The first game always matters. And if it is against a big name, then the occasion comes with multiple opportunities. One of those is that the players experience the test in the early hours. That’s what happened with the LSU Tigers gymnastics program on January 3. In the scheduled game, the Tigers faced Iowa State’s challenge in its backyard, Baton Rouge. The defending champion had to put a message in the season opener against ISU. So, the mindset was clear. But did the defending champion pass the test? 

It did! In the Maravich Center, the Tigers thwarted Iowa State’s challenge by a scoreline of 197.300-194.100. Additionally, the national champion coach, Jay Clark, utilized the opportunity to test his mentees. Well, they passed with full marks, and that made the coach happy. In the post-duel press conference, the coach claimed, “I felt really good about it. Like, I think in my time here, and my memory is not great, but I think in my time here, it may be the best opening performance we had, top to bottom.” Last season, the LSU Tigers ended the NCAA gymnastics contest, clinching the title. Also, the program was undefeated (6-0) in the home season. After 2018, it was the first time the program marked such an achievement. 

Has Jay Clark forgotten that? Standing in his fifth season at the helm, the coach may not have forgotten those statistics. Yet he kept Friday’s performance at the top. Was there any special reason? Perhaps there is. On Friday, the defending champions took the floor, leaving their key gymnast behind. Yes, Haleigh Bryant, the defending all-around champion, was not there to take up the responsibility. She didn’t grace the mat because of her injury. But among the super seniors, Sierra Ballard, Chase Brock, and Olivia Dunne took charge. 

Sierra Ballard displayed her fireworks on the balance beam and floor exercise. Majorly on the floor exercise, Ballard claimed 9.850. In the reply, Iowa’s Madelyn Manternach amassed 9.675. Subsequently, the difference increased with each turn. Finally, the guests failed to find an exit gate and gave up on the mounting pressure. The game ultimately turned out as the fans wanted. But Jay Clark still had some cautious words. 

In the press conference, the head coach said, “That doesn’t mean it was mistake-free. It just means that they did a great job from an approach and a mindset. They didn’t get distracted by things that could have distracted them. They’re still getting their legs under them in certain spots.” Again, Sierra Ballard’s name may come. On the uneven bars, the fifth-year senior had unsettling errors. Those errors may have kept the coach worried. But he remembers the past occasions when the Tigers’ concerted approach had brought success. So he’s not ready to count the errors. Instead, he said, “There were some nerves and warm-ups that showed. But we went out there and earned a very strong opening score.” Was there something extraordinary in the night? 

Did Jay Clark see that coming? 

Three names set the Friday night on fire for the LSU Tigers. First, the super senior, Olivia Dunne, came on the mat. Donning the ‘white dazzler’ leotard, Jay Clark’s mentee competed against herself. How? Primarily, she entered the balance beam event and bagged 9.825. Later, in the floor exercise, the social media queen scored even bigger, 9.875. Last season, she wasn’t counted in the lineup for the final game. But in the opening game of her last collegiate season, the 22-year-old proved that she is someone irreplaceable. Apart from her, Aleah Finnegan and the freshman Kailin Chio stood up to take the game higher from Iowa State’s reach. 

On Friday night, Aleah claimed the all-around title, marking a score of 39.725. Chio, on the other hand, hustled into the all-around category. Yes, the freshman entered the all-around battle on Friday. After Kiya Johnson in 2020, she became the first freshman to head to the all-around event. However, Kailin Chio scored better than Johnson did in 2020. Jay Clark couldn’t miss that. Did that performance make him claim the opening night as the best?