On Friday night, the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC) had a gymnastics feast. The #7 ranked Florida Gators went up against #2 ranked Louisiana State University Tigers with a crowd of 13,550 people cheering. LSU coming with a 3-1 record had to keep it going strong. And they sure did, despite the margin being very low! So what happened?

The Tigers went on to win with a 197.550 score, which is not very far off from Florida’s 197.450. But no doubt, LSU put on a great show! Aleah Finnegan led the charge with 9.950 on vault. Meanwhile, Haleigh Bryant, went on to score a 9.900 on the beam. However, the LSU favorite Olivia Dunne had just one performance this meet! Since the margin was so low, why keep out the star gymnast?

Jay Clark calls taking Olivia Dunne off the mat “Precautionary”!

Olivia Dunne was seen in one event alone, which was floor exercise. And in the same, she went on to score 9.875. LSU Tigers head coach Jay Clark was not going to let rumors about his star gymnast fly. In a recent interview, he has cleared the air around Dunne’s limited performances. So what happened? According to Clark, the decision to keep Olivia Dunne out was entirely “precautionary.”

As Jay Clark puts it, “She’s got a kneecap that just kind of tracks a little funny when she’s doing a turning leap with the ring. It’s gotten a little irritated on the bottom of the kneecap. We’ve had it looked at.” Oops! Let’s not forget that, Dunne this season has been a major asset to the Tigers. As Clark himself puts it, “Liv’s just so dependable on the floor.” So what is going to happen?

Well, Dunne was in three events last week at the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Meet. She went on to get scores of 9.725 (bars), 9.775 (beam), and 9.850. But that’s not all! Clark went on to add, “It’s (kneecap) just uncomfortable for her, so what we’re trying to do is get it calmed down.” But as LSU moves into the crucial weeks with names like Missouri, Alabama, and Oklahoma on the schedule, will she return?

Will Dunne make it to the next showdown?

While the LSU Tigers are evidently a strong team, let’s not forget that there is already one loss in their record this season. Nevertheless, up next, they go up against #17 Arkansas. And what about Olivia Dunne? Well, as Jay Clark puts it, “It’s not anything we think is some sort of long-term deal.” So there is still a hope of seeing Dunne at the next meet in more than just one event. And the Tigers might just need that win!

Despite being ranked #2, there is one team that the Tigers just can’t seem to take down. And that is none other than #1 ranked Oklahoma. After the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Meet, the scores stood at 197.950 for the Sooners. Meanwhile, the LSU Tigers were not far behind, with a score of 197.650. And that was despite Dunne taking the mat in three events. And the Tigers are going to go up against Oklahoma on the 14th of February again! But Clark’s words do give some hope!

As of now, from what is said, Olivia Dunne is most likely to return with her versatility and dependability very soon. Maybe against Arkansas? Or maybe she will wait it out until the big names arrive? Additionally, this is just as important for Dunne with her falling rankings.