BATON ROUGE — Coming off the program’s first Super Six appearance the LSU gymnastics team is ranked No.7 nationally in the GymInfo Preseason Coaches Poll that was released this week.
The Top 10 preseason ranking is the 11th in 12 years for the Tigers.
“I would have been flattered to have been ranked higher. I’m certainly not disappointed to be ranked where we are,” said LSU head coach D-D Breaux. “Anytime you’re ranked in the top 10 it’s certainly a respectful ranking. I know coaching this team we have a lot of work to do. It’s basically up to this team and how patient the coaching staff is going to be because they have the potential to be a very good team.”
Georgia, the four-time defending national champions, sits atop this year’s preseason poll with 814 points and 26 first-place votes. Utah was picked No. 2 with 770 points and two first-place votes. Florida comes in at No. 3 with 742 points, while UCLA (699 points, four first-place votes) and Stanford (676) round out the top five.
Alabama with 640 points is sixth, followed by LSU (634), Michigan (579), Oregon State (526) and Oklahoma (525) to complete the top 10.
The SEC has all seven teams represented in the top 25 rankings for the fourth straight season. Arkansas checks in at No. 12, while Auburn ranks No. 15 and Kentucky is No. 25.
LSU will once again face a tough schedule as the Tigers will compete against all six ranked SEC foes as well as No. 8 Michigan and No. 19 Boise State, and LSU will have five meets against teams just outside the top 25 as Iowa, Southeast Missouri, Illinois-Chicago, North Carolina and North Carolina State are all receiving votes. The meet against North Carolina State has been designated this season’s Etta James Memorial Meet.
“It just shows the parity that exists across the nation in our competition,” said Breaux. “We look even closer at the fact that all SEC teams are ranked in the top 25. We know our SEC competition is always tough, but we have put together a great non-conference schedule as well.”
Season tickets are on sale for only $25 for adults and $15 for youth, and fans can order their season tickets online at www.LSUsports.net, in person at the LSU Ticket Office or by calling 225-578-2184.
The Tigers open the season at the Cancun Classic against No.8 Michigan, No. 19 Boise State and North Carolina on Jan. 2 in Cancun, Mexico.
2009 Preseason Coaches Poll
Rank Team Points First-Place Votes
1 Georgia 814 26
2 Utah 770 2
3 Florida 742
4 UCLA 699 4
5 Stanford 676
6 Alabama 640
7 LSU 634
8 Michigan 579 1
9 Oregon State 526
10 Oklahoma 525
11 Nebraska 487
12 Arkansas 467
13 Penn State 382
14 Denver 370
15 Auburn 323
16 Illinois 230
17 Michigan St. 228
18 Arizona 218
19 Boise State 216
19 Missouri 216
21 Ohio State 165
22 Minnesota 135
23 West Virginia 106
24 Arizona State 95
25 Kentucky 84