LSU’s No. 2-ranked gymnastics team delivered a masterful performance Friday night at Auburn, overcoming a formidable No. 14 opponent to claim a share of the Southeastern Conference regular-season title. The Tigers’ victory, 198.200 to 197.550, marked yet another milestone in what has been an impressive season that saw LSU finish 11-2 overall and 7-1 in SEC play.
Freshman Kailin Chio and veteran Haleigh Bryant emerged as the stars of the meet. Chio, competing on vault, recorded her first career mark of 10.0 with a flawless routine, igniting LSU’s momentum. “She’s pretty intense and serious,” said coach Jay Clark about Chio, comparing her competitive spirit to that of teammate Konnor McClain. “You don’t mess with her too much. Obviously, she’s an incredible competitor and she’s just going to get better.”
The Tigers’ road score jumped to a season-best, thanks in large part to a dominating performance by Bryant on the balance beam and all-around victory. Bryant’s balanced routine, which included a season-high 9.95 on beam, propelled her to the top of the individual standings, edging out teammate Aleah Finnegan and Chio in the contest. “I was absolutely pleased all the way round,” Clark remarked, proudly noting the team’s continuous improvement on the road following their performance at Arkansas.
LSU’s early lead was built on a strong uneven bars routine that posted a score of 49.600. Bryant’s 9.975 on the bars tied for first with Auburn’s Olivia Greaves, while contributions from Aleah Finnegan and Konnor McClain pushed LSU ahead. On vault, Chio’s near-perfect run, following solid efforts from freshman Lexi Zeiss and Finnegan, gave the Tigers a half-meet lead at 49.575. “She’s just going to get better,” Clark added, emphasizing the young gymnast’s promising future.
The momentum continued on floor exercise, as LSU increased its total to a 49.650 mark. Finnegan delivered a season-high-tying 9.975 that helped secure a commanding lead heading into the final rotation. After a season of slight missteps — including several out-of-bounds penalties earlier in the year — Finnegan’s turnaround was evident. “We cut her steps down,” Clark said. “She made the adjustment real quickly and did a great job all week. You could feel the air go out of the balloon when she landed that last pass.”
Despite a few wobbles on balance beam, where Kylie Coen posted a 9.725 in the second position, LSU still racked up a strong score of 49.375, their best on beam away from Baton Rouge. Bryant’s all-around win, which not only brought her 103 career titles – the third-most in LSU history – but also extended LSU’s winning legacy, capped off a performance filled with season- and career-best marks.
LSU’s season has been punctuated by several key victories, including a win over George Washington at Raising Cane’s River Center and an earlier triumph over top-ranked rival Oklahoma — handing the Sooners their only loss at 198.050-197.675 on Feb. 14 at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. The Tigers will now share the SEC regular-season crown with Oklahoma, who secured the title with a win at Georgia.
In front of a crowd of 9,121 at Auburn’s Neville Arena, LSU’s display of resilience and talent not only thrilled fans but also underscored why the Tigers are considered one of the elite programs in collegiate gymnastics.
The first of many for @kailin_chio pic.twitter.com/BoakYj7LZf
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 15, 2025
That's a 9.875 for Aleah in the anchor spot 💪
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 15, 2025
📺 SECN+ | @aleahfinn pic.twitter.com/A9C3TEPG7H
Period Hay 💅
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) March 15, 2025
She adds a 9.95 in the fifth spot!
📺 SECN+ | @haleighbryant3 pic.twitter.com/enyRE5xknh
Be the first to comment