LSU gymnastics won its Southeastern Conference opener against the Kentucky Wildcats 198.125-197.600.
“I’m just proud of them,” LSU head coach Jay Clark said following the win.
Although the No. 8 ranked Tigers were underdogs heading into their meet against a No. 6 Kentucky squad, key gymnasts such as Haleigh Bryant and Kiya Johnson kept LSU in the lead consistently. Both gymnasts scored perfect 10.
“They’re hammers,” Clark said. “They’re awesome.”
Bryant continued to show off her skill set as an all-around gymnast. With a score of 39.825, she took home yet another all-around title. It’s likely she will remain a top 10 all-around gymnast in the nation, as she is currently ranked No. 2.
Both teams came into the meet ranked 3-1 on the season, with each squad’s only loss being against the No. 1 ranked Oklahoma. Because of this, the Tigers knew they needed to bring their A-game against the Wildcats.
“Kentucky is a strong team and we know who we’re on the floor with. They are very clean and execute exceptionally well,” Clark said in a press conference before the meet.
KJ Johnson led LSU on vault with a 9.850, followed by Amari Drayton’s 9.875. After sticking the landing, Savannah Schoenherr scored a 9.925.
After Johnson’s 9.90, Bryant, ranked No. 4 in vault, anchored with a 9.975, and the Tiger’s finished their first rotation with a score of 49.525.
Kentucky started the meet on the uneven bars. Freshman Delaynee Rodriguez led the Wildcats with a 9.90 followed by Annie Riegert’s 9.875.
Cecily Rizo and Candance Gormley followed with a 9.825 and 9.775 respectively. Raena Worley anchored with a 9.975, and the Wildcats finished with a 49.450 on uneven bars.
After the first rotation, LSU led 49.525 to Kentucky’s 49.450.
After transitioning to the uneven bars, LSU continued to prove its dominance.
Bryant scored her first perfect 10 of the season as the Tigers’ anchor on uneven bars.
Before Bryant’s flawless routine, Savannah Schoenherr scored a 9.925 and freshman Konnor McClain followed with a 9.875. In the Tigers’ prior meet, the Sprout’s Farmers Market Quad Meet, McClain scored the first 10 of her collegiate career and the first of LSU’s season in the same event.
Kentucky ended with a 49.400 on vault, allowing LSU to hold its lead 98.975-98.850.
Despite the Tigers’ difficulty with the balance beam in past meets, they hardly struggled to produce high scores against Kentucky.
Against the Wildcats, LSU moved its lineups around to produce better scores and seemingly found success.
“We knew it was only a matter of time,” Clark said.
Sierra Ballard led the Tigers with a 9.90 after a stuck landing. Sophomore Annie Beard followed with a 9.875 and McClain scored a 9.80, which was ultimately dropped.
The bottom half of the lineup remained as strong as the top.
Johnson led the bottom half with a 9.90 after sticking her double full dismount. Bryant stayed hot after her perfect uneven bars routine, scoring another 9.90.
Aleah Finnegan anchored with a 9.850, leaving the Tigers with a score of 49.425 on their beam rotation.
Even after Kentucky scored a 49.475 on the floor, LSU held onto the lead by 0.75 points.
The Tigers finished the meet on floor, which has consistently been their strongest event.
Ballard started the Tiger’s off strong with a 9.875, and McClain followed suit, scoring a 9.925.
Though Tiger fans demanded a 10, KJ Johnson’s routine ultimately scored a 9.950.
Drayton ended her routine with a score of 9.90, Bryant followed with a 9.950, and Johnson anchored, scoring the Tiger’s second perfect 10.000 of the night.
“I’ve been looking forward to doing a floor routine in the PMAC for a long time now,” Johnson said.
Clark almost pulled Johnson off of floor since the Tiger’s had secured the win already, but since she was healthy and feeling well, he allowed her to perform.
The victory marked Clark’s fiftieth win.
After dominating against the Wildcats, LSU’s program record now sits at 86-10-0 and 25-2-0 at home.
After placing second on the road in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad Meet and winning their SEC opener, the Tigers are continuing to prove that they deserve to be a top 10 team.
