Missouri gymnastics catapulted to a third-place finish at the 2025 NCAA Gymnastics Championship on Saturday, marking its best finish in program history.
Missouri had a historic performance in the semi-final, edging Florida for a spot in the final. Senior Helen Hu clinched the qualification to the final with a massive 9.9875 beam score, which simultaneously won her the beam title. For the first time in program history, Missouri gymnastics qualified for the Final Four at the National Championship — better known as “Four on the Floor.”
Missouri’s historic finish was highlighted by controversy on balance beam. Junior Amy Wier completed a strong routine, but was initially given a 9.550 due to missing a connection. The routine was followed by a judging conference, forcing Senior Amari Celestine to a lengthy wait to compete. However, Celestine prevailed, earning a 9.8625. Freshman Railey Jackson matched Celestine’s score. It was Hu who once again anchored the rotation, earning a massive 9.9625. Initially, Missouri wrapped up a fourth-place finish, but after the meet, Wier’s routine was evaluated and given a 10.0 start value and a 9.850 total score. This bumped Missouri to third place, earning the Tigers a 197.2500 to Utah’s 197.2375. Oklahoma won the team title, with UCLA following behind.
Missouri began its meet on vault. Freshman Kaia Tanskanen took a step on her Tsuk full for a 9.8125, while sophomore Hannah Horton earned a 9.8375 on her Yurchenko 1.5 that she shuffled back on. Senior Jocelyn Moore took a hop forward on her Yurchenko 1.5 for a 9.850 and senior Amari Celestine wrapped the rotation with a solid 9.9 for a 49.200 team score.
Missouri moved to bars in Rotation 2. Graduate student Kyra Burns brought in a 9.825 for her final career routine, and Moore displayed high-flying releases and a stuck dismount for a 9.850. Celestine stuck her signature “Celestine” dismount one final time to bring in a 9.8625. Graduate student Mara Titarsolej finished her career with a 9.850 for a 49.175 total.
In the final rotation, Missouri did what Missouri tends to do on the floor: it brought the party to the mat. Tanskanen executed two solid tumbling passes for a 9.8875, setting up the last three athletes perfectly. Celestine performed her energetic floor routine one last time with a 9.9125, while sophomore Kennedy Griffin performed a perfect punch-front-plus-double-tuck combination for a near perfect score of 9.950. Moore anchored the rotation with a 9.9 for a 49.4875 total.
Missouri completed the 2025 season as a season of firsts. It logged the first score of 198, first qualification to the night session at the SEC Championship, first qualification to the Final Four and first top-three finish at the national championship. If such success continues, the Tigers will bring a heavy head of momentum from their historic season into 2026.
Edited by Killian Wright | kwright@themaneater.com
Copyedited by Ava Mohror | amohror@themaneater.com
Edited by Annie Goodykoontz | agoodykoontz@themaneater.com
