The LSU Tigers have had an eventful season this year- from donning new leotards to spectacular victories to navigating injuries of key gymnasts like Haleigh Bryant, KJ Johnson, and Konnor McClain– the girls in purple have had a lot on their plates. Adjusting lineups and rallying through adversity had become an everyday affair, and it was put to the ultimate test against top-ranked Oklahoma. Despite dealing with the blow of yet another injured gymnast right before the showdown at PMAC on Feb 14,  the Tigers were able to channel their energy into an electrifying performance. Following the win, one of Olivia Dunne‘s teammates delivered a powerful message to the LSU Gymnastics community. It was enough to show team’s unbreakable spirits.

The Oklahoma Sooners are currently ranked No. 1 in the nation but LSU had different plans. The Tigers floor exercise lineup delivered a statement performance, making a solid comeback in the final rotation. Kaliya Lincoln and Sierra Ballard kicked things off with back-to-back scores of 9.925, followed by a stellar 9.950 by Kailin Chio, who the coach and teammates cannot stop praising, by the way! Meanwhile, One grand performance after another, the Sooners realized this win wasn’t going to be easy. The realization came soon enough. Oklahoma was trailing 49.600-49.425, after the first rotation itself.

After the competition, Sierra Ballard reflected on her pivotal routines and the mindset she brought into the meet. When asked about her performance, she emphasized the energy and purpose that fueled her efforts. “I think that’s something that I can really pride myself on—just bringing high energy all the time. It’s really fun to be given that opportunity time and time again to start things off and get the ball rolling. And today, I had a bigger purpose beyond myself,” Ballard shared in the post-game press conference.

As a veteran presence for the Tigers, Ballard has been a consistent leader, particularly on the balance beam. Her career-high 9.950 at the NCAA Championship Final in 2024, helped LSU secure its first national championship in program history. “Jay [Clark] always says to honor somebody with your actions, and that was something I really took to heart today. I wasn’t just out there for myself or for gymnastics—I was performing for my teammates. Just being a fire starter and making sure we left it all on the floor,” she added.

The 22-year-old is one of the two LSU Seniors taking advantage of the NCAA’s extra year of eligibility rule, granted to athletes impacted by the pandemic in 2020. On April 30, Haleigh Bryant, the reigning NCAA and SEC all-around champion, also confirmed her return for the 2025 season, further solidifying LSU’s future. Ballard’s words encapsulated the team’s mindset, which is competing not just for personal accolades but for each other. Despite Livvy Dunne’s absence from the last few games LSU Tigers outperformed No. 1 Oklahoma with a great team effort.

LSU shines against Oklahoma despite Olivia Dunne’s absence

Olivia Dunne hasn’t participated in the last two meets of LSU’s collegiate gymnastics season, stirring speculations among fans. With no official reports of injury and no concrete statement from coach Jay Clark, rumors continue to swirl. Despite Olivia Dunne’s absence the Tigers have managed to thrive and prove their dominance on the mat.

LSU Tigers secured a victory with season-high scores on vault (49.600) and floor (49.700). Key performances from 2024 NCAA all-around champion Haleigh Bryant, Sierra Ballard, and Kailin Chio powered LSU’s triumph. Senior KJ Johnson started strong with a 9.875 on Vault, followed by Aleah Finnegan’s matching 9.875 in the second spot. The Tigers claimed two event titles: graduate student Sierra Ballard secured the first beam title of her collegiate career with a 9.95. Kailin Chio, Haleigh Bryant, and Amari Drayton took home floor titles. Nobody is shocked, the LSU floor routine from Feb 14, 2025, will go down in history

LSU’s commanding floor routine secured a 198.050-197.675 victory, marking their first win over a No. 1-ranked opponent. With momentum on their side, the Tigers will move forward with the season as they will meet Kentucky on Friday, 21 February. Despite Dunne being absent from the squad, LSU continues to prove they are a championship team, fueled by depth and standout performances.