Thrilling Upsets and Historic Firsts: NCAA Gymnastics Semifinals Recap
FORT WORTH, Texas — The NCAA gymnastics semifinals at Dickies Arena on Thursday were nothing short of a spectacle, with eight teams vying for a coveted spot in Saturday’s final. The day was filled with drama, surprises, and standout performances, culminating in a stunning upset of defending champion LSU. As the dust settled, four teams emerged victorious: Oklahoma, Utah, UCLA, and Missouri, each with its own unique story heading into the final showdown.
LSU, the reigning 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 left reeling after a narrow defeat by UCLA, who edged them out by just .2125 points. The final scores flashed on the arena’s screens, sealing LSU’s fate and leaving the team visibly devastated. Utah claimed the session victory, finishing .2375 points ahead of LSU.
UCLA coach Janelle McDonald captured the essence of the competition, stating, “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 top contender ranked No. 3 in the regular season, also faced an early exit, finishing third in the first session. Meanwhile, Oklahoma’s Jordan Bowers shone brightly, clinching the all-around title 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 key moments and standout performances from the semifinals.
Return of the Sooners
The Oklahoma Sooners entered the semifinals with a sense of determination, eager to redeem themselves after last year’s shocking upset. The team had been the favorite to win its third consecutive NCAA team title, but three significant landing errors on vault dashed their dreams. Coach K.J. Kindler had spent 364 days reflecting on that moment, determined to avoid a repeat.
In a twist of fate, the Sooners had to finish Thursday’s meet on vault, the very event that had cost them the previous year. However, this time, Jordan Bowers and Faith Torrez, the team’s two all-arounders, approached the challenge with unwavering 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, delivered a team-high 9.8875, the second-highest score in the first semifinal.
Bowers and Torrez also dazzled on the floor, each scoring 9.95s, propelling the team closer to their quest for a seventh national championship. Kindler couldn’t help but address 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.”
While proud of her team’s performance, Kindler acknowledged that there was room for improvement. “We were definitely not our best,” she admitted. “It felt like we were competing with some weight on our shoulders a little bit. So we need to compete with more freedom, more faith.”
History for Missouri
Missouri made history by advancing to the final for the first time, surpassing their previous best result of a fifth-place finish at the NCAA championships. The Tigers’ success was fueled by standout performances, particularly from Helen Hu, who delivered a meet-clinching routine on beam.
In a nail-biting final rotation against Florida, Missouri found themselves trailing by a quarter-tenth of a point. 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 to secure the team’s second-place finish and a spot in the final. Her performance also earned her the NCAA beam title.
The Missouri team erupted in celebration as Hu’s score was displayed on the video board, and their joy continued when Florida’s final score confirmed their victory. Missouri edged out Florida with a score of 197.3000 to 197.2000.
Coach Shannon Welker, who humorously mentioned renegotiating his contract, expressed pride in his team’s achievement. “I really felt like this was a special team this year, and we had an opportunity to be the best team in the University of Missouri gymnastics history,” Welker said. “So today we obviously exceeded that, but it’s just so nice to see what I thought could be actually come to fruition.”
Battle for the Night
The night session was a tightly contested battle, 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 electric atmosphere in the arena.
Ultimately, it was Utah and UCLA who 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 stellar 9.975 for UCLA.
Utah’s Amelie Morgan emphasized the importance of focusing on their own performances, stating, “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 familiar territory, each aiming to add another championship to their legacy. Utah, a nine-time NCAA champion, last won in 1995, while UCLA, a seven-time champion, last claimed the 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, took home the uneven bars title with a near-perfect 9.975.
- Brooklyn Moors, Chiles’ teammate and fellow Olympian, earned her first national championship with a sensational floor routine, scoring a 9.9625.
Moors described the individual honor as a “cherry on top” but emphasized the importance of the team’s success. “We’re here to do it for the team,” she said. “And I think I say it every time, [but] this team is something special and when we put it together, it’s quite amazing.”
Originally Written by: D’Arcy Maine
