LSU won its fifth Southeastern Conference Gymnastics Championship with a score of 198.075, including two perfect 10s.
The Tigers were the only team to break 198. Alabama came in second with 197.750; Kentucky followed with 197.60; and Florida finished fourth with 197.30.
“This is a great group, and I’m very proud of how they’ve gone about their business all year long,” head coach Jay Clark said. “Any four of these teams could’ve won this thing.”
Although the Tigers finished the first half of the rotation tied for first, they shined the most in the second half of the meet.
Once again, the Tigers’ floor routine proved to be the best in the country, as LSU posted only one sub-9.90 score out of its top five, including a perfect 10 by Kiya Johnson.
“We’re very, very confident on the floor,” Haleigh Bryant said. “We just wanted to be normal— nothing more, nothing less.”
Freshmen Konnor McClain and Amari Drayton got things started for the Tigers on the floor. McClain followed her perfect score on beam with a 9.925, and Drayton scored a 9.850. KJ Johnson tied her career-high floor score with a 9.975, then Bryant followed with a 9.950, setting up Kiya Johnson for her ninth career 10.
The Tigers started the second half of the meet on balance beam, where McClain scored the first perfect 10 of the night.
“I’m just proud of Konnor,” Clark said. “It was a total group effort, and it came from different places.”
Her routine was preceded by Sierra Ballard’s powerful leadoff performance. Ballard scored a 9.80, and Savannah Schoenherr followed with a solid 9.850. After McClain’s 10, Bryant scored a 9.950, setting up Aleah Finnegan to anchor with a 9.875.
LSU went into its final event in second place. Kentucky led with 148.425, followed by LSU at 148.40. Alabama was in third with 148.20, and Florida trailed with 147.850.
With the Tigers as the top seed, they started the night on vault. KJ Johnson stuck the first landing of the night, scoring a 9.875. Finnegan and Schoenherr followed with 9.850s, then Kiya Johnson scored the first 9.90+ score of the night (9.925). Bryant anchored with a 9.975.
LSU and Alabama ended the first rotation at the top with a score of 49.475. Kentucky followed with 49.425, and Florida trailed with 49.400.
Alabama took LSU’s spot on vault while the Tigers moved to uneven bars.
Kiya Johnson led with a 9.825, and Ashley Cowan followed with a 9.950. McClain scored a 9.90, Schoenherr followed with a 9.850 and Bryant anchored with a 9.90.
LSU and Kentucky’s total score increased to 98.925, followed by Alabama at 98.775 then Florida at 98.575.
LSU entered the meet ranked No. 1 for the first time since 2019. It was followed by Florida at No. 2, Kentucky at No. 3 and Alabama as the No. 4 seed.
“We’ve done the work all year and now it’s just about being confident and doing our normal,” Clark said earlier in the week. “If we do that, then we’ll see how the chips fall.”
The chips fell in LSU’s favor.
With the exception of a select few out-of-state fans, the Smoothie King Center was packed with purple and gold, emitting the feeling of a home meet for LSU. The Tigers delivered for their fans.
“We certainly want success at this meet, but this isn’t our final destination,” Clark said earlier in the week.
The Tigers’ next challenge lies at the NCAA Regionals.
“We’re not done yet,” Bryant said. “The sky’s the limit.”
