Helen Hu scores a 9.975 on beam helping lead the Tigers to a 197.175 score.
After a win over Kentucky last week, No. 9 Missouri took on No. 3 LSU in an all-Tiger matchup.
Missouri lost the meet 198.000-197.175. Despite Missouri losing the dual, the score will help their national ranking.
Missouri started on bars, and LSU started on vault. After one rotation, LSU led 49.550 – 49.175.
Graduate student Kyra Burns started the team off right on bars with a stuck double layout dismount to earn a 9.850. Senior Jocelyn Moore followed up with a 9.850 of her own. Senior Amari Celestine soared through her bar routine that included a Van Leeuwen release and capped the routine off with a stuck “Celestine” dismount, bringing in a 9.900. Graduate student Mara Titarsolej showcased brilliant toe point and form bringing in a 9.925.
LSU appeared to have glue on their feet on the vault, as four separate gymnasts scored a 9.9 or higher. KJ Johnson led the team with a stuck Yurchenko full to earn a 9.900. The rest of the rotation followed suit as Chase Brock, Aleah Finnegan and Kaliya Lincoln all stuck their difficult Yurchenko 1.5s and each earned a 9.925.
In rotation two, Missouri moved to vault, and LSU moved to bars. After two rotations LSU led 98.975 – 98.525 behind a stellar vault score. Four Missouri gymnasts finished on vault with a 9.8 or higher. Sophomore Hannah Horton stuck her Yurchenko 1.5 and earned a 9.925. Celestine got plenty of distance on her Yurchenko 1.5, which helped her score a 9.900. Moore had two small shuffles back on her Yurchenko 1.5 which led her to a 9.800. Missouri earned a vault total of 49.175.
Senior Alexis Jeffrey stuck her sky-high full-twisting double-back dismount to earn a 9.925 for LSU. First-year standout Kailin Chio followed with another 9.925. Sophomore Konnor McClain anchored the rotation, executing a Church plus Pak Salto combination, and earned a 9.875. LSU earned a bar total of 49.425.
In rotation three, Missouri moved to floor and LSU to beam. Heading into the fourth rotation, Missouri trailed 148.525 – 147.85. Five separate Tigers finished with a score of 9.8 or higher on floor.
Sophomore Rayna Light led the rotation with a 9.850 capping the routine off with a strong double pike. Junior Elise Tisler followed with two great tumbling passes that brought in a 9.875. Sophomore Kennedy Griffin stuck her last tumbling pass without having to lunge back, making a worthy 9.875. Moore closed to rotation with an energetic routine that showcased a sky-high double layout and scored a 9.900. Missouri finished with a floor total of 49.325.
LSU’s beam rotation was highlighted by a pair of 9.950s from Chio and McClain. These two helped give LSU a beam total of 49.550.
In the final rotation, LSU closed out on floor, while Missouri finished on beam.
After disappearing from the beam rotation last week, Celestine excelled in her return with a 9.850. This routine helped her earn a career-high all-around score of 39.475, finishing second behind Chio. In her second-ever collegiate beam routine, first-year Olivia Kelly capped off a sound routine with a stuck dismount for a 9.875. Beam specialist Helen Hu performed a near-perfect beam routine and scored a 9.975. Missouri ended its beam rotation with a total of 49.325, matching its floor score.
For LSU, Chio earned a 9.900 on floor to win the All-Around with a 39.650. Sophomore Amari Drayton followed with a 9.900 of her own. Lastly, graduate student Haleigh Bryant closed the rotation with a 9.950 earning LSU earned a total of 49.475 on floor, securing the dual win 198.000 – 197.175.
This meet marked the second week in a row where Missouri finished with a score above 197.
Edited by Dylan Heinrich | dheinrich@themaneater.com
Copy edited by Natalie Kientzy | nkientzy@themaneater.com
Edited by Emily Skidmore | eskidmore@themaneater.com