Tigers protect their regional crown by slim margin
Yeehaw, it’s time to go back to Fort Worth.
The back-to-back SEC champion and reigning national champion #1 LSU gymnastics team punched their ticket to nationals for the third straight year by winning the Pennsylvania Regional in a tight race for the overall meet title. LSU scored a 198.050, just enough to outscore #8 Michigan State’s 198.000 for the program’s 21st regional title going back to their days in the AIAW and 15th in their NCAA history. This is the 10th different city in which they’ve won a regional. They cruised to Fort Worth over #9 Kentucky’s 197.625 and #16 Arkansas’ 197.375 in one of the best regional finals of all time.
How everyone else did
Arkansas finished last in this regional final, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. They started strong with a 49.400 on beam and 49.500 on floor, but they struggled down the stretch with a combined 98.475 on vault and bars. All the little things came back to bite them.
If you read my preview, you’ll know that I said that if Kentucky struggled on vault, they’d struggle to advance. 49.250 on vault was not going to cut it once they got it, and that was the case in the end. Despite strong showings on the other three events, vault got them. That said, they had their work cut out for them.
Michigan State had one of the best meets they’ve ever had in a moment when they needed it. They were the best team on the floor in my opinion. They hit basically everything at an incredibly high level, especially vault. 49.650 is a new program record for a vault rotation, and 49.575 on bars is tied for second best in program history. The only reason they didn’t get the title is that they had to count a 9.775 after their final athlete, Gabi Stephen, fell.
How LSU did
Lexi Zeiss led things off with a career-high 9.925, and the bars team followed from there with a 49.450. It was pretty solid and got the team off to a good start. The Tigers then went 49.675 on beam to set a new program record for a regionals beam rotation. It was hit after hit after hit with solid performances. Sierra Ballard set a great tone with a 9.900 and Aleah Finnegan finished it off with a 9.950, the same score Kailin Chio got. With LSU on pace for a 198 after the nervy events, things seemed good.
Floor was fine, but the highlight was the return of Konnor McClain in place of Kailin, who got some deserving rest. Konnor got a 9.900 on floor with her great routine. Aleah hit the best floor routine she’s hit all season, by the way. Both of her passes looked like they did in 2024. 49.575 is what I consider “fine” because LSU can do that in their sleep.
Vault was bad, surprisingly. KJ Johnson stuck her vault again, but just like before, nobody else could match her. A 49.350 is not good enough for when nationals rolls around. Kailin had the worst vault of her career with a 9.750 because she tried a bit too hard to hold onto the stick, but that vault sealed LSU’s spot at nationals. Haleigh Bryant anchored with a 9.900 to give LSU the 198 and the regional title.
LSU will face #8 Michigan State, #4 Utah and #5 UCLA in their semifinal. ESPN has the authority to choose which semifinal is broadcast when, so it’ll either be at 3:30 or at 8:00 on April 17 on ESPN2. For the third straight year, I’ll be in Fort Worth covering the championship in person. Let’s hope it goes as well as last year’s.