Tigers look to bounce back
It’s nice to be back home.
The reigning SEC and national champion #3 LSU gymnastics team returns home for a crucial SEC match. Tonight, they host #9 Missouri in a meet that is all about resetting from last week. The meet will be on SECN at 7:30 with John Roethlisberger and SEC legend Anastasia Webb (former Oklahoma gymnast) on the call and Taylor Davis on the floor. Doors open at 6:00 and fans arriving early will receive a t-shirt (according to their social media accounts). First vault is scheduled for 7:35.
Matchup history with Missouri
LSU is 49-10 all-time against Missouri in all competitions and is 17-0 at home. The last time these two teams met on the same floor was in their 2024 regular season clash at the Hearnes Center in Columbia, one which LSU lost 197.325-197.225.
About #9 Missouri
Mizzou is coming off a decent season, but one that wasn’t up to their hopes. They finished fifth at SECs and 11th overall. The Tigers were one rotation away from keeping Utah from nationals for the first time in history, but they came up just short in the Gainesville Regional Final.
The Tigers lost nine NQS routines and an NQS in the all-around. The biggest loss was Sienna Schreiber’s AA contributions. They added 10 NQS routines and two NQS AA in the transfer portal, but a season-ending injury to San Jose State transfer Lauren Macpherson knocks out four of those and the one all-arounder. They retained SEC bars co-champ Mara Titarsolej and Kyra Burns, and they added two-time SEC Specialist of the Week and owner of the first 10 of the NCAA season Helen Hu, a beam specialist.
Beyond the people I mentioned, the stars to look out for are top-10 rated freshman Olivia Kelly, star all-arounder Amari Celestine and 2024 SEC specialist of the year Jocelyn Moore. I must be honest, I’ve interviewed the last two (Amari in 2024 and Jocelyn a couple weeks ago). Their floor routines are absolute treats.
The Tigers enter 6-2 overall and 1-1 in SEC play. Their last meet was a 197.200-196.800 win over Kentucky on Sunday, January 26th, one in which they never trailed. They enter ranked #14 on vault [49.113], #9 on bars [49.219], #14 on beam [49.069] and #5 on floor [49.294]. Mizzou is led by head coach Shannon Welker in his 12th season with the program. He is assisted by assistant coach Whitney Snowden in her third season, assistant coach Lacey Rubin in her second season and assistant coach Jackie Terpak in her second season.
About #3 LSU
(recap of Monday’s press conference)
LSU is ranked #2 on vault [49.375], #3 on bars [49.344], #7 on beam [49.244] and #4 on floor [49.313].
Haleigh Bryant might be back on vault tonight. KJ Johnson is looking to be a lock to be back ready on vault, but we’ll have to wait and see. There’s also a chance Kaliya Lincoln upgrades her vault by a half twist to a Yurchenko Double Full, the same vault Kiya Johnson did during her five years. There is also a chance she makes her collegiate floor debut.
Other than that, expect to see a similar lineup to the usual. I can’t say what’s going to happen because it’s on them to practice well and translate it to the floor.