Remember this time in 2023 when Auburn Gymnastics pulled off the upset of the season against the LSU Tigers? It was a moment that stunned fans and signaled Auburn’s resurgence. But for LSU Gymnastics, it was about redemption. They were looking to bounce back from a rough 2022 season, one that ended in heartbreak at the Raleigh Regional Semifinals. That year, the Tigers failed to make nationals for the first time since 2011, a bitter pill to swallow for a program with such a storied history. Head coach Jay Clark had a special name for that team, one that reflected their struggles and resilience.

Ahead of this week’s matchup against LSU’s opponent, the Auburn Tigers, Coach Jay Clark spoke candidly in a pre-match interview. The purple and gold are gearing up for a crucial road test this Friday, and Clark couldn’t help but look back on the journey that got them here. When asked about how he felt about LSU’s loss to Auburn two years ago, Clark said, “Two years ago…. I was calling us Cinderella in a wheelchair, you know, and we were fighting for our lives.” Jay Clark further recalled, “If you go back and look at where we were, I mean, I think KJ was fifth on vault, and we were a shadow of where we are now.” LSU has since transformed into a powerhouse, but the struggles of the past continue to fuel their drive.

Fast forward to this season, and LSU is sitting in an enviable position. The Tigers are number one on the vault, number three on bars, and ranked number five on the beam and the floor. That’s a serious improvement from where they were just a couple of years ago. Further talking about that season, HC said, “That team (Auburn) will always go in my mind, in my career, as one of the top two or three experiences of my entire career because of the way they fought….in that year had no business late in the year thinking that they could get to finals, and they did it.”

But the LSU Gymnastics team (7-2, 4-1 SEC) secured a decisive victory over No. 12 Auburn (5-6, 1-4 SEC) last year, defeating them 198.300-197.100 in front of a sold-out crowd during their regular season meet on February 16. It was a statement win, and Clark acknowledges just how much things have changed. Clark said, “I don’t compare year to year that way… It’s completely different personnel, completely different team, completely different mindset. Now you know there’s a lot that’s happened in this program since the last time we were over there, so that’s not a guarantee of an outcome by any stretch of the imagination. Auburn’s a good team, and Auburn has a great environment, and Auburn’s in this league, and they are not the program they were two years ago either.”

That win was particularly significant, considering LSU had been beaten by Auburn in 2022. However, last year’s victory marked LSU’s eighth straight win over the visiting Tigers when facing off in the Pete Maravich Assembly Center (PMAC). The score was also the squad’s third 198 of the season, solidifying LSU as the team with the second-most scores on that level so far this year.

As LSU gears up for their final regular-season meet, they are in a completely different position than they were two years ago. The struggles of the past have turned into fuel for the present, and Clark’s team is proving they are once again a force to be reckoned with. With their eyes set on the postseason and their consistent performance this season, the Tigers are hoping to make a statement in their last regular-season meet. Friday’s meeting might just give us the answer. But until then, here is a rewind of the Tigers’ performance throughout the 2025 season.

LSU Tigers have been consistent with their performances in 2025

The LSU Gymnastics Team is now the No. 2 team in the nation for the third consecutive week in national rankings. The Tigers have held the second position for six weeks of regular season competition. They also have not finished lower than three all season long. On top of that, LSU established a new school record in their home season finale last Friday evening against No. 10 Georgia, recording a program-best 198.575 on the evening. This is the current highest score in the nation this season made by any collegiate team.

Freshman Kailin Chio continues performing her best this season and remains one of the best gymnasts in the NCAA. She is now No. 5 in the all-around with her NQS of 39.655. Not only this, she is also within the top 10 in the country in vault and beam rankings. Aleah Finnegan, Konnor McClain, and Amari Drayton are also among the top 25 in the nation. Finnegan remains in the top 25 on vault, beam, and all-around. McClain has been in the top 20 on bars for eight weeks, and Drayton made the top 20 on the floor.

Coming into the final meet of the regular season and having to defend the championship title, injury has been a routine stumbling block for the Tigers as well as their head coach, Jay Clark. Freshman Kaliya Lincoln and senior Olivia Dunne will not be at the final meeting because of sustained injuries in the leg and shoulder. Lincoln did not compete on vault in Friday’s win over Georgia, and the offseason surgery will lead Clark to withdraw her and substitute her with Kylie Coen. Dunne was observed on the floor at the Georgia meet and sophomore night activities with a brace on her left knee, and it was apparent she would not participate in the final meet either. As LSU heads into the postseason, maintaining consistency and overcoming challenges will be key to their continued success.