The most anticipated series is back! We looked at data and videos for incoming freshmen on each event to see which gymnasts are at the top of their class across the apparatuses and in the all-around. Today we’re looking at the top beam workers.
We ranked the top 10 level 10s and top five elite gymnasts on each event by considering past scores and performances, but also potential to shine at the NCAA level. In an effort to balance the names across all NCAA programs, we limited each list to two gymnasts per school.
The Level 10s
Love Birt, Alabama
Birt had a solid run as a junior elite and was named to the 2020 U.S. junior national team. She made a return to level 10 in 2023 and beam quickly became her signature event. At the 2024 level 10 national championships, Birt tied for sixth on beam with a 9.625. In 2022, she reached her career best on the event with a 9.875. She’s got the potential to slot into the Crimson Tide’s beam lineup following the graduation of beam staples Luisa Blanco and Ella Burgess.
Kailin Chio, LSU
Just like on the other three events, Kailin Chio is rock solid on beam. During the 2024 season she went undefeated on beam and capped off the year with a national title. Another former elite, Chio has high difficulty in her routine, beginning with a D-rated back handspring mount. If she manages the freshman jitters early on, LSU and its fans could be in for something special.
Rylee Guevara, Ohio State
Guevara sets herself apart on beam with her huge back two-and-a-half twisting dismount. While Ohio State might change out that skill for one that is easier to stick, Guevara isn’t scared to up the difficulty. At the 2024 level 10 national championships, she tied for sixth on beam in a competitive division including Birt and Elle Mueller. If she brings that competitive nature to Columbus, she could find herself as a regular in the Buckeyes’ beam lineup.
Madison Gustitus, San Jose State
As San Jose State’s sole five-star recruit from the class of 2025, Madison Gustitus shines on all the events, but she excels on beam. She holds a career-high of 9.825, and topped the event in the senior F division at the 2024 level 10 national championships, defeating Guevara, Elle Mueller, and Birt in the process. Her abilities on beam should be able to replace any lineup holes left by last year’s graduating class.
Olivia Kelly, Missouri
Utilizing her World Championships experience, Olivia Kelly has serious difficulty on beam. Her routine includes a double wolf turn and a unique illusion turn and she dismounts with a back two-and-a-half twist. Kelly won six out of her nine competitive beam routines in 2024 and earned the bronze medal at the 2024 level 10 nationals. Her 9.900 at the Region 7 championships was the third-highest score in the nation last year.
Macy McGowan, UCLA
McGowan has improved tremendously over the past three years. In 2024, she brought the heat and won titles at the 2024 level 10 national championships in the all-around, vault, and floor. While she missed the title on beam, her routine is college ready; she’s already sticking her back one and a half dismount in pressure situations. The Bruins will need to replace Selena Harris’ routine in the lineup and McGowan could factor in to that spot.
Elle Mueller, Oklahoma
While making Oklahoma’s beam lineup can be difficult, Mueller might be able to break in. Her routine is done with a precision and elegance that sets her apart from the rest of the Sooners. Her skills are puntuated by a distinctive toe point that should impress NCAA judges and fans alike. Last season she earned a career-high 9.850 – a score that would have counted in Oklahoma’s beam lineup during the 2024 NCAA semifinals.
Avery Neff, Utah
Neff should record big scores on all four events, but beam could be where she makes her mark immediately. Like many of her Red Rock teammates, Neff competes an aerial to back handspring as her acro series. What sets hers apart is that it could be upgraded to a layout stepout. She is the 2023 national champion on beam and the runner-up at the most recent championships. With Utah’s beam queen Maile O’Keefe having graduated, Neff is likely to find herself in head coach Carly Dockendorf’s lineup.
Audrey Sanger, Michigan
If there’s one thing a judge needs to know before Audrey Sanger’s beam routine, it’s that they won’t have to take a deduction for lack of split. Sanger’s flexibility is top-notch; she quickly hits 180-degrees in her switch leap to switch half series. She scored her career high of 9.825 at the City of Light Invitational in 2024. Graduating seniors Sierra Brooks and Gabby Wilson left voids on all four events for the Wolverines, but Sanger could fill in one of those spots on beam.
Kelsey Slade, Oklahoma
Slade is capable of adding to the consistency of Oklahoma’s beam lineup. She hit all eight of her beam routines during the 2024 season, taking home the Region 1 title in the process. While she doesn’t show off any unnecessary difficulty in her routine, she has nailed the basics and could be a regular member of the Sooner’s lineup in 2025.
The Elites
Kaliya Lincoln, LSU
Lincoln has all the ingredients to be a superstar on beam at LSU. She competes a big back handspring back layout series that could easily stay in her college routine. She also meets the mark in the splits department, showcasing a full 180 degree split on her switch half. Head coach Jay Clark’s biggest challenge will be finding an easier routine that Lincoln can consistently hit but when he does, she should see some time in the lineup.
Clara Raposo, Utah
Raposo has all the ingredients to become a strong beam worker in the NCAA. Her elements are clean, and an easier version of her elite routine will give her the potential for high scores in Salt Lake City. What really sets her apart from her peers is her artistry. Raposo puts on a performance no matter the event, and in front of 14,000+ fans in the Huntsman Center, the audience might be all she needs to find confidence at the NCAA level.
Ui Soma, Stanford
Soma could easily slot herself in Tabitha Yim’s beam lineup this upcoming season. As a member of the Japanese senior national team, she has elite experience prior to arriving in Palo Alto. Her routine includes a massive triple acro series, a combination that could stay in her NCAA routine. On top of her acro elements, Soma can cleanly execute leaps and turns – a recipe for big scores at the collegiate level.
Ava Stewart, Minnesota
While ring positions are difficult to receive credit for, Ava Stewart’s leave no doubt. Her leaps and jumps will make for a gorgeous collegiate beam routine – likely one that will highlight her dance elements. Her elite acro series was a back handspring to back tuck full and while that combination likely won’t appear in the NCAA, Stewart’s experience as an elite means she likely has options to choose from.
Aurélie Tran, Iowa
Like her Canadian teammate Clara Raposo, Aurélie Tran’s leaps and jumps stand out. She effortlessly hits perfect split positions and balances it out with a college-ready back handspring to layout stepout series. Tran already has experience at the World Championships and Olympics – a resume that not many of her NCAA counterparts can match.
Honorable Mentions
- Abigail Bednar, Kentucky – Watch her routine
- Chloe Cho, Illinois – Watch her routine
- Peyton Davis, Michigan – Watch her routine
- Sophia Diaz, Michigan – Watch her routine
- Brooke Gleichowski, Georgia – Watch her routine
- Levi Jung-Ruiviar, Stanford – Watch her routine
- Ellie Monahan, Penn State – Watch her routine
- Alyssa Orgen, Kentucky – Watch her routine
- Harley Tomlin, Georgia – Watch her routine
- Sydney Turner, Iowa – Watch her routine
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Article by Aaron Doyle, with additional reporting from Gemma Selby and Brynn Robbins
