Clemson has undergone the most change since April. With a new coaching staff led by former California coaches Justin Howell and Liz Crandall-Howell, several fresh faces, and a strong group of returning veterans from a polished 2025 squad, the Tigers seem ready to roar into 2026 after an offseason that once looked uncertain.
2025 Rewind
No. 29 overall | No. 5 at ACC | No. 27 in regular season | Regionals round two
In its second competitive season, Clemson fell short of matching its year-one success. The Tigers scored mostly in the high 195 to low 196 range, struggling with consistency across events. After a strong beam performance in the play-in round against Rutgers, Clemson advanced before being eliminated in round two.
Losses & Gains
| RETURNING |
| Sixth Years: Eve Jackson, Tara Walsh |
| Seniors: Molly Arnold, Trinity Brown, Brie Clark, Madison Minner |
| Juniors: Takoda Berry, Kate Bryant, Sierra Church, Maggie Holman, Quinn Kuhl, Grace Lacrosse, Lilly Lippeatt, Trinity Webb |
| Sophomores: Hannah Clark |
| IN |
| Freshmen: Emma Malewski, Sophie Stuart |
| Transfers: Paige Anastasi (UCLA), Ella Cesario (Cal) |
| OUT |
| Graduated: Kielyn McCright (BB), Lauren Rutherford (UB), Rebecca Wells (UB) |
| Retired: Lily Kurrack, Danika Nielsen |
| INJURY UPDATE |
| Fifth-year Brown ruptured her Achilles four meets in and looks to be back in training. Lilly Lippeatt’s status for 2026 is in question after a shoulder surgery in late March, but Trinity Webb looks to be on the comeback after a shoulder surgery that saw her miss the 2025 season. Anastasi was in concussion protocol in October, but it’s uncertain how much, if any, it disrupted her training. |
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2025 Event Ranking: No. 24 | NQS: 49.040 | Average: 48.906 | High: 49.225
| Event Overview: If there was one thing Clemson could always be counted on for, it was clean vaulting. Heading into 2026, the Tigers retain every routine from their regionals lineup while adding new options for depth and difficulty. Expect Clemson’s vaulting to trend up this season. | ||
| Locks: Maggie Holman, Eve Jackson, Madison Minner, Tara Walsh | ||
| Contenders: Paige Anastasi, Molly Arnold, Kate Bryant, Ella Cesario, Quinn Kuhl | ||
| Wildcards: Trinity Brown, Brie Clark, Emma Malewski, Sophie Stuart |
Bars
2025 Event Ranking: No. 32 | NQS: 49.115 | Average: 48.967 | High: 49.250
| Event Overview: Bars took a bit of a dip in Clemson’s second season. While the Tigers posted some impressive scores, inconsistency and occasional falls held them back. With fifth-year Cesario, the team’s current highest NQS, joining returning NQS leader Hannah Clark, bars depth should trend up in 2026. | ||
| Locks: Takoda Berry, Hannah Clark, Ella Cesario, Eve Jackson, Emma Malewski | ||
| Contenders: Quinn Kuhl, Lilly Lippeatt, Sophie Stuart, Trinity Webb | ||
| Wildcards: Paige Anastasi, Molly Arnold, Kate Bryant |
Beam
2025 Event Ranking: No. 35 | NQS: 48.995 | Average: 48.908 | High: 49.325
| Event Overview: Beam wasn’t Clemson’s strongest event last season, but the Tigers hit when it mattered most in the regionals play-in round. With several new routine options—including German elite Emma Malewski—Clemson’s beam lineup should trend up in 2026. | ||
| Locks: Sierra Church, Ella Cesario, Brie Clark, Eve Jackson | ||
| Contenders: Quinn Kuhl, Lilly Lippeatt, Emma Malewski, Sophie Stuart, Tara Walsh, Trinity Webb | ||
| Wildcards: Paige Anastasi, Kate Bryant, Hannah Clark, Maggie Holman |
Floor
2025 Event Ranking: No. 22 | NQS: 49.270 | Average: 49.139 | High: 49.375
| Event Overview: While Clemson’s choreography wasn’t always the most artistic, the Tigers knew how to engage the home crowd, making floor their strongest event. In 2026, tumbling difficulty and presence on floor are expected to remain a hallmark of the team, if not improve even more. | ||
| Locks: Brie Clark, Maggie Holman, Madison Minner | ||
| Contenders: Molly Arnold, Ella Cesario, Eve Jackson, Lilly Lippeatt, Sophie Stuart | ||
| Wildcards: Paige Anastasi, Trinity Brown, Sierra Church, Emma Malewski, Tara Walsh |
Records Watch
Team: 197.600 | AA: 39.550 (Rebecca Wells) | VT: 49.450/9.975 (Molly Arnold) | UB: 49.400/9.925 (Kaitlin DeGuzman) | BB: 49.450/9.950 (Rebecca Wells) | FX: 49.600/9.950 (Eve Jackson)
Cesario’s final year of eligibility could see her leave a mark on Clemson’s record books, having already matched or exceeded the Tigers’ records on bars, beam, and floor in her personal career. Meanwhile, Molly Arnold, who holds Clemson’s vault record at 9.975, could contend for the program’s first perfect 10 if she returns to full strength.
The Big Picture
Clemson has undergone a major rebuild, but the team’s commitment to being all in remains unchanged. While the Howells shouldn’t be expected to reach the national finals immediately, don’t be surprised if the Tigers make a dark-horse run to the Sweet 16.
Likely 2026 finish: Regionals Round Two
READ THIS NEXT: CGN Roundtable: What the Howells Bring to Clemson
Article by Savanna Wellman
