Current:Home > InvestLSU gymnastics gets over the hump, wins first national championship in program history-InfoLens
LSU gymnastics gets over the hump, wins first national championship in program history
View Date:2024-12-23 15:10:09
This season, LSU gymnastics made the NCAA Tournament for the 33rd time. But on Saturday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas, the Tigers finally captured their elusive first national championship.
LSU took an early lead with a near-perfect start on the floor exercise, as a 9.9375 from senior star Haleigh Bryant set the tone for one of five 9.9s on the event. However, the Tigers' second event in the vault — which ended with three scores in the 9.8s forced to count — opened the window for the other three teams to capitalize, closing the LSU lead to just a tenth of a point heading to the last two rotations.
Despite a solid performance on the uneven parallel bars, the momentum left the Tigers and went to the Utah Utes, who took the lead heading into the fourth and final rotation, with the top three separated by less than two tenths.
It wasn't easy on the balance beam, however. As difficult as it already is ending on beam, it was made even more so when Savannah Schoenherr fell. But even that wasn't enough to slow down the Tigers. Aleah Finnegan finished the meet with a 9.95, giving LSU the title with a score of 198.225. Cal finished second with a 197.85, with Utah third with a 197.8 and Florida fourth with a 197.4375.
Utes mistakes help lead to Tigers' title
Utah led after three and definitely had the momentum. The Utes were also finishing on the vault, widely considered to be the best event on which to end.
But then, each of the first two gymnasts fell, forcing a 9.675 to count. LSU jumped at the opportunity from the balance beam. The Tigers scored five 9.9s and set a program record on the beam in the process.
Rebound from floor mistake
KJ Johnson's 9.2875 on the floor exercise could have spelled disaster for LSU. As just the third routine — a routine that followed back-to-back 9.9s — that needed to be the drop.
As it turned out, it was. Aleah Finnegan, Bryant, and Kiya Johnson all responded with 9.925s or better to drop KJ Johnson's score and establish a lead through the first rotation.
Slow start on vault
After LSU's first three vaults — KJ Johnson, Finnegan, and Amari Drayton — all ended up in the 9.8s, the other three teams were quick to capitalize.
Schoenherr tried to stem the tide with her 9.875, but despite posting the best score to this point, she still couldn't break the 9.9 barrier. It took two consecutive 9.9s from Kiya Johnson and Bryant to right the ship, but not before the remaining teams — especially Utah — closed the gap.
veryGood! (76)
Related
- The NBA Cup is here. We ranked the best group stage games each night
- ¿Dónde tocó tierra el huracán Milton? Vea la trayectoria de la tormenta.
- How one 8-year-old fan got Taylor Swift's '22' hat at the Eras Tour
- Figures and Dobson trade jabs in testy debate, Here are the key takeaways
- Cold case arrest: Florida man being held in decades-old Massachusetts double murder
- Back-to-back hurricanes reshape 2024 campaign’s final stretch
- Rihanna Has the Best Advice on How to Fully Embrace Your Sex Appeal
- JPMorgan net income falls as bank sets aside more money to cover potential bad loans
- McDonald's Version: New Bestie Bundle meals celebrate Swiftie friendship bracelets
- Watch these 15 scary TV shows for Halloween, from 'Teacup' to 'Hellbound'
Ranking
- Cleveland Browns’ Hakeem Adeniji Shares Stillbirth of Baby Boy Days Before Due Date
- The Fate of Nobody Wants This Season 2 Revealed
- Anderson Cooper hit by debris during CNN's live Hurricane Milton coverage
- ¿Dónde tocó tierra el huracán Milton? Vea la trayectoria de la tormenta.
- These Yellowstone Gift Guide Picks Will Make You Feel Like You’re on the Dutton Ranch
- Rihanna Shares Sweet Insight Into Holiday Traditions With A$AP Rocky and Their 2 Kids
- Tampa Bay Avoided the Worst of Milton’s Wrath, But Millions Are Suffering After the Second Hurricane in Two Weeks Raked Florida
- Dr. Dre sued by former marriage counselor for harassment, homophobic threats: Reports
Recommendation
-
Chris Evans Shares Thoughts on Starting a Family With Wife Alba Baptista
-
TikToker Taylor Rousseau Grigg's Cause of Death Revealed
-
Chase Bank security guard accused of helping plan a robbery at the same bank, police say
-
Austin Stowell is emotional about playing stoic Jethro Gibbs in ‘NCIS: Origins’
-
Harriet Tubman posthumously named a general in Veterans Day ceremony
-
US consumer sentiment slips in October on frustration over high prices
-
Climate change gave significant boost to Milton’s destructive rain, winds, scientists say
-
What to know about this year’s Social Security cost-of-living adjustment