For years, LSU was within arms’ reach of a championship but couldn’t quite cross the finish line. 2024 was the year the stars aligned, and the Tigers finally joined that elusive club of champions. Heading into 2025, LSU will be looking to repeat the magic, as it goes for back-to-back titles. However, it will face some of its toughest SEC competition yet, with Oklahoma joining the fold.
2024 Rewind
No. 1 overall | No. 1 at SECs | No. 2 in regular season | NCAA team final
LSU was dominant throughout the season, consistently hitting in the high 197s and low 198s as the season progressed. It capped off a magical season with a perfect postseason, winning SECs, regionals, and nationals.
Losses & Gains
| Returning | In |
| Sixth-Years Alyona Shchennikova Fifth-Years Sierra Ballard Chase Brock Haleigh Bryant Olivia Dunne Seniors Aleah Finnegan Alexis Jeffrey KJ Johnson Tori Tatum Juniors Annie Beard Ashley Cowan Bryce Wilson Sophomores Kylie Coen Amari Drayton Konnor McClain Leah Miller | Freshmen Kailin Chio Kaliya Lincoln Zoe Miller Victoria Roberts Lexi Zeiss Transfers Kathryn Weilbacher (BGSU) |
| Out | |
| Graduated Elena Arenas Cammy Hall Jillian Hoffman Kiya Johnson (AA) Kai Rivers Savannah Schoenherr (VT, UB, BB) | |
| Injury Update | |
| Konnor McClain suffered an Achilles tear at the Core Hydration U.S. Classic in May, but coaches are optimistic she could compete bars and beam this season. Alyona Shchennikova is also returning from an Achilles tear while Bryce Wilson missed the season with an unknown foot injury. Zoe Miller will miss 2025 after having surgery to repair a torn labrum. | |
Fresh Faces
LSU’s freshman class is made up of several powerful former elite gymnasts. Kailin Chio, Kaliya Lincoln, Zoe Miller, and Lexi Zeiss join the Tigers this season. A former Nastia Liukin Cup champion, Chio has been heavily featured in preseason training, as has Zeiss. Lincoln is fresh off of being named an alternate to the Paris Olympic team but hasn’t been seen much this fall. It was rumored she may redshirt 2025 but was recently seen in a training clip on beam. Baton Rouge native Victoria Roberts also joins the roster, alongside senior transfer Kathryn Weilbacher from Bowling Green, an all-arounder who can provide depth for the Tigers.
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2024 Event Ranking: No. 2 | NQS: 49.510 | Average: 49.448
| Event Overview: The Tigers have the potential to field a lineup of six 10.0 start value vaults but at times choose to go for cleanliness over difficulty. If they want to maintain pace with other teams in the SEC, vault coach Garrett Griffeth will need to be strategic in creating his lineup. | ||
| Locks: Haleigh Bryant, Amari Drayton, Aleah Finnegan, KJ Johnson KJ Johnson is a reliable lead-off, and her clean Yurchenko full usually hits 9.850-plus without a stick. Bryant, Drayton, and Finnegan all bring 10.0 SVs and were mainstays in this lineup. They project to remain key contributors in 2025. | ||
| Contenders: Chase Brock, Kailin Chio, Alyona Shchennikova, Lexi Zeiss Brock was in and out of the lineup last season with her one and a half but was a consistent vaulter in 2023 before injuries flared up. Chio and Zeiss have been seen vaulting in intrasquads, with the former having scored multiple 10.0s in level 10. | ||
| Wildcards: Kaliya Lincoln, Victoria Roberts, Tori Tatum, Kathryn Weilbacher, Bryce Wilson It’s going to be really hard to unseat anyone in this lineup without a 10.0 start value. Roberts has trained a front handspring pike half, and Tatum has competed a one and a half in exhibition, so either could slot in if a lineup regular needs rest. |
Bars
2024 Event Ranking: No. 3 | NQS: 49.570 | Average: 49.481
| Event Overview: While the Tigers improved their scoring potential on bars compared to 2023, they struggled with consistency and maintaining high scores week to week. Adding a level 10 champion to this event will help, but cleaning up the technique and landings will be even more key for Jay Clark’s team. | ||
| Locks: Haleigh Bryant, Ashley Cowan, Alexis Jeffrey, Konnor McClain Reigning SEC champion Cowan appears ready to build upon a breakout sophomore season. With a full-twisting double layout dismount upgrade, she could move to a later spot in the lineup. If McClain is able to contribute on bars, she will be a big piece of the lineup with her difficult Church to Pak salto combination and 10.0 potential. | ||
| Contenders: Kailin Chio, Aleah Finnegan Fresh off an Olympic appearance for the Philippines, Finnegan didn’t compete bars much in 2024 due to a wrist issue that kept flaring up. If that’s under control, she can easily slot back in. Chio ended her level 10 career with a win at nationals and has scored multiple 10s. | ||
| Wildcards: Olivia Dunne, Alyona Shchennikova, Tori Tatum, Kathryn Weilbacher Dunne and Shchennikova have been consistent bars competitors but haven’t seen much lineup time due to injuries. While they have the ability to contribute, they might be passed up by other options. |
Beam
2024 Event Ranking: No. 3 | NQS: 49.530 | Average: 49.367
| Event Overview: Beam started out as a problem spot for the Tigers, but by midseason, beam was on par with their other events as they set a championship record score to clinch the title. Losing Schoenherr and Kiya Johnson will be tough, but there is no shortage of viable replacements. | ||
| Locks: Sierra Ballard, Haleigh Bryant, Aleah Finnegan Typically known for floor, Ballard emerged as a steady leadoff competitor on beam in 2024. Finnegan should retain her anchor spot and will be expected to be as reliable as ever in her senior season. | ||
| Contenders: Kailin Chio, Konnor McClain, Lexi Zeiss Reigning SEC beam champion McClain will upgrade to a lock for this lineup if her Achilles heals like the coaches expect it to. Chio has been very heavily featured in preseason footage on beam, so look for this event to be one she gets immediate competition time on. | ||
| Wildcards: Annie Beard, Kylie Coen, Olivia Dunne, Alexis Jeffrey, KJ Johnson, Kaliya Lincoln, Alyona Shchennikova, Kathryn Weilbacher, Bryce Wilson The number of wildcard options here is representative of how many different routines the Tigers have tried in recent years. Any of these nine gymnasts could be an option if the coaches decide they need to explore depth or rest their main contributors. |
Floor
2024 Event Ranking: No. 1 | NQS: 49.725 | Average: 49.613
| Event Overview: “Domination” doesn’t even begin to describe the Tigers’ floor squad last season. They scored below a 49.500 only once and very rarely had to drop a fall. However, the Tigers lose their anchor, and McClain’s Achilles recovery will likely prevent her from competing here. While it will continue to be a strong event, it might not be as dominant as seasons past, at least to start. | ||
| Locks: Haleigh Bryant, Amari Drayton, Aleah Finnegan, KJ Johnson The one-two punch of Bryant and Kiya Johnson at the end of this lineup was spectacular, but Finnegan is the reigning NCAA floor champion and will likely move into Johnson’s anchor position. | ||
| Contenders: Sierra Ballard, Kailin Chio, Olivia Dunne Dunne was typically used as an alternate when Clark needed to rest someone in the usual top six. Adding a double layout to her routine will make her a more viable, regular option. With McClain’s injury, Ballard could move back into her role as the leadoff routine. | ||
| Wildcards: Kaliya Lincoln, Konnor McClain, Victoria Roberts, Alyona Shchennikova, Kathryn Weilbacher, Lexi Zeiss, Chase Brock Weilbacher is the current MAC champion on floor and topped out at a 9.925 last season. Shchennikova was a regular contributor prior to her Achilles injury; if she’s healthy, there’s no reason she shouldn’t get a chance to break back into the lineup. |
Records Watch
Team: 198.475 | AA: 39.925 | VT: 49.825/10.000 | UB: 49.750/10.000 | BB: 49.763/10.000 | FX: 49.775/10.000
The record books have been shattered and rewritten ever since Bryant arrived on campus, and there’s a chance she breaks her own record in the all-around in her final season. Despite last season’s inconsistencies on bars, the Tigers were still within a tenth of setting a new record there. Adding Chio could help them eclipse that mark this season.
The Big Picture
As the reigning national champion, LSU shouldn’t be counted out of any title conversations. However, it lost quite a few substantial routines that will make this season a little more challenging. Regardless, the motivation to go back-to-back after so long without a title will help the Tigers as they challenge to retain their crown.
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Article by Savanna Wellman
