LSU gymnastics has struck again, this time landing some of the most coveted gymnasts in the country. 

Back in September, the program managed to sway 16-year-old Olympian and recent gold medalist Hezly Rivera to commit to the 2026 squad.

On Wednesday Nov. 13, National Signing Day, the reigning champs took the No. 3 recruiting class with three new five-star additions to their 2025-26 roster: Haley Mustari, Nina Ballou and Elyse Wenner. 

The announcements were made by LSU gymnastics in several social media posts. So who are these new recruits?

Haley Mustari

From Edmond, Oklahoma, Mustari trains with Dynamo Gymnastics and is a four-time national champion with three of those titles in uneven bars. Most recently, she was the 2023 all-around champion and took home gold on the balance beam for the first time this summer. 

The Oklahoma native opted not to stay close to home and go with six-time national champion Oklahoma, instead deciding to go for gold with No. 1 LSU. Although unable to convince Mustari, Oklahoma did land the top two recruits of the 2025 class. 

“I chose LSU because of the team culture, the incredible fan base and because the moment I stepped on campus, it felt like home,” said Mustari in a LSU gymnastics Instagram post.

Mustari has nine perfect scores to her name, eight of which were in bars, and owns more than 25 finishes in the top 100. She is the No. 10 recruit in the country.

“Signing to LSU is a dream come true,” Mustari explained in the post. “This amazing opportunity is the culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice and determination, and I could not be more excited to join this special program.”

Nina Ballou

Ballou comes from Boca Raton, Florida and American Twisters Gymnastics with an impressive level 10 career. Like Mustari, Ballou could have gone with the in-state option, No. 4 Florida, but chose to bring her talents to Baton Rouge next fall. 

“I come from a long line of LSU fans and the atmosphere just made me feel right at home,” Ballou said in the shared post. “The culture, community and family aspects that come out of this program and school are unmatched.”

Ballou was the 2022 all-around champion and has since achieved gold in floor exercise in 2023 and double-gold in floor and bars in 2024. Her personal best score of 39.150 in the all-around sets her among the best level 10 gymnasts today. 

All together, Ballou is a five-time national champion, three-time qualifier for the Nastia Liukin Cup, and the No. 7 recruit of her class.

“I’ve been waiting for this moment for so many years and it feels so full circle for me,” said Ballou. “I can’t wait to be a part of such a legendary team and make unforgettable memories over the next four years.”

Elyse Wenner

All the way from Breinisville, Pennsylvania, Wenner is a production of Stallone Gymnastics with multiple national titles to her name on beam and vault. 

“The second I stepped on campus I knew it was the place I wanted to be a part of,” Wenner said in the same Instagram post.

Last year, she finished first on vault in regionals and found herself amongst the top 100 scores on many occasions. 

This year, she was named the 2024 regional champion after finishing first in every event, and at the Daytona National Championships, she secured gold on beam and eighth in the Senior B all-around division. 

Also a two-time qualifier for the Nastia Liukin Cup, Wenner excels among her peers with a career-high of 39.175 in the all-around, and is the No. 3 recruit.

“Signing to LSU means so much to me because I am so excited to spend the next four years in the best environment for me and to have a chance to compete with the best people,” said Wenner.

Fans will have to wait to see these star-studded recruits until the 2026 season, but they’ll have plenty of fresh faces in 2025 with rookies Zoe Miller, Kailin Chio, Kaliya Lincoln and Lexi Zeiss. 

After an unforgettable first national championship, LSU gymnast Aleah Finnegan’s Olympic debut this summer and a stacked recruitment, the anticipation for the 2025 season grows. 

The spotlight on gymnastics at LSU will be brighter than ever, and most fans will have high expectations for both the returning champs and the promising newcomers. 

The team has announced an exhibition on Monday, Dec 16, at a time that is to be announced. The team’s first official meet of the season will be a few weeks later against Iowa State in Baton Rouge on Friday, Jan. 3.