""It was really heavy and crushing at the time," LSU associate head coach Courtney McCool Griffeth told ESPN in November. "And that stays with you.""
""The past is in the past, but I think it's important to reflect on the bad moments that we did have and try to learn from those moments because that is important," junior Konnor McClain told ESPN ahead of the season. "You don't want to repeat what happened. ... But I think we're all using it as motivation, even the newcomers and our transfers. ... It's like, 'Okay, how can we be even better this time around?'""
A surprise NCAA semifinal result at Dickie's Arena eliminated top-seeded LSU after UCLA's Emma Malabuyo posted a 9.975. LSU gymnasts reacted with visible emotion, tears, and quiet embraces while coaches described the experience as heavy and lasting. Players and staff used the loss as a learning moment, emphasizing reflection to avoid repeating mistakes and to fuel motivation. The team returned to training in June, months before their first meet, and prepared for a high-profile Sprouts' Farmers Market Collegiate Quad against Oklahoma, UCLA and Utah. Newcomers and transfers joined returning leaders in offseason work focused on improvement.
Read at ESPN.com
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