BATON ROUGE — The LSU gymnastics team returns to competition Friday when it hosts Iowa in a dual meet at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center beginning at 7 p.m.
Tickets for the event are still available and can be purchased online at www.LSUsports.net, over the phone by calling (225) 578-2184, or in person at the LSU Ticket Office. The cost is $5 for adults and $3 for children ages 3-12.
LSU head coach D-D Breaux is hoping this meet can be an early turning point in the season for a team that has dealt with some inconsistencies in its first two meets.
“This meet is about developing consistency,” said Breaux. “It’s about stepping up and moving forward from this point on and through the rest of the season.”
The Tigers (5-3) are coming off a quad-meet victory over Utah State, Texas Woman’s and Centenary last Sunday where they posted a season-high 194.050.
LSU’s lineup will have a different look from the one on Sunday that saw many of the freshmen athletes inserted into various events in order to gain collegiate meet experience.
“Friday we are planning to use freshmen where we feel they are ready to step in and make mature contributions to the lineup,” said Breaux.
Senior April Burkholder and juniors Kelly Phelan and Nicki Butler will be anchoring the lineup as each is slated to see all-around action.
Burkholder is currently ranked second in the country in the all-around after scoring a 39.375 at the season-opening Super Six Challenge.
Phelan has competed in the all-around in each of the Tigers’ first two meets, posting a season-best 38.875 at the Super Six Challenge.
Friday will mark Butler’s first time appearance in all four events this season. She was an All-SEC selection in the all-around last year.
Iowa enters the meet with an 0-3 record after opening the season last Saturday with a fourth-place finish at quad-meet featuring Florida, Oregon State and BYU.
The Hawkeyes notched a 188.050 in that meet and were led by seniors Kortny Williamson and Liz Grajewski who posted UI’s top marks on each of the four events.
LSU leads the all-time series with Iowa, 4-1. The Tigers have won three straight against the Hawkeyes with their last meeting coming at the 2003 NCAA Championships, where LSU defeated UI, 194.000-193.525.
Following the Iowa meet, the Tigers begin the SEC slate, traveling to Fayetteville, Ark., for a dual meet with the GymBacks on Jan. 27. Action from Barnhill Arena will begin at 7 p.m.