Wednesday, December 31, 2008

Meet One: Cancun Classic

Happy New Year and welcome, Tiger fans, to the first edition of Talkin’ 10’s – the official blog for LSU Gymnastics! It’s been my honor to serve as the “Voice of the Tigers” during home meets inside the Maravich Center for the past 12 seasons. I’ve had the additional pleasure of serving as part of the most knowledgeable gymnastics Internet broadcast team for road meets over the past three years. In fact, Tiger fans around the globe should be proud to know that the LSU Athletic Department pioneered streaming audio and video through LSUSports.net. Now, we venture into the blogosphere to keep you up-to-date on the very latest from your nationally renowned LSU Tigers gymnastics team!

Over the next four months, I invite you to check back right here for a weekly inside peek at what you can expect from the Tigers. I promise to keep it quick and informative. I welcome your questions via email (click here) as I will choose one each week to answer right here.

Without further ado, let’s get this season started!

What’s Old Is New Again

As in 2008, the Tigers begin the 2009 season on Friday in Cancun, Mexico, at the Cancun Classic – one of the more prestigious early-season meets anywhere. I believe last year’s team used an extremely positive victory in the Cancun meet as a launching pad for what became a Super Six season. Last year’s freshman group competed like true veterans – nailing routine after routine in Cancun. This not only raised their confidence level, but also took pressure off the small core of capable of leaders who were able to raise their game another notch. Freshmen from a year ago are now sophomores – and will be counted on more than ever to provide depth in each event. More on the upperclassmen in a bit.

Some quick facts on the 2009 LSU Gymnastics Tigers:

• Ten of the 12 Tigers on this year’s squad made the trip to Cancun last year.
• Lost only one senior from a year ago and has only 2 seniors on this year’s team.
• Returning are 3 First Team All-Americans including the NCAA National Vault Champion and the SEC Gymnast of the Year.
• Added one freshman to the ’09 team to compliment 4 sophomores and 5 juniors.
• Begin this campaign ranked 7th nationally.
• All seven of the SEC’s gymnastics teams are ranked in the pre-season Top 25.
• LSU once again has one of the most difficult schedules in the Nation.
• Of the Tigers 11 regular season meets this season, 8 of them will feature teams ranked in the pre-season Top 25 – including 4 in the Top 10.

All Eyes On ACK

Fourth-year junior Ashleigh Clare-Kearney (ACK) leads LSU into the 2009 season as, well, the leader in every sense of the word. She clearly holds the attention and respect of her teammates and why not? She’s only the reigning SEC Co-Gymnast of the Year, SEC All-Around Champion and hit three perfect 10’s last season.

If ACK can find a way to raise her performance to an even higher level to suit an ever-finicky judging corps, she has a legitimate opportunity to end the season as an NCAA champion in more than one event. With her work ethic, concentration and her ability to step up under pressure, I certainly wouldn’t bet against her.

An Unlikely Champion? Don’t Think So.

There are some who were pleasantly surprised that junior Susan Jackson claimed the NCAA Vault title last season. But as the saying goes, those “in the know” saw it coming a mile away. In addition to a tremendous personality, Susan oozes talent – pure and simple. She has the perfect blend of strength, power and finesse in a sport that demands all three. She captivated the audience, and the judges, at Nationals in Athens last April with a one-and-a-half as the second of two required vaults. Wow.

This season, Susan will once again join with ACK in the LSU All-Around lineup to form one of the best one-two (or is it 1A-1B) punches in collegiate gymnastics today.

Injury Report

Only one Tiger is out of competition to begin the season. Sophomore Nicole Lyons had two off-season foot surgeries and continues to wear a cast. An outside shot exists for her to resume workouts by the end of this season. Nikki’s consistent vault and bars scores were a mainstay in both lineups last season and will be missed heading into 2009. Others, including freshman Gloria Johnson, sophomore Sam Engle and senior Lauren Klein will be expected to step up in her absence.

This Friday’s Meet

The Cancun Classic features eight collegiate teams split into two groups of four. LSU is grouped with North Carolina, Boise State and Michigan. (I wonder if Boise’s floor exercise carpet matches its football field?)

Anyhow, this is a nice match-up for the Tigers. Both Michigan and Boise State won their respective conference titles a year ago and return most of their gymnasts. Michigan advanced to the NCAA Championships in Athens, finishing just outside the Super Six in eighth position. North Carolina has never beaten LSU in gymnastics (0-3), but the Tar Heels return 8 letterwinners from a team that advanced to the NCAA gymnastics “tournament” a year ago.

Mike’s Eye On The Tigers

Starting a new season means there will be a lot to watch for on Friday. Here are a few things I will be looking for:

• Do ACK and Susan Jackson pick-up where they left off a season ago? We’ll know by the half-way point of the meet.
• Freshman Gloria Johnson on vault. Can she take some cues from last year’s freshman group that competed so well South of the Border?
• The return of senior Lauren Klein to the lineup. Injuries have plagued her from a year ago, but she may have the most all-around gymnastics talent on the team – one that needs her in the lineup.
• Who helps to round out the vault and bars lineups? It will be interesting to see who steps up.

It should be an exciting season of LSU Gymnastics. I’m thrilled to be along for the ride and look forward to calling all the action from Cancun on Friday beginning at 1:45 p.m. in the Geaux Zone here on LSUSports.net.