LSU’s Madison Ulrich Lets Her Gymnastics Do the Talking - and It’s Speaking Loudly
Madison Ulrich isn’t one for the spotlight off the mat. In fact, she’s the kind of athlete who’d rather let her routines speak for her - and so far this season, they’ve been saying plenty.
The LSU junior, now in her first year with the Tigers, has quickly become a key piece in the lineup for the No. 3-ranked squad. But if you ask her about the media attention that comes with that role, she’ll give it to you straight.
“I was only asked questions by the media once before I came here in two years of collegiate gymnastics,” Ulrich said with a laugh this week.
That quiet confidence is part of what makes Ulrich so effective. LSU head coach Jay Clark, known for his playful nicknames, dubbed her “Mad Dog” - a tongue-in-cheek contrast to her calm, composed demeanor.
“That’s Jay,” Ulrich said, smiling. “I do get locked in when I’m in the gym.”
And that’s where she thrives. While she may not be the loudest voice in the room, Ulrich’s presence on the floor is undeniable. Her freshman teammate Nina Ballou, far more outgoing by nature, called Ulrich one of her closest friends on the team - a testament to the respect she commands in the locker room.
“I really love to do gymnastics because I can express that side of me,” Ulrich said. “Show that side of myself to the world that people wouldn’t otherwise see. I don’t like to talk too much, so that’s easier.”
She’ll get another chance to express herself Friday night when LSU hosts No. 14 Penn State at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center.
First vault is set for 7:30 p.m. CT, and while the meet won’t be on traditional TV, fans can catch it streaming on SECNetwork+.
From Denver to Baton Rouge: A Journey of Growth
Ulrich’s path to LSU started in Fort Mill, South Carolina, just outside Charlotte. She spent her first two collegiate seasons at Denver, a perennial power out west. While the Pioneers didn’t qualify for nationals as a team during her time there, Ulrich made it in 2025 as an individual all-arounder - and she didn’t just show up, she showed out.
She earned three All-American honors at nationals, finishing sixth in the all-around, seventh on beam, and eighth on bars. It was a breakout performance that put her on the national radar.
“I loved my time there,” Ulrich said. “Everything there was a learning experience for me. I just felt called to enter the portal.”
LSU didn’t hesitate. The Tigers made Ulrich their top transfer target, but the competition was stiff.
She also visited Utah and Oklahoma - the latter fresh off a national title and a team she rotated with during semifinals at nationals. For a while, LSU’s staff thought she might end up in Norman.
But once Ulrich made her visit to Baton Rouge, the decision became clear.
“Coming to LSU was the greatest thing to ever happen to me,” she said. “The team welcomed me with open arms.
I appreciate that I got this opportunity. It’s one of the most supportive environments that I’ve been in.”
Instant Impact in the Lineup
Ulrich didn’t need a warm-up period. From the jump, she was a plug-and-play all-arounder for LSU, debuting in the loaded Sprouts Collegiate Quad meet against Oklahoma, UCLA, and Utah - three of the sport’s biggest names.
She delivered: 9.90s on vault and bars, 9.825s on beam and floor, and a 39.450 all-around score that tied for fourth overall. The only gymnasts ahead of her? Olympic gold medalist Jordan Chiles of UCLA, LSU teammate Kailin Chio, and Utah’s Avery Neff, who posted a perfect 10 on vault.
A week later, in a tough road loss at Georgia, Ulrich claimed the all-around title with a 39.275 - another reminder that she’s not just fitting in; she’s helping lead the charge.
More recently, Ulrich has competed only on bars in LSU’s last two meets. That’s not due to performance, but rather part of head coach Jay Clark’s strategy to manage workloads and rotate more gymnasts into the lineup.
“I’ve stopped short of predicting the lineup,” Clark said. “Maddie has competed as an all-arounder and I anticipate she will have plenty of opportunities in the future to continue to do that. A lot of that is the product of us moving things around, trying to figure out some combinations.”
Still, Ulrich is staying ready. She warmed up on all four events last week at Missouri and posted a season-high 9.925 on bars - a key score in LSU’s narrow 197.675-197.500 win.
“If she’s not in the top six, she’s probably seventh on a given day,” Clark added. “We believe in her as an all-around gymnast.”
What’s Next for “Mad Dog” and the Tigers
With SEC play heating up, Ulrich’s role could expand again soon. LSU is right in the thick of the conference race, sitting at 2-1 in SEC competition and 4-1-1 overall. Oklahoma and Florida are both undefeated in the league, but LSU’s average team score of 197.519 keeps them firmly in the national conversation.
Friday night’s meet against Penn State may not impact the SEC standings, but it’s a chance for the Tigers to keep building momentum - and for Ulrich to keep showing why she was such a coveted transfer.
She may not say much in front of a microphone, but on the mat, Madison Ulrich is speaking volumes.