Parkland junior Wenner fell in love with LSU
Trojans star commits to nationally ranked Tigers program
Sports fans know LSU as a traditional NCAA powerhouse in football, basketball and some might even remember that the Tigers won the NCAA Division I World Series in baseball last June.
But what many might not know is that LSU also features one of the top women’s gymnastics programs in the country.
It’s a program that Elyse Wenner wanted to be a part of.
So Wenner, a Parkland High junior and highly recruited gymnastics standout, has committed to LSU, which finished fourth in the nation last year. The Tigers are ranked No. 2 in the latest preseason rankings for the 2024 season, which will begin with a meet against Ohio State on Jan. 5.
Wenner won’t get to Baton Rouge until 2025, but she is excited about joining one of the great programs in the nation and perhaps even happier that a decision has been made and an extensive and draining recruiting process is behind her.
“The recruiting process wasn’t stressful until the very end and then it became difficult,” she said. “I knew where I wanted to go, but it was really hard to call the other coaches and say ‘no’ to some really great schools. There was a lot of traveling involved. We were all over the country. I was talking to coaches every day in the summer. Now, I just talk to four coaches, the four coaches at LSU. I’m relieved that it’s over and now I can focus on my upcoming season.”
The final decision came down to LSU and Utah.
One of the deciding factors was a docuseries called “The Climb” that followed the team through last season and showed what the LSU
program was all about.
“I watched it in like May or June and it was kind of like that ‘wow moment’ for me because it showed me their coaching style and the atmosphere they created,” she said. “The docuseries was put together really well and was really impressive.”
Wenner attended camp at LSU for two years and also attended camps at Utah, Kentucky and Florida.
“I did my visits to LSU, Auburn, Kentucky and Utah and LSU was just amazing,” she said. “Utah was, too, and it was a really hard decision, but LSU felt more like family. They always made me feel welcome and comfortable there. All of their sports programs are really good. Utah has a great gymnastics program, but LSU has it all including great weather.”
Wenner will be competing in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center, which has 13,215 seats and is routinely sold out for gymnastics meets. The Tigers also have a training facility that is considered one of the best in the country.
In addition, Wenner and the Tigers will get a lot of national TV exposure on the SEC Network.
Gymnasts, like the football and basketball standouts, are treated like rock stars at LSU meaning NIL deals are sure to come.
But her immediate focus is on her upcoming season competing for Stallone Gymnastics, which is based in Fleetwood and was started by Gina Stallone Amrich, a four-time U.S. National team member, and her husband, Marty. Stallone Gymnastics sent five girls to Division I schools last year, including some full scholarship recipients. One of Stallone’s products is Natalie Wojcik, who helped Michigan win a national title.
Wenner would love to bring LSU its first national title and keep her career moving forward.
In 2022, Wenner had a 9.900 on the vault, which was one of the nation’s top scores, and also won the vault and beam at the state championships. She also won Level 10 nationals on the vault and beam.
Earlier this year, she had another 9.9 on the vault and had a 38.925 all-around score at the Excalibur Cup in February and finished fifth in the vault at the Nastia Liukin Cup. She defended her state title in the vault, took fourth on the beam and tied for second on the floor exercise. She won the vault, and was second on the bars at regionals, third in the floor exercise and in the all-around.
However, at the Level 10 nationals in May, she suffered a torn calf muscle that required her to go through extensive training and rehab.
She said she’s 100% now and ready when the new season begins with a meet this weekend at Moravian University. The next big one is the Starstruck meet January in Atlantic City followed by the Excalibur meet in Virginia.
“It took me awhile to come back from the calf injury, but I am back and I am putting in upgrades for my routines,” she said. “I’ve got new stuff on beam and I am hoping to put in a new vault and new skills on floor and bars. I am always trying to get better.”
She called the Division I scholarship opportunity something that was a long-term goal.
“It’s really exciting and this is what I always wanted to do,” Wenner said. “It’s special and I’m very grateful. I have to thank my coaches, my friends, my parents, my grandparents, and of course the LSU coaches. Everybody has been very supportive.”