Tag: Konnor MccLain

LSU’s Jay Clark is optimistic about future of gymnastics program despite incoming loss of talent

Despite the incoming exodus of talent, Jay Clark is optimistic about next year’s gymnastics squad.

The LSU gymnastics team finally got over the hump in 2024, winning the first national championship in program history with an absolutely loaded roster.

There will be some changes next season, however. The Tigers have 11 gymnasts on the roster who are either seniors or graduate students, including the nation’s top gymnast [autotag]Haleigh Bryant[/autotag] as well as [autotag]Kiya Johnson[/autotag] and others.

The cupboard won’t be completely bare in 2025, however, with gymnasts like [autotag]Aleah Finnegan[/autotag], a junior, and [autotag]Konnor McClain[/autotag], a true freshman, set to return. With those pieces, coach [autotag]Jay Clark[/autotag] remains optimistic about the future despite what this team is set to lose.

“I feel really good about the team we have coming back next year,” Clark said, per On3. “Their role will continue to increase and get more and more. I think they’re tremendous, but I feel incredibly optimistic about what we have coming back and the freshman class that’s coming in. I’m excited.”

LSU has reached the final round of the NCAA tournament three times since 2019, and it seems fair to assume this program isn’t going away any time soon even though it has to retool this offseason.

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LSU gymnastics wins 1st national championship in program history

The Tigers finally reached the gymnastics mountaintop.

At long last, the LSU gymnastics program stands atop the mountain as national champions.

The Tigers, led by coach [autotag]Jay Clark[/autotag], captured the 2024 NCAA gymnastics championship on Saturday in what was their second consecutive Four on the Floor appearance. Unlike last year’s trip, which ended in disappointment, LSU has finally shrugged off the moniker of “best team to never win a championship.”

The Tigers finished with a score of 198.2250, edging out No. 3 California (silver), No. 5 Utah (bronze) and No. 4 Florida. [autotag]Haleigh Bryant[/autotag] took home individual titles in the vault, while [autotag]Konnor McClain[/autotag] had the high score on the beam.

“They did everything we asked them to all year long,” Clark said on the broadcast. “It feels fantastic and I’m just so happy for them. I’m speechless.”

LSU ultimately clinched the win in the final rotation on the beam, in which it set a school record.

It took 10 appearances in the finals, but the Tigers are finally bringing the gymnastics trophy to Baton Rouge.

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LSU gymnastics advances to Fayetteville NCAA Regional final with top score in opening session

The Tigers recorded the top team score in each rotation.

The No. 2 national-seeded LSU gymnastics team looked the part in its opening session at the Fayetteville NCAA Regional on Thursday night.

The Tigers recorded the top score of the four teams in the session, beating out 15-seeded Minnesota as well as Oregon State and BYU with a score of 197.800. Both the Tigers and Golden Gophers advance to the regional final as the top two scoring teams, which will take place on Sunday also in Bud Walton Arena.

LSU led all four teams in each rotation with the highest team score — 49.700 — coming on the floor. That was in large part thanks to a perfect 10 from [autotag]Aleah Finnegan[/autotag].

[autotag]Haleigh Bryant[/autotag] and [autotag]Konnor McClain[/autotag] recorded scores of 9.925 on the vault and balance beam, respectively. Bryant finished with a 39.525 all-around score, the second-highest in the session behind Oregon State’s Jade Carey.

Coach Jay Clark’s team is looking to return to the NCAA championships in Fort Worth, Texas, when it takes part in the regional final on Sunday.

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Haleigh Bryant, Jay Clark headline postseason SEC awards for LSU gymnastics

The SEC champions dominate the postseason awards, and five Tigers made the All-SEC team.

LSU gymnastics captured its first SEC title since 2019 over the weekend, and now the Tigers head into their NCAA regional in Fayetteville, Arkansas, as a No. 1 national seed.

The Tigers have a program-best National Qualifying Score of 198.215, and that’s in large part thanks to superstar [autotag]Haleigh Bryant[/autotag]. She set the program record for Perfect 10s this season, and she’s been named the SEC Gymnast of the Year.

She’s joined as a postseason award winner by her head coach, [autotag]Jay Clark[/autotag], who was named the Co-SEC Coach of the Year alongside Kentucky’s Tim Garrison.

Further, five total Tigers were named to the All-SEC team, including Bryant as well as [autotag]Ashley Cowan[/autotag], [autotag]Kiya Johnson[/autotag], [autotag]KJ Johnson[/autotag] and [autotag]Konnor McClain[/autotag].

McClain was also named a member of the All-Freshman team.

 

LSU begins its postseason run in Fayetteville next Thursday, April 4, at 7 p.m. CT.

 

 

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LSU gymnastics’ Konnor McClain takes home weekly award

LSU’s Konnor McClain recorded a perfect 10 on bars at last weekend’s quad meet.

LSU gymnastics star freshmen took home some SEC honors this week with [autotag]Konnor MccLain[/autotag] winning SEC Specialist of The Week.

McClain notched a perfect 10 on bars last weekend at the Sprouts Collegiate Quad Meet, where the Tigers finished second, behind Oklahoma but ahead of Utah and UCLA.

McClain’s 10 earned hers the bars title at the meet and continued a strong start to her career. McClain’s performance made her the seventh gymnast in program history to record a perfect score on bars and the first to do it away from home since 2019.

With the help of McClain, LSU posted its third-highest bars score in program history.

LSU’s off to a strong start after winning the season opener against Ohio State and following it up with second place at the quad meet.

The Tigers are set to begin conference play on Friday with Kentucky visiting the PMAC. It’s a top-10 battle with LSU sitting at No. 8 and Kentucky at No. 6.

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