From breathtaking perfection and innovative skills to inspiring comebacks and historic milestones, these performances showcase the artistry, skill, and resilience that define standout beam work in college gymnastics. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or new to the sport, these 10 beam routines are must-watch highlights to keep you going through the off-season.
10. Increasing coverage of gymnastics
OK, so it’s not a routine—but it’s the kind of exposure the sport deserves. In a creative move to promote the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships, ESPN brought a balance beam to its campus in New York City, inviting staff and visitors to test their skills.
9. Kalyxta Gamiao finishes her career with a near perfect hit record
Arkansas senior Gamiao has been the definition of consistency throughout her career, missing just one beam routine. Her set features a layout-layout acro series and a less commonly seen side somi, adding both difficulty and uniqueness to the Razorbacks’ lineup. In past seasons, Arkansas struggled to find consistency on beam—but throughout her career Gamiao was a steady presence. Her final routine, a 9.850 at the NCAA regional final, is a fitting capstone and well worth a rewatch.
8. Avery Neff’s originality
We love a beam routine that has something a little bit different. In the early meets of the season, before her ankle injury, Neff debuted a bold, risk versus reward routine for Utah that’s well worth a rewatch. Her routine featured a front aerial to back handspring acro series and a rare Barani—an aerial landing on two feet—that added both difficulty and flair.
7. Ondine Achampong makes her long-awaited NCAA debut on beam
Ondine Achampong was on track to represent Team Great Britain at the Paris Olympics before an ACL injury sidelined her Olympic hopes. Known for her fluid beam work and exceptional extension, her NCAA debut for Cal was highly anticipated, and she delivered. Competing in eight beam routines during her freshman season, Achampong capped the year with a career-high 9.925 at the NCAA regional finals. Her routine was wobble free and packed with difficulty and originality, embodying the poise and precision she’s known for on the international stage.
6. Sierra Church’s beautiful presentation
Clemson’s Church has one of the most graceful beam performances in the ACC. From her elegant posture to her precise execution, every movement in her career-best 9.900 routine radiates poise and control, making it a must-watch this offseason. A walk-on last year, Church earned a $10,000 scholarship from Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux, becoming both the first female and the first non-football player to receive the honor. She was recognized for her “dedication as a walk-on athlete, contributions to the team and her embodiment of perseverance and resilience.”
5. Sierra Ballard setting the tone.
While rewatch-worthy routines often highlight event winners or top scores, the leadoff spot plays a crucial role in establishing momentum. Few have embraced that responsibility as impressively as Ballard. Her poised performance at the regional final led off a strong beam rotation for LSU and underscored the importance of a dependable leadoff. Despite scoring a 9.900—a mark that would anchor most lineups—her routine ultimately served as LSU’s drop score for the rotation.
4. Rachael Riley’s program-matching high for Rutgers
Rutgers capped off its best season in a decade by finishing 36th nationally. Junior Rachael Riley was a model of consistency on beam, hitting all 15 of her routines throughout the season. She tied the program record with a 9.950 at the Big Four quad meet against Nebraska, Ohio State, and UCLA on March 2.
3. Gabi Stephen’s first program 10.0 for MSU
Stephen has been a cornerstone for the Spartans this season, competing in the all-around 15 times. She made program history by earning the first perfect 10.0 on beam in MSU history—also the first of her career—securing her place in the record books. With that score, she completed the team’s 10.0 slam, marking perfect scores on every event across the roster.
2. Ciena Alipio’s performance in UCLA’s conference-winning beam rotation.
UCLA delivered a statement performance on beam en route to capturing its first Big Ten Conference title since leaving the Pac-10 following realignment. The Bruins posted an impressive 49.750 in the event final, showcasing depth, focus, and artistry across the lineup. The standout moment came from junior Ciena Alipio, who scored her first career perfect 10.0 on beam. Her routine was a masterclass in control and elegance, and it played a pivotal role in securing the historic team title for UCLA
1. Helen Hu’s fairytale first perfect 10.0
If there was ever a fairytale storyline in NCAA gymnastics, it was Helen Hu’s 2025 season. A longtime fan favorite, Hu, who initially retired in 2023, was already considered one of the greatest gymnasts to never score a perfect 10.0. After a year of traveling, she returned for one final season as a beam specialist. Following six career 9.975s, her elusive 10.0 finally came in the final routine of Missouri’s regular-season meet against Oklahoma—then two more followed as she helped lead Missouri to a program-best third-place finish at nationals. The routine was the culmination of years of elegance, control, and unmatched artistry—the construction was so meaningful she had the pictograms of the skills tattooed on her arm. If you’re rewatching routines from 2025, this one belongs at the top of your list.
READ THIS NEXT: Hidden Gem Routines of 2025
Article by Kt Couldrey
