When Jay Clark woke up Friday morning, one of the first texts he got was from the athletic trainer regarding Haleigh Bryant.
“[She said] Haleigh was nauseous and had chills last night, and I’m like here we go,” Clark recalled. Then, assistant coach Garrett Griffeth had a response that ended up being foreshadowing of what was to come for the junior. “[He] sent me a GIF of Michael Jordan draining a 3.”
On a night centered around honoring the senior class, Bryant made LSU history in her own way as the No. 6 Tigers beat No. 35 West Virginia 198.025 to 196.450. Bryant tallied three perfect 10s and tied the LSU all-around record with a 39.875. She also became the first gymnast in LSU history to score three perfect 10s in one meet and became the all-time school leader for perfect 10s, passing Jennifer Wood and current assistant coach Ashleigh Gnat.
During the first rotation, LSU was headed toward a season low on vault. Elena Arenas was the only vault that had a stuck landing and had the highest score of 9.875 before Bryant righted the ship with her first 10 of the night. As the second rotation began, LSU found itself in a pressure situation after Arenas fell on her single-bar release, once again in danger of scoring a season low. Despite the subpar performance, Bryant delivered with perfection again, giving LSU a seven-tenth lead heading to the third rotation.
LSU began to find its rhythm on beam. No score below a 9.850 was counted, and the landings started to come easier. Bryant’s only misstep of the night came on a balance break after her standing front tuck. As the team headed to floor, it showed the fight gymnastics fans have seen all season from the group, tallying a huge 49.750. That number is the second highest floor score in LSU history, only a quarter tenth away from its program record.
As this season has gone on, not many thought LSU would be able to craft success after losing several stars to injury. But in Clark’s words, the team just doesn’t quit.
“I tell them all the time, none of you are here because you can’t. You’re here because you can. When you’re missing some of our best performers, it’s an opportunity for someone else to jump in, and that’s been the strength of this team.”
Even though LSU’s home slate is complete, the hard work is just beginning. The Tigers secured the No. 2 seed at next weekend’s SEC championship in Duluth, Georgia, and despite making school history, Bryant says she and her team aren’t done yet.
“This team wants to go so many more places,” she said. “[We’re] so excited to continue and go to the postseason and keep climbing.”
Clark echoed the sentiments, saying it’s refreshing as a coach to know that he can trust his team to fight through any adversity. “I have gotten to a place where I kind of throw my hands up. I can step back, I can let [the team] do their thing, and I can let the coaches do their thing. You can’t say enough about this team and the character they show.”
READ THIS NEXT: LIVE BLOG: No. 35 West Virginia at No. 6 LSU
Article by Savanna Whitten
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