After a hard-fought regionals win packed with adversity, the Tigers have punched their ticket to Fort Worth for the NCAA Championship. Their overall score of a 197.500 was the highest in the Baton Rouge regional followed closely with a 197.250 from a nationals-bound Utah team. While campus is full of good energy going forward, this characteristically lower score for the Tigers raises a little concern going into regionals, but can LSU finally bring home the trophy with some major contenders out of the race?
At Friday's regional final, there were a bevy of circumstances out of the Tigers control. Sarah Finnegan had come down with the flu and Lexie Priessman's previous shoulder injury flared up. Finnegan competed in only three events for the first time this season and the Tigers pulled an overall score of 197.200, their lowest score since Week 8 in Arkansas. It was just enough, however, and the Tigers would move onto the regional finals on Saturday along with Utah, Auburn, and Minnesota.
Saturday's meet was full of emotions. The PMAC was full of purple and gold for the seniors' true last home meet, but emotions didn't stop anyone. Julianna Cannamella redeemed her senior night with a 9.800 on vault and McKenna Kelley scored a 9.925 in her final floor performance. Flu is strong, but Sarah Finnegan is stronger. She scored an overall 39.600 and received a 10.0 from one judge for her beam performance. The final score was still on the low end for the Tigers, but just enough to come out of the regional on top and send them to nationals for the 30th time in program history.
It's important to note what went down in other regionals this weekend, because some of them threw the gymnastics world quite a curveball. In Athens, Oklahoma came out on top to no one's surprise with a 198.475. Maggie Nicholls scored a 10.0 on bars and Anastasia Webb took the all-around with a 39.675. UGA will also advance with a 198.050, with Cal and Kentucky ending their season on high notes. Ann Arbor saw a 198.075 and two perfect tens from UCLA and a 197.275 from Michigan to send them southbound.
Eyes were on Corvallis this weekend as they hosted four-time national champ Florida as well as Denver, Oregon State, and Boise State. The meet started off rocky for the Gators, being forced to count a fall on beam. Even with season highs on two events, it proved impossible to close the gap. Four individuals will make the trip to Fort Worth, but for the second time ever Florida will not be traveling to nationals. This rose many questions about the new formatting of the NCAA Championship and what it means for these high profile teams. Rather than the top-12 teams automatically going to nationals, they have to fight for their spot. One bad meet changed the course of Florida's season, prompting calls to better cover/promote these regionals. LSU assistant head coach Jay Clark chimed in on Twitter to encourage major outlets like ESPN to expand their gymnastics coverage.
The Tigers have a two week break now to heal up, rest up, and get ready for nationals. Coach Breaux commented after Saturday's meet that she is glad the championship falls on the end of LSU's spring break, allowing the team a week to focus on gymnastics alone without worrying about academics. The break will be crucial for this team to get healthy and solidify a lineup. Having two key players out definitely had an impact at regionals, and getting some Tamiflu for Finnegan and some ice on Priessman's shoulder will get these Tigers performing like they were in New Orleans and a the end of the regular season. Florida's absence will be a major advantage, but these western teams the Tigers have yet to face pose a major challenge. Fans are anxious to have the same judges as teams who have averaged a perfect ten each meet. Nationals will prove if the Sooners are beatable. If LSU can get healthy and stick landings, they will pose a major threat to teams with Olympian-stacked rosters and show the heart they have for this sports
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