In a thrilling showdown at the 2026 SEC Championship, LSU gymnastics narrowly missed out on the top spot, finishing just behind Florida and Oklahoma with a score of 197.950. The Tigers were in contention throughout the meet, often within a tenth of a point from first place. However, the final rotation saw Florida and Oklahoma post consistent 9.9s, with Florida edging out Oklahoma by a slim .025 margin.
LSU's final rotation on vault was a nail-biter. Kailin Chio anchored with an impressive 9.975, but the team couldn’t quite match the consistency of their rivals.
Lexi Zeiss kicked things off with a solid 9.875, followed by Konnor McClain’s 9.850. Victoria Roberts matched her career high with a 9.900, while Kaliya Lincoln added a 9.850.
Amari Drayton’s 9.800 was dropped, but Chio’s near-perfect vault kept LSU in the mix.
Earlier, Zeiss set an energetic tone on bars with a 9.900, leading off the rotation. Ashley Cowan and Courtney Blackson contributed scores in the 9.8 range, while Madi Ulrich’s exquisite routine earned another 9.900.
Chio dazzled once more, posting a 9.950. Despite a less-than-ideal 9.750 from McClain, who skillfully avoided a potential mishap on her bar routine, LSU found themselves just .050 points behind Florida after the first rotation.
Beam proved to be a strong event for LSU, with Kylie Coen starting off with a 9.850. Although Zeiss’ 9.800 was dropped, Drayton added another 9.850. Lincoln’s 9.900 sparked the team, and McClain and Chio finished strong with matching 9.950s, propelling LSU into the lead at the halfway mark.
Oklahoma made a valiant push with all scores over 9.9 in their second rotation, but fell just short of overtaking Florida and LSU. The Tigers maintained their momentum on floor, with Emily Innes opening with a 9.900 and Nina Ballou close behind at 9.875.
Coen added another 9.900, while Drayton’s 9.825 was the dropped score. Chio steadied the team with a 9.900, and Lincoln anchored with a stellar 9.950.
Meanwhile, the arena erupted as Oklahoma’s Faith Torrez scored a perfect 10 on beam, nudging Oklahoma ahead by .050.
LSU now sets its sights on the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional from April 1-4, where they’ll aim to build on their strong performance and vie for more success.