Excitement and Drama Unfold at NCAA Gymnastics Semifinals
FORT WORTH, Texas — The atmosphere was electric at Dickies Arena on Thursday as eight teams battled it out in the NCAA gymnastics semifinals, each vying for a coveted spot in Saturday’s final. The day was filled with surprises, including a jaw-dropping upset of the defending champion LSU, leaving four teams standing: Oklahoma, Utah, UCLA, and Missouri.
LSU, the 2024 champion, entered the semifinals with high expectations, having finished the regular season ranked No. 1 and recently clinching the SEC title. However, the Tigers were edged out by UCLA by a mere .2125 points in a nail-biting second session. The final scores flashed on the arena’s screens, and the LSU team was visibly devastated, trailing Utah, the session winner, by 0.2375 points.
UCLA coach Janelle McDonald summed up the intensity of the competition, saying, “Tonight’s competition was absolutely everything you can hope for in a national championship. It was so neck and neck and just such a fight for every single event and every single routine. It was an incredible meet to be a part of.”
Florida, another strong contender ranked No. 3 in the regular season, also faced an early exit, finishing third in the first session.
Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers emerged as the all-around champion with a score of 39.7125, narrowly surpassing Utah’s Grace McCallum, fellow Sooner Faith Torrez, and Oregon State’s Jade Carey.
For those who missed the action, here’s a breakdown of the standout performances and event champions from Thursday’s semifinals.
Return of the Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners entered Thursday’s first semifinal with a sense of determination, eager to redeem themselves after last year’s unexpected exit. The team had been the favorite to win its third consecutive NCAA team title but was derailed by landing errors on vault. Coach K.J. Kindler reflected on the past year, saying she had spent 364 days replaying the competition in her mind.
In a twist of fate, the Sooners had to finish Thursday’s meet on vault. However, this time, Jordan Bowers and Faith Torrez, the team’s two all-arounders, approached the event with confidence. Their composure paid off, as Oklahoma recorded a session-best 49.2750 on vault, securing the first semifinal with a score of 197.5500. Bowers, a senior and the anchor on the event, achieved a team-high 9.8875, the second-highest score in the first semifinal.
Bowers and Torrez also delivered impressive floor routines, each scoring 9.95, propelling the team closer to their seventh national championship.
Coach Kindler addressed last year’s disappointment, stating, “I don’t ever want to see TV footage of Oklahoma falling over again on vault. That dragon is slayed and we’re past it.” She acknowledged the team’s performance wasn’t perfect but expressed confidence in their potential.
History for Missouri
Missouri made history by advancing to the final for the first time, surpassing their previous best result of fifth place at the NCAA championships. The team’s success was fueled by standout performances, particularly from Helen Hu.
In the final rotation, Missouri faced a tight battle with Florida on beam. Hu, a beam specialist who returned for a fifth year after sitting out the 2024 season, delivered a nearly flawless routine, earning a 9.9875. Her performance secured Missouri’s second-place finish and a spot in the final. Hu also claimed the NCAA beam title.
The Missouri team erupted in celebration as Hu’s score appeared on the video board, and their joy continued long after the meet concluded. Hu admitted she was unaware of the score she needed until after her routine, saying, “I just go in, this is my beam routine, whether we need it or we don’t, I’m going to go up and do what I always do.”
Coach Shannon Welker expressed pride in his team’s achievement, joking about renegotiating his contract. He believed this year’s team had the potential to be the best in Missouri’s history, and their performance exceeded expectations.
Battle for the Night
The night session was a thrilling showdown, with Utah, UCLA, LSU, and Michigan State all within .1875 points entering the final rotation. Utah, UCLA, and LSU were separated by just .0750 points, creating an intense atmosphere in the arena.
Utah and UCLA emerged victorious, thanks to Utah’s strong performance on bars and UCLA’s impressive showing on beam. Grace McCallum closed it out for Utah with a 9.9625, while Emma Malabuyo delivered a 9.975 for UCLA.
Utah’s Amelie Morgan emphasized the importance of focusing on their own team, saying, “I think it is always a thing in gymnastics, ‘Keep your eyes on your own team and don’t care about anyone else,’ but at a certain point, you realize it’s pretty close.”
Both Utah and UCLA, with their storied histories, are now back in the hunt for the championship. Utah, a nine-time NCAA champion, last won in 1995, while UCLA, a seven-time champion, claimed their last title in 2018.
Event Champions
In addition to Bowers’ all-around victory and Hu’s beam triumph, several other gymnasts claimed individual NCAA titles:
- LSU’s Kailin Chio, despite the team’s disappointment, secured the top spot on vault with a 9.975 for her Yurchenko 1.5.
- UCLA’s Jordan Chiles, a two-time NCAA champion and Olympic gold medalist, won the uneven bars with a near-perfect 9.975.
- Brooklyn Moors, Chiles’ teammate and fellow Olympian, earned her first national championship with a sensational floor routine, scoring 9.9625.
Moors described the individual honor as a “cherry on top” but emphasized the importance of advancing to the final with her team, saying, “We’re here to do it for the team.”
Originally Written by: D’Arcy Maine
