FORT WORTH, Texas — After a memorable and stunning day, LSU, Utah, Florida and California superior to the finals of the NCAA gymnastics championships on Thursday following spectacular performances below intense strain.
Oklahoma, the two-time defending champion and the overwhelming favourite to repeat after spending the season ranked at No. 1, was upset within the day’s second session, ending in third behind Utah and Florida after a difficult begin on vault put the Sooners in an early, and in the end insurmountable, deficit.
Whereas it was not the outcome that Oklahoma needed, it leaves the door open for historical past to be made. LSU and California have by no means received the nationwide championship and Utah hasn’t since 1995 — lengthy earlier than any present members of the workforce have been born. Even Florida, the latest title winner nonetheless within the operating, hasn’t received since 2015.
Particular person champions have been additionally topped on Thursday. LSU’s Haleigh Bryant earned the all-around title with a 39.7125 whole rating. Adorned nationwide workforce stars Jade Carey (Oregon State) and Leanne Wong (Florida) completed tied for second place.
However who else took residence particular person trophies on Thursday? And who made a reputation for themselves on faculty gymnastics’ greatest stage? In case you missed any of the motion, we have you coated.
All-around champion
The LSU senior ended the common season because the nation’s No. 1-ranked all-arounder, and he or she proved precisely why. Bryant earned a 9.90 or higher on all 4 occasions, together with her highest displaying on beam with a 9.95. Her consistency was essential for the Tigers — simply as it has been all season.
Haleigh Bryant turns in stellar 9.95 efficiency on beam
Haleigh Bryant of LSU nails her beam efficiency on the NCAA gymnastics semifinals with a formidable rating of 9.95.
Vault champion
Not solely did Anna Roberts earn a career-high rating of 9.95 — on the NCAA championships, no much less! — on vault together with her caught Yurchenko 1.5 however she additionally gave Stanford its first particular person title since 2018. When she was awarded the trophy on the finish of the evening, her proud teammates gave her a standing — and really loud — ovation from the stands.
What a approach to finish the rotation, ANNA! 9.950 to tie her profession excessive!
📺: ESPN2#OWNIt | #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/WCpYfJJElk
— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordWGym) April 18, 2024
Beam queens
Sure, it wasn’t the evening Oklahoma hoped for, however Religion Torrez and Audrey Davis turned co-national champions on beam, which needed to ease the ache not less than barely. Each earned a 9.9625 throughout what ended up being a shaky rotation for the workforce total. Their win marked the primary time an Oklahoma gymnast earned prime honors on the occasion since 2014.
For the primary time since 2014, there’s an Oklahoma Sooner on prime of the beam podium!
Your 2024 Steadiness Beam Co-Nationwide Champions are @TorrezFaith & @AudreyDavis132! pic.twitter.com/AfvMoPhnvz
— Oklahoma Girls’s Gymnasium (@OU_WGymnastics) April 19, 2024
Stars of the bars
And Davis did not simply go away with one NCAA title, she additionally earned co-honors, alongside Wong, on bars. Davis and Wong every earned a 9.9625 for his or her performances. It marked the primary NCAA title for Wong after ending in second place on flooring in 2023.
AUDREY. DAVIS. OH. MY. GOSH.
It is a 9.9625 for the senior! pic.twitter.com/cLzizuYGBW
— Oklahoma Girls’s Gymnasium (@OU_WGymnastics) April 19, 2024
👀👀👀#GoGators | #WeChomp
📺https://t.co/aTLkeEjMmX pic.twitter.com/mp3dCTlsgE— Gators Gymnastics (@GatorsGym) April 19, 2024
Extra on flooring
Aleah Finnegan joined Bryant as LSU’s NCAA champions on Thursday. Beginning together with her completely executed double Arabian right into a break up leap, and together with her enjoyable persona on show, the junior introduced down the home through the workforce’s monumental rotation on the occasion (extra on that beneath), incomes the day’s highest rating with a 9.9625.
Aleah Finnegan dazzles the ground with a 9.9625
Aleah Finnegan owns the ground for LSU and places up an unimaginable 9.9625 level efficiency.
The last word flooring social gathering
Finnegan was only one member of LSU’s flooring social gathering on Thursday. The Tigers have been already within the lead heading into the ultimate rotation of the afternoon session, however the Tigers put an exclamation level — or a number of — on an already spectacular day with a dominant displaying on flooring. Counting 5 scores of 9.9375 or higher, the workforce owned 5 of the highest six scores through the first semifinal and formally punched their ticket to Saturday’s championship.
Finnegan and KJ Johnson (9.95) have been the workforce’s excessive scorers on the occasion, and each single gymnast appeared to construct off the one which went earlier than.
KJ Johnson, everybody. Brings the 🔥 each time.
She scores a 9.95 within the third spot!
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/8x9GaN05Au
— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) April 18, 2024
Essentially the most memorable debut
Georgia’s Lily Smith closed out her first season with an all-around efficiency to recollect. With a 9.925 on bars, her signature occasion, she additionally recorded 9.9125s on flooring and beam, ending the evening with a 39.4750 whole rating.
In her first NCAA Championship, Lily finishes with a 39.475 within the All-Round!!#GloryGlory | #GoDawgs pic.twitter.com/b9dCdSg4Sx
— Georgia Gymnastics (@UGAGymnastics) April 18, 2024
The gang favorites
Competing as a person as a result of UCLA did not qualify as a workforce, Chae Campbell made positive everybody felt the Bruins’ presence together with her showstopping efficiency on flooring. Already recognized for her unparalleled efficiency high quality, Campbell had each eye at Dickies Area on her as she nailed each tumbling cross and her intricate choreography. She earned a 9.90 and obtained one of many loudest ovations of the afternoon session.
Chae Campbell with a 9.900 on flooring at NCAA Semifinals! 🐻
📺 ESPN2 pic.twitter.com/O6YerO4q3w
— Pac-12 Convention (@pac12) April 18, 2024
The gang melted my coronary heart! Thanks for all of the love. This routine has been so enjoyable for me to carry out, and I like nothing extra that you simply all have loved it🫶🏾
— Chae_Jada (@chae_jada) April 18, 2024
In the course of the evening session, Utah’s Jaylene Gilstrap enamored the group together with her stunning, 9.95-earning efficiency on the occasion. Set to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody,” her issue and complex choreography appeared to go away a giant impression.
Feeling proper at residence with this efficiency ⚔️
📺ESPN2#RedRocks | #WeOverMe pic.twitter.com/mHCeCpdqIJ
— Utah Gymnastics (@UtahGymnastics) April 19, 2024