The best damn show in Baton Rouge

In the world of college athletics, it's difficult to draw spectators during winter break. The final exams for the fall semester are over, and students are home for vacation. But on a Monday night in mid-December in Baton Rouge, a sea of ​​purple and gold flooded the entrance to the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.

Kids with face paint cheer on their favorite athletes while holding handmade signs that read, “We love Hailey!” And “It's my 8th birthday!'' Thousands of fans are lining up for their seats, excited to watch one of the biggest shows in college sports – LSU Gymnastics.

Our annual Gymnastics 101 Showcase has become a cherished tradition, and we'll be hosting an open mic night again this year. Open Mic Night will host a preseason exhibition for fans ahead of the season opener in January, showcasing new routines and some of the lineup, including interactive interviews with the team. It also serves as a dress rehearsal for athletes, helping them get used to performing in front of a loud crowd.

This event, which is open to the public, draws many local residents and fans from all over Louisiana and abroad. The night is centered around recognizing the program's fans and the surge of support due to the team's recent accomplishments, including last year's national championship.

They may be the No. 2 seed entering the 2025 season, but nothing can top the unparalleled spirit that lives within LSU women's gymnastics.

Head coach Jay Clark emphasized the importance of getting his players to adapt to the pressures of the stage as the Tigers enter their fifth season with three championship appearances and a recent national title already under their belt.

“It’s important to get out of that comfort zone,” Clark said. “There are a lot of really good and consistent things happening in the gym, but what does it look like when you go into a different environment?”

Photo by Stephen Bayog/University Images (via Getty Images)

A crowd of over 12,000 may be daunting for the average college athlete, but the spotlight is nothing new for Clark's gymnasts.

During the record-breaking 2024 season, the program had the highest attendance in collegiate gymnastics, had three sold-out games in the PMAC, and was undefeated at home. Their accomplishments have caught the attention of millions, and all eyes are on LSU as the new season approaches.

On Dec. 10, the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association released its 2025 preseason poll, which placed LSU in second place behind No. 1 Oklahoma. In their last matchup, LSU finished second to the Sooners in the Sprouts Farmers Market University Quad at a neutral site in West Valley City, Utah. Both teams will meet again this season for the same game, facing off in Oklahoma State for a showdown.

The two powerhouses will meet again in the conference on Valentine's Day in what promises to be one of the most anticipated events of the season. This time, the Tigers will have the advantage in front of a home crowd made up of passionate, cult LSU athletic fans. So far, the team's biggest ace is its supporters. No one stands out like Baton Rouge.

On Friday night, generations of Tigers will “pack into PMAC” and graduates will share the great experience with their children and grandchildren as part of the LSU family tradition. Much like football, LSU gymnastics is more than just a one-time thing for some, it has become a lifestyle, and many of these participants make up the majority of fans who are season ticket holders. I am.

This fall's preseason ticket sales broke all previous records, with 8,680 season tickets sold, more than 600 more than last year. It's safe to say LSU will have record attendance this year as well. While the excitement for the program is palpable and gymnastics at PMAC is more unparalleled than ever, the team still has a formidable title to live up to.

Last spring, fans got to witness a decades-long journey come to an epic conclusion as the team won its first NCAA Championship. Heading into the 2024 season, the Tigers had high expectations for their lineup, which was a combination of experience and top players as the third seed. In key moments of the regular season and postseason, the Tigers delivered when it mattered most. At the Four on the Floor at the NCAA Championships, final rotation Aleah Finnegan sealed the deal with a near-perfect performance on beam and was hailed as the best player in the nation. LSU finished just under four-tenths behind California, Florida and Utah.

Hailey Bryant delivered a breathtaking performance that garnered national acclaim and earned her the 2024 individual all-around champion title, while Finnegan captured the NCAA floor title.

The team quickly became local champions as celebrations were held across campus. Parades lasted for miles, ceremonies continued for hours, and fans continued to enjoy the joy of accomplishment.

Photo by Aric Becker/ISI Photography/Getty Images

“This liberation that happened last year and the protracted celebration that has ensued since then is very moving,” Clark said. “It's a blessing, but it's also potentially a curse.”

Clarke and the team know the road from here will not be easy, as replicating last season's success under the national spotlight will be an even bigger challenge. Fans will flock to arenas across the country to watch the reigning champion defend his title.

This summer, Finnegan took his talents to the world stage, representing the Philippines at the Paris Olympics, further solidifying his star status heading into his senior year.

After a successful year for the team, 2025 looks full of opportunity, but for some it may be the last dance of their college careers.

Many of the program's fan-favorites will return to lead the team for one season last season, including Finnegan, Bryant and fifth-year Olivia Dunn, who is in her final year of eligibility. . Despite his talent, Clark knows that nothing is guaranteed.

“We have to be wary of thinking this team has done something just because it hasn't done anything,” Clark explained. “We have the ability to do anything we put our minds to, but this is not that kind of team. We need them to understand that.”

The glory of a national championship and the prestige that comes with a title can get to any athlete's head. This is the greatest accomplishment in all of college athletics and deserves the utmost respect, but complacency has been Clark's biggest concern from the moment he became a champion.

According to him, the championship title belonged to last year's team, not this one. This team needs to establish its own identity, and only then can it live up to the huge precedent set before it.

“The first and hardest thing is to get over the hump and get one win. And then the second hardest thing is to not walk around pretending you've arrived,” Clark said.

In a do-or-die season, the spotlight is firmly on Baton Rouge, with the invisible hype surrounding LSU and the fact that they are one to watch as the upcoming season takes over women's college gymnastics. It has been proven.

As a fan, you'll never experience something like this anywhere else. From the passionate PMAC crowd to the athletes who are passionate about every routine, LSU represents the best in college athletics. LSU gymnastics is more than just a team, it’s a phenomenon.