In a weekend packed full of events for LSU athletics, one of the most exciting was the rival matchup between No. 2 LSU gymnastics and No. 4 Florida.
A back-and-forth battle saw LSU fall just short of Florida, with the final score 198.450-198.325, but new season-highs defined the team’s performance as it matched its season-high overall score and a new season-best road score.
It all came down to the final rotation of the competition. Scores in the 9.800’s from Kylie Coen and Lexi Zeiss gave the Tiger lineup a solid foundation to build from, but scores of 9.900 and above would be necessary to take back the lead.
Amari Drayton was the first to complete that task on beam as she found a 9.950 that would soon be matched by Kaliya Lincoln.
As momentum continued to build, Konnor McClain performed yet another exceptional routine, but a step back on the landing gave her a 9.900.
With just Kailin Chio left to compete, a near-perfect 9.975 from the No. 1 gymnast in the country finished the competition off on a strong note, but couldn’t put the Tigers back in the lead.
Though the final rotation was what defined the night’s result, the events leading up to the Tigers’ beam set were just as electric when it came to keeping LSU close behind.
The Tigers had swung into action on the uneven bars to begin the tough competition. An event that would deem LSU the underdog compared to the Gators, who hold the no. 1 spot, it was definitely a rocky start for the away team.
A mistake from Zeiss and a fall from Ashley Cowan showed that nerves were higher than usual for the normally confident team. Even so, the back half of the lineup was quick to sever the struggle.
Three straight scores of 9.900 filled the rotation for the Tigers, setting up the anchor, McClain, for a near-perfect 9.975 to match her season high score.
Managing to overcome the early mistakes and salvage the first rotation, the Tigers had chased the Gators to put both powerhouse teams behind a tie of 49.375.
McClain, who has had especially notable performances in the last two meets, carried her momentum from bars to the vault table, where she once again tied her season high of 9.925.
From there, the scores seemed to build for the Tigers as sticks from Lincoln, Drayton and Chio would earn three consecutive 9.975’s.
With near flawless performances to close out the electric event, energy was high for the Tigers, who were looking to extend the lead on their No. 1 event, the floor exercise.
Strong scores from Emily Innes and Nina Ballou gave the Tiger lineup a competitive edge to build off throughout the rotation.
Coen, who had found her season-high floor score the week before, put up another strong routine for a score of 9.925. However, one of the biggest Tiger floor performances came from Lincoln.
Making her return to the anchor spot after previously resting due to Achilles tightness, Lincoln battled for a season-high match of 9.975, which had kept LSU trailing behind Florida by 0.025 points.
Despite the Tigers’ loss following their last rotation, a strong overall performance puts them in a mindset of continued confidence as the postseason closes in.
With just one week left in the regular season, LSU will return to the PMAC to take on the No. 8 Razorbacks of Arkansas at 7:30 pm CT on Friday.
