When does a loss not feel like a loss for LSU gymnastics coach Jay Clark? When his Tigers put on a performance like they did Sunday against Florida.
Sure, the No. 4-ranked Gators edged out No. 2 LSU with a score of 198.450 to 198.325, marking the top meet score in the nation this season. But the Tigers matched their best score of the season and set a new high for road scores in an SEC meet, surpassing their previous best from March 2025.
Clark summed it up well: “When you compete in an environment like this against one of the top teams and finish within two-tenths of a point, it might not show as a win in the record books, but we didn’t lose anything.”
The Tigers (10-3-1, 4-3 SEC) gained ground on No. 1 Oklahoma in the National Qualifying Scores (NQS), closing the gap to just 0.076. LSU’s road score was a crucial part of this calculation, while Florida’s NQS saw only a slight increase.
Earlier this season, LSU narrowly lost to Oklahoma, and Clark believes those meets could have gone differently on neutral ground or at home. He’s confident in his team’s potential: “We have the best team in the country. The question is, will we be at our best when it matters?”
With only one more home meet against Arkansas before the SEC championships, the Tigers are gearing up for the postseason. They'll aim for their second NCAA title in Fort Worth, Texas, in April.
The meet against Florida was a showcase of high-level gymnastics, with both teams delivering 18 scores of 9.95 or better. LSU stumbled early on the uneven bars, but Lexi Zeiss’s resilience kept them in the game. Despite a fall from Ashley Cowan, the team rallied with strong performances from Madison Ulrich, Kailin Chio, and Courtney Blackson, capped by Konnor McClain’s 9.975.
After the first rotation, LSU and Florida were neck and neck at 49.375. Moving to vault, LSU posted their best-ever road score, with Kaliya Lincoln, Amari Drayton, and Chio each scoring 9.975s. Chio’s performance marked her 51st career event win.
The competition stayed fierce as LSU moved to floor and Florida to beam. Lincoln tied her career-high with a 9.975, but Florida edged ahead with a perfect 10 from Selena Harris-Miranda.
Heading into the final rotation, Florida led by a hair, 148.700 to 148.675. Despite career-high scores from Drayton and Lincoln on floor, Florida maintained their lead with consistent routines, securing the win.
Selena Harris-Miranda narrowly took the all-around title over Chio, 39.850 to 39.775, in a meet that showcased the depth and talent of both squads.
Meet Scores:
- #4 Florida: 198.450 (Vault: 49.375, Bars: 49.625, Beam: 49.700, Floor: 49.750)
- #2 LSU: 198.325 (Vault: 49.700, Bars: 49.375, Beam: 49.650, Floor: 49.600)
Individual Highlights:
- All-around: 1. Selena Harris-Miranda, Florida, 39.850; 2.
Kailin Chio, LSU, 39.775
- Vault: T1.
Kailin Chio, Kaliya Lincoln, Amari Drayton, LSU, 9.975
- Bars: T1.
Konnor McClain, LSU, Skye Blakely, Florida, 9.975
- Beam: 1.
Selena Harris-Miranda, Florida, 10.0
- Floor: 1.
Kaliya Lincoln, LSU, Skye Blakely, eMjae Frazier, Florida, 9.975
The Tigers’ performance, even in a narrow loss, sets the stage for an exciting postseason run.