Gymnasts' Flurry of Records Lead No. 2 LSU Gymnastics to Victory in Podium Challenger

Before a spirited crowd of 2,649 fans, No. 2 LSU gymnastics team delivered a masterclass at the Raising Cane's River Center on Friday night, defeating George Washington 198.125-195.475. The Tigers' season-high score matched the nation's top mark this year while strategically adding to their National Qualifying Score (NQS) in a pivotal "road" meet just minutes from campus.

A Podium-Perfect Night

Held annually at the River Center, LSU's Podium Challenge allows the Tigers to acclimate to the bouncier podium floors used in postseason competitions while counting one home meet as a road score under NCAA rules. The strategy paid dividends: LSU shattered season highs on uneven bars (49.675) and balance beam (49.575), while fifth-year superstar Haleigh Bryant won her first all-around title of 2025 (39.725), edging freshman phenom Kailin Chio (39.675) in a closely contested routines battle.

"I think I was just trying to be too perfect, since it was my first time back in the all-around. I really just wanted to be relaxed and lean on my team. We did our normal gymnastics and I think it showed."

Haleigh Bryant

"We had new people competing that we hadn’t seen and weren’t sure what that was going to look like, and we got our highest team score, and it was on the road. "

Jay Clark

Rotation Breakdown: Tigers Shine in All Phases

Vault (49.325): LSU opened with authority as Bryant posted 9.950(season-high), while Chio (9.875) and sophomore Leah Miller (9.775 in her collegiate debut) showcased LSU's roster depth despite minor landing adjustments on the podium.

Uneven Bars (49.675): The Tigers' signature event dazzled. Once again, Chio, along with sophomore Konnor McClain, brought in the A game with twin 9.950s, meanwhile, Chio's routine drew 10.00 whispers from fans, while Zeiss and junior Ashley Cowan set the tone with 9.925s. Bryant's 9.925 capped the rotation.

Balance Beam (49.575): LSU's beam corps, often a postseason linchpin, hit a new stratosphere. Chio tied her career-high 9.950 with a gravity-defying series , while McClain 9.925, Bryant 9.925 and Aleah Finnegan 9.925 delivered clutch performances.

Floor (49.550): Senior Sierra Ballard ignited the finale with a career-high 9.950, her first floor title. Bryant (9.925) and Chio (9.900) continued to outshine while sophomore Kylie Coen added an impressive 9.900 in her first floor debut. Miller closed the standout night with a 9.875.

Road to the PostSeason

The Tigers' 198.125 is a clear propeller of their NQS average ahead of the main SEC clashes against Georgia Bulldogs on March 7(Friday) at PMAC. A sweep would secure LSU's first SEC regular-season crown since 2018.

More LSU News: