Missouri, Absent. Alabama, Absent. Oklahoma, Absent. Kentucky, Absent. George Washington, Absent. But who is absent? It’s  Olivia Dunne! Still confused? The LSU Tigers star has been absent from the team lineup for the past five meets! Everybody feared her absence would affect the team’s performance! And why would they not? After all Olivia Dunne holds a dominant position and has scored almost a perfect score of 9.9 on the floor multiple times. But did the team suffer? A big NO! Rather team is currently under a winning streak of five. And you will be surprised to know who took charge! Drumrolls, it’s the FRESHMEN! And, Livvy’s teammate Haleigh Bryant can not stop talking about them after their big win against George Washington! But what did the all-around queen say?

The Tigers went on to create a flurry of records in the Podium Challenge against George Washington University. The meet saw No. 2 LSU gymnastics again proving their dominance by winning over their opponent by a margin of more than 2 points(198.125-195.475). But did you guys notice anything with the overall score? Although the win was an all-round performance, some freshmen left their mark and got the fans excited thinking about the next season already. Haleigh Bryant, having her last year with LSU, was in high spirits and highlighted some of the performances.

When asked what she thinks about the amazing performance, Haleigh Bryant was quick to highlight the contributions of freshmen in the meet against George Washinton in the post-meet interview with LSU Tiger TV. “I was so proud of them they worked so hard every single day in the gym so just kind of seeing all their hard work pay off on the competition floor was just so amazing and I just cannot wait to see what’s next for them because they have a very bright future ahead,” she said during the interview. And honestly, where’s the lie?

The freshman Kailin Chio scored a solid 9.950 on the bars and the beams, thus topping the score charts in both events. But she wasn’t done! Chio went on to further solidify her position as a dominant gymnast by scoring 9.9. Meanwhile, Lexi Zeiss established her position by scoring a whopping score of 9.925 leaving Konnor McClain behind and tying with Haleigh Bryant.

But amidst the spectacular performances by freshmen, we cannot forget Haleigh Bryant. She continued to show why she’s one of the best in LSU history, securing the vault title with a stunning 9.950. But perhaps her most impressive feat of the night? Winning her first all-around title of the season and her 31st career all-around title. This also cemented her status as the most decorated all-around gymnast in LSU history considering this will be her last year of gymnastics for LSU.

But still not seeing Olivia Dunne on the roster this year has been tough for LSU fans but her injury seems to be getting better.

Olivia Dunne Remains Sidelined as She Continues to Recover from Injury

One of the biggest names in college gymnastics, Olivia Dunne remains sidelined as she continues to recover from a knee injury that has limited her competition time this season. Despite her reduced appearances, Olivia Dunne’s influence on LSU gymnastics remains strong, both as a competitor and a leader within the team.

Head coach Jay Clark has now provided insight into her condition, confirming that Dunne is dealing with a stress reaction in her kneecap—an injury that requires significant rest to heal properly. So far this season, Dunne has competed in only seven routines—four on floor, two on beam, and one on bars.

Her last appearance came in LSU’s narrow loss to Arkansas, where she delivered a solid 9.7 on the floor. While the exact cause of the injury remains unknown, Olivia Dunne has yet to compete on vault this season, further highlighting how her condition has affected her ability to perform at her usual level.

With her recovery still ongoing, LSU fans are eagerly awaiting Olivia Dunne’s return to full strength. Though she may not be competing as often, her presence and leadership continue to play a crucial role in the team’s success. As the Tigers push toward the postseason, the hope remains that Dunne can make a strong comeback when the time is right.