Clark Goes Viral, Underdogs Step up All Weekend
No top-ten matchups highlighting the slate, like the previous few weeks, didn’t dampen the excitement of week nine, with performances from under-the-radar programs bringing plenty of thrills. Historic and feel-good moments from coast to coast filled the weekend as the postseason looms and teams tighten up for their final regular-season matchups.
Meet of the Week
Kentucky at Georgia
We’re not often treated to a Sunday afternoon SEC dual, but if they continue to come down to the wire like this past Sunday’s, let’s get more on the schedule. The bout between two SEC foes fighting for positioning in the middle of the pack and the rankings didn’t have a winner until the final routine, with Lily Smith’s floor finishing the weekend’s most exciting matchup. Ironically, even though the GymDogs went into the matchup as the higher-ranked team and came out victorious, it’s the Wildcats who come out ahead in the rankings. Just NQS things…
Other contenders: Saturday’s opening Big Four meet, just one of two meets in total on the day, was another tight matchup of the weekend. Michigan and host Maryland put up a good fight, but it was Minnesota who came out on top with just half a point separating first from third.
Gymnast of the Week
Brie Clark, Clemson
For successfully competing one of the sport’s most notorious skills—the Biles I on floor—Clemson’s Brie Clark has gone viral. Capping off the Tigers’ home tri-meet win, Clark put the double layout half-out to her feet (with a step out of bounds) to become the first collegiate athlete to land the skill after previously attempting but falling earlier in her career. Since Friday night, Clark has represented NCAA gymnastics well on a grand scale, appearing all over social media and television, including getting a shoutout segment on Good Morning America and having Simone Biles herself comment on the feat. Kudos to Clark for bringing national attention to the sport at the perfect time—as we head towards the postseason.
Other contenders: Get ready, as it looks like the reigning NCAA all-around champion, AAI, and Honda Award winner is back at full strength. Haleigh Bryant’s 39.725 four-event score not only pushed LSU above 198 again but is a sign she’ll be ready to defend her titles by the postseason.
Performance of the Week
Keanna Abraham, UC Davis, Vault
Amongst a stacked field that included California’s Mya Lauzon and reigning NCAA vault champ Anna Roberts of Stanford, Keanna Abraham took home the win on vault in the Cardinal Quad meet after nailing the landing of her Yurchenko one and a half. Her 9.950 capped off an outstanding rotation overall for UC Davis, who came within a tenth of beating the Golden Bears on vault with an impressive 49.200. Abraham has qualified as an individual to regionals on vault before and, projecting to do so again in 2025, could be a dark horse to snag a spot at nationals this year.
Other contenders: Freshman of the year contender Joscelyn Roberson nearly joined the 10.0 club early in her career with a near-perfect total in the Razorbacks’ defeat against Alabama.
Outrageous Moment of the Week
Yes, we have griped before about not having streams at all. But, Sunday’s Towson vs. LIU dual made us want to eat our words, as the stream was so bogged with difficulties it was barely watchable. Not only did the video jump between athletes mid-routine, but the score graphic was only able to show whole numbers, meaning following along was impossible. It’s an age of technology, and the sport is still, unfortunately, struggling with accessibility. On the plus side, we’ve got a new entry for the unwritten best live blogs list.
Other contenders: With all the money in college athletics, there has to be a way to ensure the athletes are outfitted correctly. Teams, particularly those in the top five, shouldn’t have gymnasts making multiple wedgie picks in a single routine—just get them leotards that fit.
Hidden Gem of the Week
Fisk
The sport’s first HBCU program continues to make headlines in great ways, as this past weekend, Fisk was able to defeat a Division I program in notching a new program-best score. In a tri-meet at SEMO, the Bulldogs posted a huge 194.600 to get by the host and Bridgeport, led by Morgan Price’s 39.350 in the all-around.
Other contenders: Clark wasn’t the only feel-good story out of Clemson this week, as the program also established an award in honor of Lilly Lippeatt’s brother, who passed away tragically in the summer of 2024, and awarded it to her. Lippeatt earned the newly-named Lance Corporal Noah Lippeatt Espirit de Corps Award, a “prestigious honor recognizing an individual gymnast who embodies the unwavering camaraderie, selflessness, and unity that defined Lance Corporal Lippeatt’s service in the United States Marine Corps.”
Viral Moment of the Week
Gymnasts continue to be some of the most caring athletes, always taking the opportunity to respect, remember, advocate for, or raise awareness for the people and causes they care most about. This week, ribbons were the theme, as LSU donned black ribbons in honor of a Tiger track and field athlete who tragically passed away. Elsewhere, Iowa sported ribbons supporting Autoimmune Hepatitis, a disease Autumn Grable—former NCAA coach and wife of current Hawkeye assistant coach Kyle Grable—is currently fighting.
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Article by Brandis Heffner
