BREAKING: LSU gymnasts secure top seed in SEC Championships in New Orleans and NCAA regional
LSU emerges as the team to watch closely as the Southeastern Conference gymnastics championships approach in New Orleans this Saturday.
With an impressive regular-season performance, LSU clinched the top spot in the conference, boasting a National Qualifying Score of 198.125. This achievement positions LSU as the leading contender heading into the SEC meet at the Smoothie King Center.
Following closely behind is SEC regular-season champion Florida (197.905) as the No. 2 seed, trailed by Kentucky (197.810) and Alabama (197.760). These four teams, including LSU, will compete in Session II scheduled for 7 p.m. Meanwhile, Seeds 5-8 — Arkansas (197.445), Missouri (197.420), Auburn (197.313), and Georgia (197.030) — will vie in Session I set for 2:30 p.m.
Coach Jay Clark expressed anticipation for the upcoming meet, highlighting the competitiveness evident in the NQS scores across both sessions.
Additionally, LSU has secured the No. 1 seed for an NCAA regional event scheduled between April 3-7, with potential locations being Fayetteville, Arkansas, or Ann Arbor, Michigan. Further details on NCAA regional assignments are expected to be announced next Monday.
Ticket talk
Tickets for the SEC meet can be purchased via Ticketmaster, beginning at $25 plus additional fees.
In 2019, when the championships were previously held in New Orleans, the event attracted a record-breaking attendance of 10,500 fans. A comparable or even larger turnout is anticipated for this year’s event.
Coach Clark expressed optimism, hoping that both LSU’s fanbase and locals in New Orleans who may not typically have the opportunity to attend events at the PMAC due to distance, will come together to generate a unique and vibrant atmosphere for the entire conference.
Tigers pick their rotation
Despite finishing second to Florida in the SEC regular-season standings, LSU secured the top seed for the championships. This granted them the privilege of selecting their order of events, and they opted for the Olympic rotation of vault, uneven bars, balance beam, and floor, mirroring the setup of a home meet.
The decision by Florida to begin on beam came as a surprise to Coach Clark, given the event’s reputation for its difficulty. However, he acknowledged that beam is a strength for the Gators, as evidenced by their third-place national ranking with an NQS of 49.530.
LSU senior Haleigh Bryant expressed enthusiasm for their chosen starting event, vault, emphasizing the team’s desire to commence strongly and finish with vigor. She also highlighted the anticipation surrounding the floor event in New Orleans, emphasizing its significance in their preparations and discussions leading up to the competition.
LSU in the rankings
LSU holds the impressive No. 3 national ranking overall with a cumulative score of 198.125. The team’s prowess extends across individual events, claiming the top spot on floor (49.695), second place on vault (49.490), third place on bars (49.560), and fourth place on beam (49.505). Despite their recent victory over North Carolina with a score of 198.250-196.075, LSU’s NQS remained unchanged. Meanwhile, California’s performance elevated them from 198.055 to 198.180, securing the No. 2 position.
Haleigh Bryant maintains her dominance as the nation’s top-ranked all-arounder, boasting an impressive score of 39.800. She also reigns supreme on vault with a score of 9.955. Furthermore, Bryant shares the fourth spot on bars with a score of 9.960, ties for fifth on floor with a score of 9.965, and ties for eighth on beam with a score of 9.950.
In addition to Bryant’s stellar performances, three other LSU gymnasts have earned spots in the top 10 nationally. Freshman Konnor McClain is tied for fifth on beam with a score of 9.960. Senior Kiya Johnson and junior Aleah Finnegan are both tied for seventh on floor, each boasting a score of 9.960 as well.