LSU Gymnastics Survives in Columbia, Clinches First Win at Missouri Since 2020
The LSU Tigers packed up their leotards, braved an 800-mile trip, and came away with more than just frequent flyer miles. The No. 2-ranked squad edged out No.
7 Missouri in a high-stakes SEC showdown Friday night, 197.675-197.500-their first win in Columbia since 2020. It wasn’t always pretty, and it definitely wasn’t easy, but it was gritty, gutsy, and a big-time road result for the defending back-to-back SEC champions.
And they did it while battling more than just the home team. Head coach Jay Clark noted that several members of the program were dealing with illness, making LSU’s performance all the more impressive. Let’s break down how it all unfolded across four rotations that had a little bit of everything-big scores, controversial judging, and a clutch finish.
Rotation 1: Vault - LSU 49.375, Missouri 49.275
Missouri opened strong on vault, but their reliance on Yurchenko Fulls-solid but lower-difficulty vaults-capped their scoring ceiling. LSU took advantage.
Lexi Zeiss kicked things off with a 9.800, setting the tone. Madison Ulrich followed with a clean and powerful vault that earned a 9.925.
Haley Mustari made her debut and didn’t flinch, sticking her routine for a 9.900. Kailin Chio had a surprising 9.725-low for her standards-but Courtney Blackson bounced back with a 9.925.
Konnor McClain wrapped the rotation with a 9.825, giving LSU a slight early edge.
Rotation 2: Bars - LSU 98.800, Missouri 98.625
LSU moved to vault and delivered their best rotation of the season there, scoring a 49.425. Missouri, meanwhile, put up a 49.350 on bars, but small errors on landings and handstands across the first four routines kept them from maximizing their potential.
Lexi opened LSU’s vault set with a Yurchenko 1.5 that she tried to stick a little too hard, earning a 9.775. Konnor followed with a clean Yurchenko Full for a 9.825.
Courtney looked sharp in her return to the lineup, scoring a 9.900. Amari Drayton nearly stuck her Y1.5 and walked away with a 9.950.
Kaliya Lincoln had a big hop on her landing, which cost her, but she still posted a 9.800. Then came Kailin, who drilled her Y1.5 with her usual flair, matching Amari’s 9.950 to close out a stellar vault rotation.
Rotation 3: Floor - LSU 148.350, Missouri 148.025
This is where LSU really started to separate. They posted a 49.550 on floor-an electric rotation that showcased their depth and power.
Missouri answered with a 49.400 on beam, thanks in large part to standout routines from Lauren MacPherson and Addison Lawrence, who notched her fourth 9.950 of the year. But a couple of mid-lineup mistakes kept Missouri from gaining more ground.
Emily Innes led off LSU’s floor with a steady 9.850. Nina Ballou followed with what might’ve been her best routine yet, scoring a 9.900.
Kylie Coen matched her with a 9.900 of her own. Amari had a rare misstep, going out of bounds on her double layout, but still salvaged a 9.775.
Then came the fireworks-Kailin and Kaliya both delivered show-stopping routines, each earning 9.950s to cap off the rotation and give LSU a cushion heading into the final event.
Rotation 4: Beam - LSU 197.675, Missouri 197.500
The final rotation wasn’t without drama. Missouri closed strong on floor with a 49.475, delivering a series of clean, high-energy routines. But LSU’s early lead gave them just enough breathing room-though the beam scores raised some eyebrows.
Kylie Coen started with a 9.850, a score that felt a bit generous given the execution. Lexi followed with a 9.825 on a routine that looked slightly sharper.
Amari posted a 9.925, a score that drew some criticism from commentators but aligned with current judging trends. Kaliya had a noticeable lean after her full turn, resulting in a 9.750.
Konnor’s routine was uncharacteristically shaky, and the 9.550 reflected that. Suddenly, LSU’s lead was shrinking.
But Kailin Chio stepped up when it mattered most. Needing a 9.9 or better to seal the win, she delivered a clutch, composed routine that earned a 9.975-her highest beam score yet-and clinched the meet for the Tigers.
Takeaways
This was a statement win for LSU-not just because of the final score, but because of how they got there. Vault and floor were both excellent, with multiple gymnasts stepping up in big moments.
Bars looked clean and consistent. Beam was shaky, no doubt, but LSU stayed on the apparatus and hit when it counted.
Yes, some of the beam scores were eyebrow-raising, but across 48 routines, LSU was the better team. Missouri had their moments, especially on floor and beam, but a few key errors opened the door-and LSU walked through it.
After three straight road meets to open the season, LSU now returns to Baton Rouge for a pair of home meets, starting with a non-conference clash against Penn State on February 6. It’s a chance to build momentum and clean up the beam inconsistencies, all while feeding off the energy of the home crowd.
This team is still rounding into form, but if Friday night was any indication, they’ve got the depth, the resilience, and the star power to make another deep postseason run.