Da Boot Sports
2/23/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   ​GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The No. 2 LSU Gymnastics team (7-3, 4-2 SEC) fell to No. 5 Florida (10-1, 5-1 SEC) by a final score 198.150-197.950 on Friday night in the O’Connell Center.

The Tigers recorded a season high road score after a strong performance in Gainesville. Their 197.950 the night was the program's fourth-highest score away from the PMAC. 

“I think our team did enough to win in there tonight. They responded to the challenge, they did their job, and I’m proud of how they competed. I thought bars was better than what the scores indicated, but that’s not up to us. It was a great overall performance and without a doubt our best road performance of the year from top to bottom,” said head coach Jay Clark. 

“It was a great meet and great atmosphere. Florida is a good team. The sting of the loss bothers us a little bit naturally, but at the same time, we improved our NQS and kept ourselves where we want to be. Onto the next one.”


LSU began the meet on bars with Alexis Jeffrey in the leadoff spot, where she got things started with a 9.850. Ashley Cowan, Kiya Johnson and Konnor McClain all posted solid routines for the Tigers and scored three 9.825’s in their respective spots. Savannah Schoenherr recorded a 9.85 in the fifth spot in her return to Gainesville since joining the Tiger family. Haleigh Bryant anchored with the second highest bars score on the night with her 9.925.

Florida took the early lead in Gainesville with a score of 49.600-49.275 after the first rotation. The Tigers headed to vault as the Gators rotated to bars.

On vault, KJ Johnson led off with a 9.825 and Aleah Finnegan followed with a 9.800. Amari Drayton continued to impress in her freshman campaign as she stuck a yurchenko 1.5 that scored a 9.975 for the Tigers in the third spot. Schoenherr, Johnson and Bryant closed out the back half of the lineup with their scores of 9.875, 9.950 and 9.925. Johnson’s yurchenko double was a season high on the night.

Drayton’s nearly perfect routine earned her the top spot on the night and her first event victory in her young career. 

The LSU vault squad recorded a season high 49.550 in the second rotation to even the competition with the Gators at 98.825 at the halfway point in the O’Connell Center.

The Tigers continue to prove to be one of the top floor squad’s in the nation after matching the program’s highest score on the event against the Gators. Konnor McClain got things started for LSU on floor with her 9.900 in the leadoff spot, followed by fellow freshman teammate Drayton, who earned a 9.925. KJ Johnson showed out in the third spot as she matched her career high with her 9.950 performance. Finnegan, Bryant and Kiya Johnson kept the fire going for the Tigers in the last three spots. 

Finnegan found perfection in back-to-back weeks as she scored a 10 in the fourth spot on floor. It was her fourth perfect score on the event and sixth in her career. Bryant and Johnson both recorded 9.950’s to close out the best floor rotation of the year.


The Tigers’ 49.775 floor performance was the highest ever recorded on the road and put LSU in the lead heading into the final rotation by a score of 148.600-148.450. 

“That may be the best floor rotation I have ever witnessed by any team in my years of coaching. It was stellar,” said Clark. “They did exactly what we told them to do. They went to vault and responded and then went to floor and knocked it out of the park.”

Sierra Ballard and Kiya Johnson scored 9.825’s on beam, while Finnegan scored a 9.800. Annie Beard received a 9.675. McClain and Bryant both tallied a pair of 9.950 to lead the Tigers on the event and finish the final rotation with a 49.350. 

Bryant continues to show out for the Tigers as she recorded scores of 9.9+ on every event for LSU and had a score of 39.750 on the night. 

Finnegan finished as the top floor performer on the night for her second floor title this year to move her total to seven on the event. She now owns 19 individual wins in her career.

LSU will host Alabama next Friday, March 1 at 5 p.m. CT in the PMAC. The competition between the Tigers and the Tide will be the squad’s second meet on ESPN2 this year.


​

ohn 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
2/16/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


   BATON ROUGE — The No. 3 LSU Gymnastics team (7-2, 4-1 SEC) defeated No. 12 Auburn (5-6, 1-4 SEC) in front of a sold out crowd by a score of 198.300-197.100 on Friday night in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. 

The victory marked LSU’s eighth straight win over the visiting Tigers when facing off in the PMAC. The score was also the squad’s third 198 of the year, making LSU the team with the second-most scores on that scale so far this year.

“Great night. Great atmosphere. We can’t thank the fans enough for coming here and selling this place out. That was a lot of fun,” said head coach Jay Clark. “LSU people are special. To be able to support your baseball team as defending national champions and then come across the street and seat 12,740 is awesome. I don’t know any other place in the country that would do that. We are grateful.”

The LSU vault squad kicked off the Friday Night Heights competition in Baton Rouge with a 9.775 from KJ Johnson. Aleah Finnegan posted a season high 9.995 in the second spot. Amari Drayton earned a 9.900 while Savannah Schoenherr followed with a 9.875. Kiya Johnson posted a 9.850 before Haleigh Bryant anchored with a 9.900 to close out the first rotation with a 49.475.

The home Tigers moved to bars for their second rotation where Alexis Jeffrey earned a 9.850 in the leadoff spot. Tori Tatum made her second appearance on bars this season, posting a 9.800. In the third spot, Ashley Cowan matched her career high of 9.900 while Kiya Johnson added a 9.875. Savannah Schoenherr and Bryant both recorded a pair of 9.925’s for the Tigers to close out the first half of the meet.

LSU earned a 49.475 on bars to extend their lead to 98.950-98.350 at the halfway point in the PMAC.

Sierra Ballard led off with a 9.875 to get things started on beam in the third rotation. Jeffrey followed with a 9.925, a career high performance. Konnor McClain recorded a nearly-perfect routine in the third spot with her 9.975. Kiya Johnson and Bryant both posted scores of 9.950 for the Tigers before Finnegan anchored with a 9.925.

The Tigers recorded a season high 49.725 on beam, which matched the highest score on the event in program history. The score has only been achieved four times in school history, with the last time being in 2018. 

LSU led Auburn by a score of 148.675-147.650 heading into the final rotation in the PMAC.

Ballard returned to the lead off spot for the floor squad and scored a 9.775. Drayton matched her career high of a 9.925 in the second spot. KJ Johnson followed, tallying another 9.925. Finnegan performed a perfect routine, notching her fifth perfect score and third on floor. Still with two routines to go on the night, Bryant kept the momentum going with her 9.925 routine and Olivia Dunne closed out the rotation with a 9.850 after entering the lineup at the last minute.

LSU hit every routine in front of 12,740 fans in the PMAC, the seventh largest attendance in school history. The night was highlighted by a program-high beam performance that helped the team earn the victory over No. 12 Auburn and secure their fifth conference win and seventh over a ranked opponent this year.

Five LSU Tigers had season high performances against Auburn. Finnegan recorded season highs on vault, floor and beam, while Kiya Johnson’s beam routine was also a season high. Cowan matched her career high on bars and Jeffrey set a new career high on beam with her 9.925 performance. 

Finnegan finished the meet as the top performer on vault and floor. She now owns 18 titles in her career and added to her individual event titles with six on floor and two on vault.

Bryant earned a share of the bars title with teammates Schoenherr as well her third straight all-around title and fifth this year. She finished the night with a score of 39.700.

The senior now owns 75 career individual titles and moved her total to 24 in the all-around and 11 on bars. Her two titles on the night put her ahead of Susan Jackson in the program records, as she now sits at sixth all-time.

It was Schoenherr’s second title in the Purple & Gold and second on bars.

McClain’s beam routine earned her the victory on the event, moving her total to four this year – three of those coming on beam.

LSU will get ready to travel to Gainesville and face Florida this week on Friday, February 23 at 6 p.m. CT on ESPN2.
​

Photos Below By: Michael Bacigalupi

John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

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Da Boot Sports
2/9/2024
LSU Sports Communications
By: Alyssa Leal


​   ATHENS, Ga. — The No. 3 LSU Gymnastics team (5-2, 2-1 SEC) defeated Georgia in their third meet on the road.


LSU began the dual-meet on bars. Alexis Jeffrey started things off with a 9.875 in the leadoff spot for the Tigers. Ashley Cowan and Kiya Johnson followed with a pair of 9.850s. In the fourth spot, freshman Konnor McClain posted a 9.875. To close out the rotation, Savannah Schoenherr and Haleigh Bryant both recorded additional 9.850s. 


Through the first rotation, the Tigers led by a score of 49.300 – 49.050 over the Bulldogs in Stegeman Coliseum. 


The Tigers began the second rotation with a powerful 9.850 from KJ Johnson on vault. Aleah Finnegan followed with the same score. In the third spot, freshman Amari Drayton posted a 9.825. Savannah Schoenherr kept a steady pace with a 9.825 in her return to her hometown. Kiya Johnson got the energy up, scoring the first 9.900 for the Tigers before Haleigh Bryant closed with a team-high 9.95 in the anchor spot. 


At the halfway point, LSU continued to lead 98.675-98.300.


Olivia Dunne started the floor squad out with a 9.800. Amari Drayton posted a 9.825. KJ Johnson made a reappearance on floor, adding a 9.900 to LSU’s score. Aleah Finnegan scored a strong 9.925 while Haleigh Bryant led the floor squad overall, posting a 9.950. In the closing spot, Kiya Johnson had an explosive performance that earned her a 9.925. 


Going into the last rotation, the Tigers led the Bulldogs 148.200-147.600.


The beam squad was led by Sierra Ballard who posted a 9.825. Alexi Jeffrey contributed a calm 9.775. Freshman Konnor McClain earned a 9.925 in the third spot. Kiya Johnson added a 9.850 to close out her all-around performance. Senior Haleigh Bryant made history on beam, earning a perfect 10.00. This is Bryant’s 13th career ten and her first on beam. She now has a perfect score on each apparatus. To close out the meet, Aleah Finnegan posted a 9.825 in the anchor spot.


The Tigers secured the win against Georgia 197.625-197.075.

​

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Da Boot Sports
2/2/2024
By: Terrill J. Weil


   BATON ROUGE, LA - The #5 LSU Gymnastics team returned home to the Assembly Center to take on the 7th ranked Arkansas Razorbacks, looking to rebound from their disappointing loss at Missouri last week and that they did. The Tigers had an incredible night as the entire unit was as solid as you can get, taking down Arkansas, 198.475 - 196.200.... 

   The 198.475 scored by LSU is the highest score in the nation so for this season. It also breaks the team record for the highest score in program history and ties for the 14th all-time best score in NCAA history. 


​   As always, while at home the Tigers began the opening rotation on the vault. KJ Johnson lead off with an impressive 9.875, followed by Aleah Finnegan who also scored a 9.875. Savannah Schoenherr scored a 9.800. Amari Drayton and Kiya Johnson each posted a solid 9.900. Haleigh Bryant, the anchor of the vault team, posted a team leading 9.975....  

   After the first rotation, LSU held a 49.525 to 48.175 advantage thanks to a couple of mishaps on the bars by the Razorbacks. 

   Next up on the bars, Alexis Jeffrey opened up with a solid 9.875. Ashley Cowan then added a 9.775 before Kiya Johnson stuck a fantastic 9.900. Connor McClain scored an outstanding, 9.925.  Haleigh Bryant scored a 9.900. But it was Savannah Schoenherr who led the team with an impressive, 9.950.

   The Tigers now held a 99.075 to 97.375 after the second rotation.

   The Tigers took to the balance beam for the third rotation with Sierra Ballard leading off with a solid 9.900 before Alexis Jeffrey put up a 9.875. Kiya Johnson posted a 9.900... Haleigh Bryant posted a fantastic, 9.950... Aleah Finnegan worked her way to a 9.900.... Konnor McCain led the squad with an impressive 9.975.

   As the meet headed to the final rotation, LSU found themselves up, 148.700 to 146.750....

   Konor McClain led off for the Tigers on the floor, posting a strong 9.975.... Amari Drayton followed with a 9.900... Olivia Dunne saw her first action of the night to the delight of the 12,538 fans in attendance, scoring a 9.875...  Aleah Finnegan then added a fantastic 9.925.... Haleigh Bryant then scored a perfect 10.000 with a beautiful routine.  Kiya Johnson then finished up the night with a powerful routine that scored a 9,975.
   Bryant continues to add to her school record of perfect 10s, as she now has 12 total in her outstanding career.
   Halieigh also won the All-Around Title on the night. 

   With the victory the Tigers are now 5-2 overall and 2-1 in the SEC.

   Next up the Tigers will travel to Athens to do battle with the Georgia Bulldogs on February 9th. The meet kicks off at 5:00pm CST and will be carried on the SECNetwork. 

​

Photos Below By: Terrill Weil

Photos Below By: Jonathan Mailhes

​John 14:6 - "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (Accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior)

​*John 3;16 - For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.