By Jeanni Ritchie
For the first time since 2019, LSU hosted NCAA Gymnastics Regionals in Baton Rouge, welcoming some of the top programs in the country for a week of high-stakes competition. I’d bought an all-session ticket and was there for it all.
Across semifinal and final rounds, teams including Air Force, Auburn, Clemson, Michigan, Nebraska, North Carolina, Stanford, Utah State, and LSU took the floor, each vying for a coveted spot in the national championship bracket.
One of the most intriguing storylines came from Stanford, where Ana Bărbosu competed as part of the Cardinal lineup. The Romanian gymnast has remained in the spotlight since the 2024 Olympics, where a still-litigated bronze medal controversy involving Team USA’s Jordan Chiles kept her name in international headlines. I hadn’t known she was competing in the NCAA.
By the time regional finals arrived, the competition had tightened considerably.
LSU rose to the moment, posting a 197.675 to claim the regional title, followed by Stanford (197.225), Clemson (197.150), and Michigan (196.750). LSU and Stanford advanced to the NCAA Championships, but it was the Tigers who dominated the individual awards.
Sophomore standout Kailin Chio delivered a remarkable performance, winning the all-around with a 39.825 and capturing titles on vault (10.0) and floor (10.0), while also tying for the bars title with Konnor McClain and Ashley Cowan (9.950). Beam honors were shared by Amari Drayton and Kaliya Lincoln, each scoring 9.950.
Two weeks later, the national championship was held in Fort Worth—and while I wasn’t in the arena, I didn’t miss a moment. I watched the entire meet from the beach, ESPN streaming on my phone, fully invested in every routine.
LSU’s path to the finals hadn’t been guaranteed. The Tigers narrowly secured the second qualifying spot in their semifinal session, then built momentum when it mattered most. By the championship round, they were in contention for the title until the final rotation.
In the end, it came down to the very last routine.
Oklahoma claimed the national championship with a 198.1625, followed by LSU at 198.075, Florida at 197.6875, and Minnesota at 197.3750. It was a narrow margin and a heartbreaking finish for LSU—but also a performance that underscored the program’s strength and consistency. Coach Jay Clark had nothing but praise for his gymnasts’ performance.
LSU continues to draw elite talent from across the country, including former elite gymnasts and U.S. National Team members. The future remains just as strong, with Olympian Hezly Rivera already committed to join the LSU Tigers.
For LSU, the season ended just shy of a national title, but the Tigers’ performance—from hosting regionals to pushing the championship to its final moments—proved once again why they remain one of the premier programs in collegiate gymnastics.
And for those of us watching—whether from the stands or from a beach chair miles away—it was a reminder of exactly why we love the sport.
