That Kid Haleigh
Was this really up for debate?
Haleigh Bryant earned the 2024 AAI Award at the NCAA’s women’s gymnastics banquet Tuesday evening. The award, given to the top senior gymnast in the nation as voted by NCAA head coaches, is marketed as the sport’s equivalent to the Heisman Trophy despite only seniors being eligible to win it, something that isn’t true for the Heisman Trophy. Also, unlike the Heisman Trophy, factors beyond athletics are part of the award criteria, though specifics on them don’t appear anywhere.
Haleigh won the award over five other finalists: Alabama’s Luisa Blanco, Oklahoma’s Audrey Davis, Utah’s Maile O’Keefe, Michigan’s Gabby Wilson and Kentucky’s Raena Worley. She is the fourth LSU gymnast to win the award after Susan Jackson in 2010, Ashleigh Gnat in 2017 and Sarah Finnegan in 2019. LSU now has the most AAI Award winners of any SEC school. LSU is the first school in history to have the Heisman Trophy winner and AAI Award winner in the same season.
It is unnecessary to give every single accomplishment Haleigh’s had in 2024 or try to summarize her into words when she’s meant this year, so I’ll save the time. By the time you’re reading this, I’ll be on the road heading to Fort Worth to cover nationals in person. If you’ve heard her speak, you know this award is not the one she cares about. No individual award means more than the team, the one that has their hearts set on a different trophy. It’s not primarily made of glass, it’s primarily made of wood and has a gold logo at its top. LSU will compete for the chance to compete for a chance to hoist that trophy tomorrow at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN2. Be on the lookout that morning for the preview which will be finalized on location.