It had to be a fitting entry for the LSU Tigers in the fresh college gymnastics season. After all, the squad has the glory of being titled the defending champions. Last season, the Tigers claimed the NCAA title for the first time. Furthermore, the program completed its run in the conference without any defeat (6-0). So, on January 3, LSU Gymnastics had to maintain the fame in its season opener against Iowa State in its backyard, PMAC, Baton Rouge. The Tigers did their best to ace the target. 

In the season opener, the squad defeated Iowa State by the scoreline of 197.300-194.100. After the 2018 season opener, this was the first time when the Tigers posted a score beyond 197.000 in the season opener. Moreover, Tigers Gymnastics entered the floor, leaving its best bet, Haleigh Bryant, on the bench. The defending all-around champion couldn’t participate because of her injury. Yet the program didn’t face any barricades to pose such a huge total. So are the Tigers super ready to face the challenges this season? 

Well, they have full support from their fans. On Friday night, PMAC welcomed 12,324 inside the arena. This is the record-breaking attendance for LSU Gymnastics’ season opener. Are the fans hoping to see another national title for their favorite gymnastics program? It can be as such a large number of fans gathered at PMAC at the peak of the NFL season. They might have hoped to watch the defending champion start from the same level where it ended its journey in April last year. And the Tigers did exactly the same. 

In the opening schedule of the night, LSU Gymnastics’ KJ Johnson took the responsibility to post a huge score. In the first rotation, the senior dropped 9.825. Almost a flawless routine in the vault. Later, the super senior, Chase Brock, joined her, posting the same score. However, the best one had been in Aleah Finnegan’s possession. On Friday night, the senior scored 9.95 on the vault. Iowa State Gymnastics didn’t have any fitting reply to such fireworks. Later in the evening, a freshman stole the show. 

In her first collegiate bar pass, the freshman Kailin Chio scored 9.90. Additionally, on the balance beam, Chio collected 9.925, more than even Olivia Dunne’s score. The form persisted in the floor exercise. How? In her first-floor exercise attempt in her collegiate career, Kailin Chio marked 9.925. Because of her and Finnegan’s camaraderie in the floor exercise, the LSU gymnastics claimed 49.500 in the floor exercise event. The best score on Friday night! Did the fans predict it? They might have expected to see such brave acts. Their high attendance supports that claim. 

In reality, there had been indications of such a large number in PMAC on Friday. But how? In November of last year, LSU Gymnastics claimed to have sold over 8,680 season tickets ahead of the first meet. It was the second time in a row. This fact also indicates that the program has complete fan support. They now want to see the title return to Baton Rouge. Will that wish be granted? However, the stars are aligning. 

LSU Gymnastics’ coach claims big on the opening game 

LSU Gymnastics’ coach is not a fresh face in college gymnastics. He is now leading the Tigers for the fifth consecutive season. But this season, he sensed something particularly wonderful during the first battle. How? The coach faced the media outlets in the post-game press conference and slipped a few words on his take on the season-opening game. In the press meet, Clark said, “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.” Notably, last season, the LSU gymnastics had tasted victory in its opening game. Nonetheless, Clark claimed the Friday night game as the best one in his knowledge. Some special reasons? 

It could be. In the meet against ISU, the Tigers didn’t have Haleigh Bryant’s service. Still, it reached a record-breaking score. It couldn’t have been possible without the concerted approach from everyone on the squad. The super seniors contributed. Freshmen like Kailin Chio also set the tone. The fans had gathered to fill up the missing piece in the atmosphere. These elements might boost LSU gymnastics’ confidence in the upcoming games.