LHHS graduate Sarie Morrison. Photo by Chris Parent, an LSU student photographer.

Lake Highlands High graduate and LSU freshman Sarie Morrison has been named Freshman of the Week for the Southeastern Conference. Sarie competes for the Louisiana State gymnastics team.

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“This is a big honor and a great achievement for my freshman year,” Sarie told me. “It shows how much my hard work is paying off. I can’t wait to see where I am at the end of the season.”

In competition last week against fourth-ranked Georgia, Sarie earned all-around honors with a career-high score of 39.575. The outing marks Sarie’s third straight all-around title, and she earned career high marks on vault (9.925), beam (9.875) and floor (9.90). As a newcomer, Sarie leads the team with ten individual titles thus far this season and is ranked 20th all-around.

But becoming an instant success at college athletics hasn’t come easy. “I think the hardest part about being a student athlete is keeping up with being both a student and an athlete. There is so much work involved that takes up all the time in my day. Most people only see the glamour of being an athlete; they don’t see all the hard work. It’s the hardest work I’ve ever done in my life but it’s all worth it because I’m striving to be the best.”

Sarie admits she’s nostalgic about friends and family back home in LH. “I miss competing for LHHS with my coach and best friend, Addi Ledford. LH gymnastics really put the cherry on top of my high school and club career.”

The Tigers head to Lexington Friday to challenge the University of Kentucky. Live audio will be available here. Geaux Sarie!