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Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
FORT WORTH, Texas – With one performance remaining, Aleah Finnegan delivered a 9.95 on beam to lift the LSU gymnastics team to the first NCAA Championship in program history Saturday afternoon at Dickies Arena.

The Tigers claimed the title with a 198.225 to defeat California (197.850), Utah (197.800) and Florida (197.4375). The win marked just the eighth program in NCAA history to win the championship. In the final rotation, the LSU beam team delivered on the biggest stage with a 49.7625 for the highest in program history and an NCAA Championship record on the event.

Down by .0375 to Utah going into the fourth rotation, LSU had to fend off a feverous comeback from Cal to secure the crown. Sierra Ballard set the tone in the final rotation with a 9.95. After a fall by Savannah Schoneherr the Tigers didn’t blink. Freshman Konnor McClain scored a 9.9625 and seniors Kiya Johnson and Haleigh Bryant each posted a 9.95. With a hit routine needed to seal the historic victory, Finnegan left no doubt with her 9.95.

Bryant, the 2024 NCAA All-Around Champion cemented her legacy as one of the greatest gymnasts in history this weekend. In addition to her win on Thursday night, Bryant scored a 39.7125 in the all-around to win another title.

LSU set the tone from the start with five scores of 9.90 or higher for a 49.6125 on floor, its highest score in a championship final in school history. The freshmen in McClain and Amari Drayton delivered with scores of 9.925 and 9.9125 to open. Aleah Finnegan scored a 9.9125 and Bryant and Johnson ended the rotation with a 9.9.9375 and 9.925 respectively.

(Release via LSU Athletics)

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Filed Under: LSU Sports
28 Comments
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eddieray26 days
It’s been a successful last 12 months in sports for LSU regardless of what you read on the Rant.
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saturncube2127 days
Congrats, young ladies
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Jdublsu27 days
Baseball, women's basketball, gymnastics... football is next
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LSU82Cajun26 days
Thank DD Breaux for LSU’s ascendency into the top program in American college gymnastics. She elevated the program from nothing to this. Skip did it sooner ( the baseball already had 60 years of existence)but she started gymnastics from ground zero. She even taught classes at the beginning ( I was in one of them). Only had a dozen fans at meets then. She came close over two dozen times while coaching. She helped build the Gymnastics center , one of the world’s best.
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RedFoxx27 days
LSU is an everything school. Geaux Tigers!
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VincentVega27 days
So proud!
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CajunBullet27 days
Congratulations to the LSU Lady Gymnastics Tigers! Yawl make us proud!
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LSU_Legz27 days
Damm that was fun! Geaux Tigers! Congrats ladies!!!
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CanebreakCajun27 days
Awesome. I watched the quarters and today. These young ladies work their butts off and they earned this! GEAUX TIGERS!
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Spankum27 days
Congrats to these ladies….they make me proud to be a Tiger!
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Thracken1326 days
congrats to LSU - well deserved
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Gene Heinous27 days
Congratulations Ladies!

So many national titles in LSU sports these last few years!!!
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WhoDatNC27 days
Congrats to all!
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Dalosaqy27 days
Huge.
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Random LSU Hero26 days
Setting a school record, when you need it most is what elite coaching does.
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Bamboozles27 days
funny how he quickly clarified that the girl hugging him was his daughter......well done coach. he seems aware how perceptions can go sideways fast.
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Davy27 days
Geaux Tigers!
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tonie51926 days
Congratulations Gymnastics team and staff!!!
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SOL227 days
We are now a gym and basketball school.
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Recoveringcajun27 days
Hawt.
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tigerpierre26 days
LSU won 2019 national championship in Football, 2003 and 2007 as well…..7 national championship including Men’s Golf!!!
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