NCAA Gymnastics Regionals: History-Making Performance by Haleigh Bryant Punches LSU’s Ticket to Finals

The NCAA gymnastics regionals are making sure every fan gets their money’s worth as the country’s best teams are dishing out one thriller after another. In the second session of today’s regional final, the LSU team came out on top with 198.250 points. Facing off against the likes of Arkansas, Minnesota, and Kentucky, the LSU never looked troubled, and senior Haleigh Bryant made sure to keep the Tigers on top of things the whole time.

Bryant stormed into the history books with her two perfect 10s, continuing with her sensational form throughout the regular season. She also has been a major contributor to the Tigers’ impressive 25-3 overall record. With the coveted “gym slam” in her bag, Bryant has now wooed fans at the regional finals, and with no holds barred.

As a post by ESPN on X (formerly Twitter) points out, Haleigh made sure to make the most of the NCAA gymnastics regionals in her special way. “HALEIGH BRYANT PERFECT (10 emoji) ON VAULT“, announced the post. In this, she passed Jennifer Wood for the most vault 10s in LSU history. Wood’s staggering 9 perfect 10s in the vault has remained a coveted step on the way to achieving immortality on the LSU campus and has been around for almost three decades. There is more to it.

By the end of the night, Bryant picked up her second perfect 10, this time on the uneven bars. Again, this is the first 10 in the bars in LSU history in the Regionals. Their coach Jay Clark did not hold back his emotions about Bryant and said after her feat, “I told [Haleigh] ‘I love you and I’m so glad that you’re on our team…She’s just tremendous… She’s the most humble, team-oriented kid.” While Bryant’s feat is understandably something to elate LSU fans, her historic night wasn’t clinched without a close fight from her opponents at the NCAA gymnastics regionals.

A close call for Haleigh

Minnesota’s Sarah Moraw came agonizingly close to replicating Bryant’s feat on the vault. In the first rotation, Moraw was awarded 9.900 by the judges, making her the first athlete of the night to set the benchmark for everyone to follow. On the other hand, Haleigh’s teammates KJ Johnson and Kiya Johnson also clinched 9.925 and 9.900 on the vault routine respectively, highlighting the depth of the Tigers’ roster. Kentucky’s Isabella Magnelli also got a similar 9.900 in the fourth rotation. However, Bryant remained unfazed and trotted into LSU’s legacy forever.

On the other hand, Kentucky did fairly well on the uneven bars, with two athletes scoring 9.900. Reese Drotar of Arkansas also made quite a ripple with her 9.950 routine in the second rotation. Minnesota’s Mya Hooten anchored their third rotation with another 9.950. LSU’s Ashley Cowan and Konnor McClain both got 9.900 and above, only for Bryant to wrap things up in style.

What did you think of Haleigh’s thriller? Share your thoughts with us in the comments.

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