LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark confirmed that Ariel Posen will join the Tigers for the 2027 season. The announcement follows a chance meeting between Posen and staff members that reignited her interest in collegiate competition.

Clark reconnected with Posen in December, attending former LSU gymnast Elena Arenas’ wedding. Posen worked the reception, all the while speaking with the two about a possible return to gymnastics.

“She said she was thinking about making a comeback, that she wanted to be part of something,” Clark said.

As reported by Nola.com, the idea grew in January when LSU travelled to Georgia for a meet. Clark and LSU standout Haleigh Bryant later ran into Posen again in downtown Athens.

“It sparked a thought,” Clark said. That was soon followed by a call from Pete Arenas, owner of a gymnastics training facility in Athens.

“He said, ‘She’s been in my gym for five weeks, and she looks great on two events—bars and beam,’” Clark said. “‘She may be a great addition.’”

LSU then moved swiftly to add Posen as a transfer. Clark is expected to contribute in the 2027 season, while her long-term eligibility is being decided. After committing to the program, Posen later thanked LSU’s coaching staff.

“The moment I stepped onto campus, it just felt right,” Posen said. “The coaches, the girls, and the overall environment are exceptional, and it truly felt like home.”

She also thought about the unusual path that led her back to college gymnastics.

“My journey hasn’t been traditional, but stepping away gave me the clarity to see exactly what I wanted, and the motivation to go after it,” she said.

Posen is the second transfer addition for the Tigers in this recruiting class, joining former Penn Quaker gymnast Skyelar Kerico. LSU will also look to add one or two more transfers as the Tigers prepare to replace several senior contributors from last season.

Ashley Cowan Closes LSU Career with SEC Community Service Recognition

LSU bolstered its roster, and Ashley Cowan ended her college career with one of the top honors in the conference.

Cowan was a four-year team member for LSU from 2023 to 2026 and was named the Southeastern Conference Brad Davis Community Service Award for gymnastics.

A native of Hillsborough, North Carolina, she originally walked-on to the team and ended her career as the 2024 SEC uneven bars champion and one of the most respected athletes in the program.

Her move to a scholarship athlete was the result of years of persistence and consistency in and outside of the gym.

Through that, Cowan earns a $7,500 scholarship and is eligible for the female community service leader of the year award. Jacob Pishko, a swimmer at LSU, was also named the Brad Davis Community Service Award winner.

Read more at the Gymnastics Digest!

Written by

Chitrak Mukherjee

Edited by

Kaamna Dwivedi