Over the decades, NCAA gymnastics has delivered countless unforgettable moments that define athletic excellence, creativity, and sheer joy for the sport. From groundbreaking perfect 10s to routines that clinched national titles, these performances have not only made history but also inspired generations of fans and gymnasts alike. We compiled 20 of the most iconic routines in NCAA gymnastics history—from Kelly Garrison’s groundbreaking perfect 10 to Aleah Finnegan’s championship-clinching beam set in 2024. Relive the magic of these legendary performances that remind us why we love this sport.
Kelly Garrison, Oklahoma, 1987-1988
Kelly Garrison sets the bar high as the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in NCAA gymnastics competition. Garrison competed for Oklahoma from 1987 to 1988, and in that time, she became one of Oklahoma’s most decorated gymnasts to date. Garrison scored this iconic first 10 on beam and was known for her unique skills and choreography during her time as not only an NCAA athlete, but an as Olympian and world championship competitor.
Jenny Hansen, Kentucky, 1993-1996
One of three individuals tied for the most career perfect 10s, Jenny Hansen, a Wildcat for Kentucky from 1993 to 1996, definitely embodies the “icon” title. Hansen is the only NCAA gymnast to win three consecutive national all-around titles, doing so in 1993, 1994, and 1995. This floor routine during event finals at the 1995 national championships was the last event in the competition and what led her to become, and still hold the title of, Kentucky’s most decorated gymnast.
Karin Lichey, Georgia, 1996
The only gymnast to ever score a perfect 40 in gymnastics, Karin Lichey, a former Georgia gymnast, accomplished the unthinkable in 1996. Starting her day off perfectly on vault, Lichey ended a historic competition with her fourth perfect 10 of the night on floor in front of an ecstatic home crowd, and is still the only athlete to be perfect across the board in 28 years.
Jamie Dantzscher, UCLA, 2001-2004
Jamie Dantzscher joined Hansen in 2004 to tie for the most career perfect 10s, but one of her most iconic routines came in her first competition. Dantzscher is the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 in her debut college routine—plus, she added another later that same night! On January 5 of her freshman year, Dantzscher scored her first 10 on bars and another 10 later on floor. Dantzscher then went on to get 26 more over the next three years during her time as a UCLA Bruin.
Courtney Kupets, Georgia, 2006-2009
One of the most decorated Gymdogs, Courtney Kupets is the only NCAA gymnast to win the all-around as well as a title on every individual event during her time at Georgia from 2006 to 2009. These years for Kupets were filled with four national team championship wins, nine individual titles and many iconic moments in their own right. One that specifically stands out is Kupets’ last routine on beam in the 2009 event finals. From her high level of difficulty from the first element to an intricate dismount, and her unique choreography, confidence, and attitude when she worked beam, this routine solidifies why she is one of the most iconic NCAA gymnasts of all time.
Samantha Pezek, UCLA, 2015
Two-time NCAA national beam champion Samantha Peszek is proof that hard gymnastics has been done in college for quite some time. Winning her first beam title in 2011, Peszek won her second in 2015 in her last collegiate appearance as a Bruin. Kathy Johnson Clarke described her mentality and confidence on beam perfectly by saying, “This is like a playground for her,” opening her routine with a solid standing back full, capping the routine with a stuck dismount, and adding in the iconic UCLA flair throughout the entirety of these cherished last moments of her career.
Georgia Dabritz, Utah, 2015
Doing a high degree of difficulty, cleanly and consistently, on any event is hard. Doing this week after week on bars is even harder. Doing this without grips? Iconic. Georgia Dabritz, the former Utah gymnast, stands out for all these reasons, and this perfect 10 bar routine is such a highlight. With Dabritz’s high difficulty, including a Comenaci salto, a skill rarely done in college gymnastics, and a stuck full-in dismount, this routine is certainly one to remember.
Bridget Sloan, Florida, 2015
Bridget Sloan will go down as one of the greatest Florida gymnasts to ever compete, not only because of her many accolades, like helping Florida to win three consecutive national championships or any of her five individual titles, but also because of the energy she brought to the competition floor. This iconic bar routine not only helped bring Florida its third straight national championships in 2015, but shows the energy, grit, and strength she brought to the Gators across her four seasons. And that’s not even mentioning the fact that she was the first world all-around champion to compete in college.
Madison Kocian, UCLA, 2017
The first-ever Olympic gold medalist to compete in the NCAA, Madison Kocian debuted on vault in Pauley Pavilion at UCLA in 2017. The Rio Olympian and future seven-time All-American made history with her first routine on an event she wasn’t typically known for in her elite career, making it that much more iconic. Although many future Olympians and gold medalists came to follow in her footsteps—including Kyla Ross in that same meet—Kocian was the first to do so, making this one of the most memorable and historic moments in NCAA history.
Peng Peng Lee, UCLA, 2018
When iconic routines are discussed, this is usually one of the first to come to mind. It was the last rotation in the Super Six, with the trophy still up for grabs. Peng Peng Lee stepped into this high-pressure moment with her iconic flair mount and contagious smile, delivering a perfect 10 routine that clinched the Bruins’ first national title since 2010 in dramatic, last-second fashion.
Katelyn Ohashi, UCLA, 2018
UCLA has had many floor routines go viral, but none as much as Katelyn Ohashi’s, specifically her Michael Jackson-themed routine in 2018. Opening with her always beautiful double layout, the never ending combination pass, and all the dance you could ever want in a floor routine, this was not one of the most viral but most iconic moments in NCAA gymnastics.
Grace Glenn, UCLA, 2020
Getting a 10 in any lineup position is a challenge, but getting a 10 in the lead-off, and on beam, was deemed pretty impossible. Grace Glenn, UCLA’s lead-off for most of her time in Westwood, did just that during a dual meet with Utah. A jam-packed routine filled with difficulty, featuring the most beautiful, picturesque dance, and complete with the signature UCLA beam smile, this routine will go down as truly iconic.
Abby Heiskell, Michigan, 2021
For years, Michigan had been a team so close but never quite reaching the top. But in 2021, that all changed. In the Wolverines’ famous velvet leo, Abby Heidkell put up a near-perfect beam routine in the anchor spot to just edge out Oklahoma for the first national title awarded since the COVID pandemic. The routine also cemented Michigan’s and the Big Ten Conference’s first national title.
Trinity Thomas, Florida, 2023
Trinity Thomas etched her name into history alongside Jenny Hansen and Jamie Dantzcher, scoring 28 perfect 10s in her five-year NCAA career. All of Thomas’ 10s were special, but this vault, especially after an injury scare at regionals, may be the most memorable of all.
Aleah Finnegan, LSU, 2024
The most recent moment, but still one sure to go down as one of the greatest, is Aleah Finnegan’s anchor beam routine in the 2024 national championships. The routine clinched LSU’s first national championship, and after counting a fall earlier in the lineup, the Tigers desperately needed a big score to lock the title up. It was all capped off with a stuck dismount and a reaction no one will ever forget.
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Article by Julianna Roland
Kelly Garrison is certainly iconic but the first 10.0 in COLLEGIATE gymnastics was actually scored a season earlier. By another great, Carrie Englert, at Clarion State in 1977.