“Starting to Hurt”: LSU Gymnastics Star Makes Honest Confession on NCAA Postseason Struggles Shortly After Defending SEC Championship

1981, checked. 2017, checked.  2018, checked. 2019, checked.  What followed after that? The LSU Tigers’ hat trick run at SEC champions had a 4-year break. But they were back at it with the 2024. And what about 2025? Well, they came back again and with a bang! March 23, 2025, when the freshmen of the LSU women’s gymnastics team lived their dream, the seniors had the best goodbye they could’ve had, as the team made sure the SEC trophy did not leave Baton Rouge. We might witness history being recreated if they win it next year as well, but before that, there is something that scares the 6-time SEC champions. Shocking but true! But what’s that?

Sierra Ballard made it to LSU TV this Monday, March 24, 2025. The LSU gymnast was asked about the joy the team carried through their 2025 season, to which the Louisiana native answered, “I think it was just the same thing that we do every week. We’ve been finding joy in the little things, in the gym outside of the gym.” The 2025 SEC champions were not doing anything different other than creating memories and having fun, and that’s their mantra, and it did work out great.

She further said, “Just really working to kind of come together a little bit more in unity as we go into the postseason because we know that the postseason is mentally a lot harder.” The Tigers are focused on becoming more of a team together in the postseason. It starts with three days of competition for NCAA regionals and is fairly tough for the athletes, especially when their bodies start getting tired. And honestly, they must be feeling weary. Given that, the LSU has performed 12 times in total so far!

Ballard said, “…our bodies are getting to that point where they’re starting to hurt and they’re starting to ache, and so the closer that we can be together, then the easier it makes the hard things.”  The NCAA gymnastics postseason is all set to kick off with LSU going up against Arkansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Michigan State, Ohio State, Penn State, and West Virginia in the Pennsylvania Regional division.

The Pennsylvania Regional will, of course, be hosted by the Pennsylvania State University and will happen over the course of four days, starting on April 2 and ending on the 5th.  While most of the teams will look to win the title, LSU will be fighting to defend theirs after the SEC celebration. They will surely be expecting great performances from team greats like Sierra Ballard. Her performance speaks for itself, not just on the mat but off the mat as well!

Hat trick for Sierra Ballard

The sendoff couldn’t have been more beautiful for the LSU Gymnastics graduate student, as she was named to the 2025 SEC Community Service Team for a third straight year. The SEC sponsors Community Service Teams for all 22 league-sponsored sports, which looks to highlight an athlete from each school who gives back to their community in superior service efforts.

The contributions for the 22 years to the Baton Rouge community are next to none. As the president of the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC), the LSU senior participated in and led multiple events at the university. In her 5th and final year, she worked on MLK Day of Service. Here she helped paint basketball courts for kids in the Baton Rouge community. Other than that, she partnered with local boys and girls to make cards for U.S. servicemen.

This partnership also raised money through Shake Shack for the Miracle League of Baton Rouge. Her services for the community have led to her being  a nominee for the inaugural Good Works Team presented by Allstate and the National Association of Collegiate Directors of Athletics (NACDA) for her embodying leadership, service, and character.