No. 1 LSU gymnastics was looking to earn a ticket into the final round of regionals as the defending 2024 NCAA National Champions. They clinched that spot with a 198.100, alongside Arkansas.
The Tigers started on the floor, leading after the first rotation with a 49.550.
SEC Freshman of the Year Kailin Chio led her team alongside senior Aleah Finnegan with matching 9.925s.
The two gymnasts were competing alongside 2025 SEC All-around Champion Haleigh Bryant for the all-around title, who finished on the floor with a 9.900, matching graduate student Sierra Ballard and all-around sophomore Amari Drayton’s routine scores.
After LSU took the lead in the first rotation ahead of Arkansas’ 49.425, Michigan’s 49.275 and Maryland’s 49.075, it found its way to the vault.
The vault has been the Tigers’ star event all season, and that stood true as the team brought matching 9.900s all across the board. The only exception being Finnegan’s 9.875, which did not contribute to the final score.
LSU closed the second rotation with a 49.500, leading the meet at the halfway point with a 99.050.
Moving into the second half of the meet, the Tigers took on the uneven bars with all-around freshman Lexi Zeiss leading off LSU on the event.
Zeiss matched her regular season best with a 9.900 as seen in LSU’s 198.575 victory over Georgia.
9.900s were the standard on the uneven bars, topped only by all-around junior Ashley Cowan with a 9.925.
The lowest score of the event came from Bryant, with a 9.875, resulting in overall 49.525 for LSU.
The Tigers continued in combat to protect their crown as they prepared to mount the balance beam for the fourth and final rotation of the night.
But before LSU began on the beam, it needed a heat check.
For three consistent rotations, it led the meet with Arkansas trailing closely behind each time.
The Razorbacks were looking for revenge after beating LSU in the regular season and being left out of the SEC Championships.
Yet LSU finished the third rotation with a 148.575 and the Razorbacks with a 148.075 as the competition continued.
Ballard led LSU off with a 9.850 on the beam as all-around sophomore Kylie Coen followed with a 9.875.
Chio continued with a 9.900, matched by all-around sophomore Konnor McClain and Bryant.
As Chio finished her final event for the night, she was in the lead for the all-around title with a 39.625 as Bryant followed with a 39.575 in second place.
Finally, it came down to Finnegan and whether she could stick the landing on the balance beam.
To little surprise, the Filipino Olympian not only stuck her routine but finished with a high for LSU on this event tonight with a 9.950.
As LSU sat at 198.100 and Finnegan and Bryant tied for the all-around title in the second session.
While the Tigers continued to lead the meet ahead of Arkansas, Razorback redshirt junior Frankie Price fell in the middle of her floor routine, landing on her knees with a 6.300.
Price’s score was dropped and despite her potential injury, the Razorbacks finished with a 197.550 and will be following LSU to the regional final.
LSU is set to compete in the regional final at Penn State this Saturday.
