
Gymnastics is different to other sports, as a team could lose every single meet and still be ranked No. 1. Coach Clark understands that at the end of the day every single meet is a preparation for the SEC and NCAA Championships.
“These meets are fun but they are all, whether it’s here in the PMAC or the Sprouts or all of them are just dress rehearsals. All of them are things that we’re, hopefully, as I mentioned, setting our floor higher and higher as we prepare for what ultimately will determine, you know, who becomes a champion at some point.”
Haleigh Bryant joined the coaching staff a couple of months after retiring. Coach Clark explained how important she has been for the gymnasts.
“I know that whatever she is advising on is consistent with everything that she lived and believed as an athlete and bought into that we shared during her time as an athlete. It’s been a wonderful complimentary addition to our staff and in many ways bridges the gap between the old guy who’s in charge and the young people that, you know, sometimes I’m not always speaking their language, you know, and she has been able to do that.”
The No. 2 LSU Tigers and the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners will compete on Friday, in Norman, Oklahoma, at 8:00 p.m., and you can watch them on ESPN2.
