The LSU gymnastics team honored fellow Tigers athlete Dillon Reidenauer at Friday night’s meet.
Reidenauer, a star pole vaulter for the LSU Tigers, was killed in a car accident this week at the age of 18.
According to local reports, Reidenauer was in a car that was struck by a motorcyclist in Baton Rouge at 9pm on Wednesday night. The motorcyclist also died, with both vehicles reportedly going up in flames.
Olivia Dunne and her gymnastics teammates paid tribute to the late student athlete at their Podium Challenge against George Washington University.
The No. 2 LSU Tigers wore black ribbons of mourning in their hair for the meet in honor of Reidenauer.
Dunne, who returned to Baton Rouge in the fall for her fifth year of eligibility, shared a photo of herself and teammate Alyona Schennikova showing the black silk and organza strips tied around their blonde ponytails.
LSU pole vaulter Dillon Reidenauer was killed in a car accident this week at the age of 18
Olivia Dunne and LSU gymnastics paid tribute to Reidenauer at Friday night’s meet
The Tigers gymnasts all wore black ribbons in their hair to face George Washington University
The social media sensation also reposted a post from the LSU Gymnastics official account which shared a number of photos of their gymnasts donning the tribute in their locks.
‘Competing for Dillon tonight,’ the caption read, adding a lone black heart emoji.
News of Reidenauer’s tragic death broke earlier on Friday with the school confirming her passing in an emotional statement.
‘LSU Athletics is heartbroken to share the tragic news of the passing of freshman track and field student-athlete Dillon Reidenauer in a traffic incident Wednesday evening in Baton Rouge,’ LSU’s statement read.
‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Dillon’s family, friends and teammates, as well as with those impacted by the loss of another individual who died as a result of the incident.
‘We are providing resources and support to all of our student-athletes and staff directly impacted by this tragic loss.’
The incident is believed to have occurred when the motorcycle T-boned the car as it turned left onto South Quad Drive.
The motorcyclist was named as Bodhi Linton, 23, who reportedly lost his mother in a motorcycle crash last year.
Dunne shared a photo of herself and teammate Alyona Schennikova showing the ties
Tributes poured in for the teenager, described as one of Louisiana’s most talented athletes
Both Reidenauer and the motorcyclist died in the incident in Baton Rouge on Wednesday night
LSU’s athlete website describes Reidenauer as one of the best pole vaulters in Louisiana .
She had attended Fontainebleau High School before continuing her athletic career at LSU, the university that has a distinguished record of helping young athletes fulfill their potential.
Angel Reese, Olivia Dunne and Jayden Daniels are just a few standout names to have represented the school.
Last May, she took to Instagram to underline her excitement to compete for LSU, writing: ‘I’m so excited to announce that I will continue to pole vault for Louisiana State University next year.
‘I am so blessed and grateful to have a great support group and a wonderful coach who has taught me everything I know. I am so excited to be a part of the LSU track and field team next year!’
After the news of her death emerged, her LSU coach Dennis Shraver said: ‘Everyone in our LSU track and field family is keeping Dillon’s loved ones in our thoughts and prayers, as well as those of the other individual lost in the incident.’
Her Fontainebleau High School coach Sam Sanders said of Reidenauer: ‘Dillon was a model student-athlete.
‘She was the kind of person any coach would want on any team. She had her heart set on LSU and she was going to do whatever it took to get that goal.
‘It’s difficult to process — losing someone so quickly like that. It’s a very somber day.’
