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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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28 Comments
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Geaux tigers!
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cajunmud13 months
Maybe the most beautiful sideline chick ever...just stunning.
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LSUMBAgrad13 months
Where was “All American” gymnast Olivia Dunne? Filming more commercials or posting on Tik Tok??
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JumpingJimFlash13 months
Prolly thanking God you are not her boyfriend
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Jwils13 months
What a miserable count.
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LSU82Cajun13 months
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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tonie51913 months
Congratulations Gymnastics team and staff!!!
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eddieray13 months
It’s been a successful last 12 months in sports for LSU regardless of what you read on the Rant.
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Random LSU Hero13 months
Setting a school record, when you need it most is what elite coaching does.
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Thracken1313 months
congrats to LSU - well deserved
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Davy13 months
Geaux Tigers!
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SOL213 months
We are now a gym and basketball school.
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Bamboozles13 months
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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tgerb813 months
What does this mean/how is this possible? "The win marked just the eighth program in NCAA history to win the championship."
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BEATbama0513 months
Gymnastics in the NCAA has only been around since 1982. UGA, Utah, UCLA, Bama, and OU have won the lion’s share of the Championships. Crazy thing is we went to the Championships 33 times and have only left with one Natty.
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CanebreakCajun13 months
Awesome. I watched the quarters and today. These young ladies work their butts off and they earned this! GEAUX TIGERS!
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Gene Heinous13 months
Congratulations Ladies!

So many national titles in LSU sports these last few years!!!
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WhoDatNC13 months
Congrats to all!
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RedFoxx13 months
LSU is an everything school. Geaux Tigers!
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VincentVega13 months
So proud!
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Dalosaqy13 months
Huge.
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CajunBullet13 months
Congratulations to the LSU Lady Gymnastics Tigers! Yawl make us proud!
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LSU_Legz13 months
Damm that was fun! Geaux Tigers! Congrats ladies!!!
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