Olivia Dunne, Zoe Miller, and LSU Tigers Thrilled to Welcome Houston’s Kathryn Weilbacher to the Team

Olivia Dunne and Zoe Miller have confirmed their position on LSU Tigers and are over the moon about Houston’s Kathryn Weilbacher joining them on the mat. Though Livvy did not compete in the NCAA finals this year, she finished last year averaging 9.788 on the uneven bars despite injuries.

Moreover, LSU brought home their first-ever NCAA title this year. The Tigers were able to overtake their lead in the final rotation, scoring a total of 198.2250 points to defeat California, Utah, and Florida. Though they had slipped from the lead in the third rotation, they were able to make that up in the fourth with five LSU gymnasts scoring 9.9 or higher on the balance beam. Now the already strong team is looking to Weilbacher to get stronger.

Kathryn Weilbacher’s dream comes true with LSU Tigers

Recently, Kathryn Weilbacher shared a series of pictures on Instagram wearing purple and gold which are LSU’s official colors. Amongst the pictures were also one of her with the NCAA championship trophy. She captioned it, “An absolute dream come true…GEAUX TIGERS!!! 🐅”. It is evident that Kathryn Weilbacher is absolutely delighted to be joining LSU’s gymnastics team. Her joining the team has made the members of LSU Tigers excited and thrilled.  In the post, overflowing with joy, Olivia Dunne expressed her excitement by posting a jubilant, “YAY!🙌💜”. Zoe Miller’s comment exuded genuine delight as she expressed, “THIS IS WHAT I LIKE TO SEE”. Haleigh Byrant commented happily, “WELCOME HOME QUEEN”.

The excitement over Kathryn Weilbacher joining the LSU Tigers gymnastics team is sure well understandable as she is a treasured athlete. Before LSU, Kathryn Weilbacher spent three seasons competing for the Bowling Green Falcons. Kathyrn Weilbacher’s outstanding performance led BGSU to share the MAC Championship on the floor, scoring a remarkable 9.900. She is the first Falcon since Kayla Rose in 2017 to achieve this feat, who scored a 9.950. Weilbacher has participated in 11 out of BGSU’s 13 meets in 2024. She also tied the BGSU vault record during a meet at Pitt, earning a perfect 9.950 on a 9.950 start value. Her dedication and exceptional skills are instrumental in preparing the LSU Tigers team for their upcoming events.

Elevating the LSU Tigers: Goals and prospects for 2024 and beyond

The LSU Tigers have high aspirations for the 2024 season, including potential participation in the 2024 Paris Olympics, with Aleah Finnegan already qualifying for the event. The team is absolutely gearing up to be the best it can be. Haleigh Bryant, the NCAA All-Around Champion and SEC Gymnast of the Year has announced her return to LSU for her final year. The addition of Zoe Miller further strengthens the team as the 18-year-old secured two gold medals, including team and uneven bars, posing an impressive score of 14.666 points. There’s also the potential for the addition of Olivia Dunne.

LSU Tigers have just the right stats to make the cut. Despite missing significant time due to injuries, Olivia Dunne has remained a crucial contributor to the team, averaging over 9.800 on bars and floor. Last year, Haleigh Bryant also averaged over 9.900 across all four events, the highest in LSU history. At the Pan American Games, Miller secured gold medals in the uneven bars and team event for the U.S. last year. With these, Kathryn Weilbacher’s addition gives the team a great competitive edge.