NCAA Preseason Training Updates: LSU
NCAA Preseason Training Updates: LSU
NCAA preseason is underway, and teams are now several weeks into their practice sessions. Check out our thoughts on the LSU Tigers.
NCAA preseason is underway, and teams are now several weeks into their practice sessions. In the absence of any meets, fans can catch a glimpse of their favorite teams through social media clips to get an idea of what they're working on.
After scanning the early work of some of the top DI teams, we are providing some thoughts on what skills are being trained and what we might expect from who will be competing on each event once season starts. Keep in mind, this is just conjecture based on what we have seen and lots of things can change between now and January. For now, check out our thoughts below on the LSU Tigers.
In recent Facebook Live videos, both LSU head coach D-D Breaux and associate coach Jay Clark have mentioned that Lexie Priessman is training in the all-around for this upcoming season. On October 10, Clark said the Tigers are currently on target to see Priessman in the all-around position. Last season, Priessman competed on bars only due to injury.
In terms of skills, we know Priessman is training the Yurchenko double full on vault. Clark even said in the Facebook Live video that Priessman is actually more controlled in her doubles than she is with her fulls, due to the huge power she brings to her gymnastics. On floor, she has been training a full-in, double pike, and double tuck. Check out the full interview with Priessman and Clark from Facebook Live:
Video via LSU Gymnastics
Even More 10.0 Vaults
LSU will potentially have two gymnasts competing Yurchenko double fulls in its lineup this year (Priessman and Ashleigh Gnat), and it doesn't stop there. Senior Sydney Ewing competes the Yurchenko 1 1/2. Myia Hambrick, who competed the Yurchenko full last year, is now training the Yurchenko 1 1/2 as well (though she showed the Yurchenko full at their recent intrasquad). Joining her is freshman Kennedi Edney, who is also training the 1 1/2. This means the Tigers, who were already quite strong on vault, could end up having at least five gymnasts in their lineup with 10.0 vaults.
With the departures of Jessica Savona and Randii Wyrick, LSU has the most gaps to fill in its floor lineup. The most likely scenario will see the return of Gnat, Hambrick, Ewing, and McKenna Kelley in the floor lineup. We know that Priessman could be a potential addition to that lineup, as could a number of others. Senior Shae Zamardi competed floor three times in the early part of last season, so it's possible we could see her back on this event. Similarly, Sarah Finnegan also competed floor three times last year. On the first day of practice, she was training a double layout and double pike on soft mats. There is also Erin Macadaeg, who only competed floor once last season, but scored a 9.95 on that routine.
Then there are the freshmen. Edney is the most likely candidate for a potential spot in the floor lineup. Breaux has already mentioned her big tumbling in a recent Facebook Live video, and she was training a double layout and double Arabian during the first practice.
On bars, the Tigers could see a few new faces in the lineup. Of the returning gymnasts, we know Kelley is currently training a full twisting Tkatchev as her release move. There are also two freshmen who might contribute on this event: Edney and Ruby Harrold. Edney displays lots of power in her bar work, and she's capable of performing a Hindorff for her release move. Harrold, an Olympian from Great Britain, is known for her unique and difficult skills on bars, and she'll almost certainly be a part of the lineup this year.
LSU is in a unique position on beam this year, because the Tigers actually haven't lost anyone from their primary lineup. The lineup from Super Six was Ewing, Finnegan, Gnat, Macadaeg, Hambrick, and Julianna Cannamela, all of whom are back this year. So, the team has a lot to play with on this event. Priessman is training beam this year, and we saw from the recent intrasquad footage that freshmen Edney and Harrold are as well. Lauren Li, a transfer from Penn State, is back this year after being sidelined last season with a foot injury, but she's capable of scoring high on beam. Freshman Ashlyn Kirby is also expected to contribute on beam at some point, although she is currently recovering from an injury she suffered at the end of her JO season.
Stay tuned as we continue to recap NCAA preseason activity over the coming weeks!
Related:
Highlights: LSU Gymnastics Rocks Early October Intrasquad
LSU Tigers Add International Talent for 2016-17
NCAA Preseason Madness: Florida, UCLA, Ohio State, Alabama, Utah, LSU!
After scanning the early work of some of the top DI teams, we are providing some thoughts on what skills are being trained and what we might expect from who will be competing on each event once season starts. Keep in mind, this is just conjecture based on what we have seen and lots of things can change between now and January. For now, check out our thoughts below on the LSU Tigers.
Priessman's Potential on All Four Events
In recent Facebook Live videos, both LSU head coach D-D Breaux and associate coach Jay Clark have mentioned that Lexie Priessman is training in the all-around for this upcoming season. On October 10, Clark said the Tigers are currently on target to see Priessman in the all-around position. Last season, Priessman competed on bars only due to injury.
In terms of skills, we know Priessman is training the Yurchenko double full on vault. Clark even said in the Facebook Live video that Priessman is actually more controlled in her doubles than she is with her fulls, due to the huge power she brings to her gymnastics. On floor, she has been training a full-in, double pike, and double tuck. Check out the full interview with Priessman and Clark from Facebook Live:
Video via LSU Gymnastics
Even More 10.0 Vaults
LSU will potentially have two gymnasts competing Yurchenko double fulls in its lineup this year (Priessman and Ashleigh Gnat), and it doesn't stop there. Senior Sydney Ewing competes the Yurchenko 1 1/2. Myia Hambrick, who competed the Yurchenko full last year, is now training the Yurchenko 1 1/2 as well (though she showed the Yurchenko full at their recent intrasquad). Joining her is freshman Kennedi Edney, who is also training the 1 1/2. This means the Tigers, who were already quite strong on vault, could end up having at least five gymnasts in their lineup with 10.0 vaults.
Filling the Gaps on Floor
With the departures of Jessica Savona and Randii Wyrick, LSU has the most gaps to fill in its floor lineup. The most likely scenario will see the return of Gnat, Hambrick, Ewing, and McKenna Kelley in the floor lineup. We know that Priessman could be a potential addition to that lineup, as could a number of others. Senior Shae Zamardi competed floor three times in the early part of last season, so it's possible we could see her back on this event. Similarly, Sarah Finnegan also competed floor three times last year. On the first day of practice, she was training a double layout and double pike on soft mats. There is also Erin Macadaeg, who only competed floor once last season, but scored a 9.95 on that routine.
Then there are the freshmen. Edney is the most likely candidate for a potential spot in the floor lineup. Breaux has already mentioned her big tumbling in a recent Facebook Live video, and she was training a double layout and double Arabian during the first practice.
Newbies on Bars
On bars, the Tigers could see a few new faces in the lineup. Of the returning gymnasts, we know Kelley is currently training a full twisting Tkatchev as her release move. There are also two freshmen who might contribute on this event: Edney and Ruby Harrold. Edney displays lots of power in her bar work, and she's capable of performing a Hindorff for her release move. Harrold, an Olympian from Great Britain, is known for her unique and difficult skills on bars, and she'll almost certainly be a part of the lineup this year.
Too Many Beamers to Count
LSU is in a unique position on beam this year, because the Tigers actually haven't lost anyone from their primary lineup. The lineup from Super Six was Ewing, Finnegan, Gnat, Macadaeg, Hambrick, and Julianna Cannamela, all of whom are back this year. So, the team has a lot to play with on this event. Priessman is training beam this year, and we saw from the recent intrasquad footage that freshmen Edney and Harrold are as well. Lauren Li, a transfer from Penn State, is back this year after being sidelined last season with a foot injury, but she's capable of scoring high on beam. Freshman Ashlyn Kirby is also expected to contribute on beam at some point, although she is currently recovering from an injury she suffered at the end of her JO season.
Stay tuned as we continue to recap NCAA preseason activity over the coming weeks!
Related:
Highlights: LSU Gymnastics Rocks Early October Intrasquad
LSU Tigers Add International Talent for 2016-17
NCAA Preseason Madness: Florida, UCLA, Ohio State, Alabama, Utah, LSU!