Are you ready for some gymnastics?! It’s opening night, the atmosphere in the PMAC is already electric, and it promises to be an exciting night.
As LSU prepares to “protect the crown” as the reigning national champion, it is already facing adversity. Haleigh Bryant will likely miss this first meet due to a strained UCL in her elbow while Kylie Coen is out due to a hyperextension of her knee. Bryant’s absence opens the door for freshman Kailin Chio and senior Aleah Finnegan to compete in the all-around. I’ll also be on the lookout to see if KJ Johnson and Alexis Jeffrey re-appear in the lineups; both missed Gymnastics 101, with Johnson’s absence being described as an “internal matter.”
For Iowa State, the goal is to begin 2025 by continuing the momentum it ended 2024 with. The Cyclones went through a rebuilding period with first-year head coach Ashley Miles Greig and made waves with the highest improvement in ranking among teams. Earlier this preseason, she told me the team is determined to prove 2024 was not a fluke. Look for the freshmen to contribute immediately; Haylee Hardin competes the only 10.0 start-value vault for Iowa State, and former Canadian national team member Frédérique Sgarbossa looks likely to compete multiple events after…
