The Lady Tigers are back in action, including the 2022 U.S. National Champion, Konnor McClain! Following the win of the NCAA title in April 2024, the LSU Tigers took to the floor of the lively Pete Maravich Assembly Center for the annual Gymnastics 101 show. No scores were needed on Monday night because the message was crystal clear: “Protect the crown.” It was all about regaining the groove, coming out of the rust, and getting that magical feeling back into the mat. Of course, there were hops, wobbles, and even some falls alongside stick crowns and stunning backflips, but this wasn’t about the perfect routine–it was about getting back on the floor and getting back together under those bright PMAC lights.

Sixteen gymnasts hit the floor, each one bringing a spark of something special, but one name carried an extra layer of heart and grit: Konnor McClain. The sophomore sensation had the audience on the edge of their seat as she performed again after coming back from her injury and showed everyone she still had it in her. But before we go on with all that, the program head coach, Jay Clark, shared his feelings about Konnor McClain and LSU’s first season meet.

In a recent LSU Sports YouTube video, Coach Jay Clark shared his heartfelt thoughts on Konnor McClain’s much-anticipated return to competition. When asked about her performance in the two events and the impact of having her back, Coach didn’t hold back his pride. “Konnor, just getting back out there—you know, you come off an injury like that in May, and you’re probably a little gun shy,” he shared, acknowledging the mental and physical hurdles Konnor faced. “First time she’s hit hard surfaces was tonight. We’ve landed on mats, but we’re on resi-pits and everything, so she was a little tentative—you know, that’s understandable.”

Coach Clark also spoke about the cautious yet hopeful plan for Konnor’s season, showing both patience and trust in his star gymnast. “Konnor has shown us what kind of competitor she is, so it’s great to see her back out there,” he said with clear admiration. “I think that’s a big lift for us as she gets more and more comfortable on those two events and gets really dialed in. Then we’ll worry about whether we are able to add anything else, but right now it’s just let’s keep her pain-free.” Praising her as a “big cog in the wheel on those two events,” Clark emphasized the importance of taking things slow and steady, knowing that Konnor’s journey back is as much about the process as it is about the performance.

Earlier this year in May, the 2022 U.S. all-around champion and the 2024 SEC beam champion, Konnor McClain, had to deal with every athlete’s nightmare—an Achilles tendon rupture during the Core Hydration Classic in Hartford, Connecticut. In the same fashion, her Olympic chances disappeared. But if there’s one thing we know about Konnor, it’s that she doesn’t back down from a fight.

Fast forward a few months and this fierce tigress is already proving the odds wrong. Surgery and a near-instantaneous post-operation return to the sidelines, and she’s back, bewitching the bars and beam once again. But did you know this isn’t the first time that this LSU coach has opened up about their first meet of the season? 

LSU Coach gets real about the first meet of the season! 

LSU’s Pete Maravich Assembly Center was filled with the spirit of LSU Gym 101 and there was no pressure and no scoreboards and still, Head Coach Jay Clark could not take off his assessing spectacles. As much as the event was intended to get Konnor McClain and others in the mood before the holidays, Clark had his own verdict to deliver and he wasn’t shy to say it. “Some good, some bad. Some people looked really ready, others looked scared and timid,” he said in the post-performance interview. Despite the rather informal nature of the episode, Clark did not miss a thing, from the sure-footed walk to the slip.

In a twist that raised eyebrows, the freshmen were the ones who stood out best under the limelight. Even though the gymnasts were instructed that Gym 101 should be taken as a warm-up and a starting point, the first-years looked quite confident. Clark couldn’t help but acknowledge this, admitting, “Some really good spots, but I saw some things that were also concerning.” Speaking about the seniors, he said some of them looked shy and, as a coach, he said, “That’s concerning as a coach. I don’t want that to happen.” While the newcomers were surprisingly elegant, the old ones appeared to stumble, a situation Clark understands must be addressed before the Tigers’ season gets into full swing.

It was a mixed bag of performances on Thursday night where Olivia Dunne and Haleigh Bryant both performed on multiple apparatuses but none on the vault. Despite all the glamour that Bryant brought into the game, she stumbled on the beam and thus it was as if the seniors had a bad night. However, the freshmen of LSU showed that they were not just taking up space on the team—they were starting to come through. If this showcase was any indication, the Tigers’ future looks bright, even as Clark works to make the team get its mojo back.