At a university where nearly every athletic program is nationally relevant, there’s never a shortage of options. There are always electric playmakers to be found.

The Reveille Athlete of the Week is LSU gymnast Aleah Finnegan.

The 2024 floor champion put on a career highlight performance on Friday, getting the first perfect 10 of the season and her eighth overall.

Finnegan celebrated a storied career in the final home meet of the season and her last as a Tiger. Coming after a season with many ups and downs, she began with a phenomenal 39.725 but struggled with declining vault scores for much of the season. However, on Friday, Finnegan was dialed in.

In a night full of electrifying performances, Finnegan started strong with a 9.950 on vault, and LSU had taken the lead over Georgia by the end of the first rotation. In the second rotation, she put up another solid 9.900.

She truly shined on the balance beam. In a stunning and almost effortless looking routine, Finnegan attained a perfect 10 in a goodbye performance for the ages. She also performed the championship-clinching beam routine that won the Tigers a national championship in 2024.

Finnegan’s performance on Friday helped LSU to a score of 198.575. That’s the highest in program history, second-highest in SEC history and ninth-highest in NCAA history.

“I’m just so proud of not only everything she’s accomplished at LSU but everything she’s accomplished in her life because this is only the beginning for her,” teammate Haleigh Bryant said about Finnegan.

Finnegan’s consistent success and versatile ability has made her one of LSU gymnastics’ most reliable scorers, and the team hopes to continue their success as they take on Auburn this Friday to end the regular season.

Gymnastics begins the 2025 SEC postseason on March 22.