DULUTH, Ga. — As the four teams in the second session of the Southeastern Conference gymnastics championships Saturday made their entrances, the applause got louder with each introduction.
The LSU fan contingent made its presence felt, starting an L-S-U chant as the No. 2-seeded Tigers walked onto the stage. The Tigers with a sense of pride as Mouse and Level’s "I Bet U Won’t" played over the PA system.
But soon, the purple and gold faithful would be drowned out by an arena of Gator fans while top-seeded Florida made their entrance. Gas South Arena had been taken over by orange and blue clad fans who made the trip to see the No. 3 team in the country.
LSU had dealt with the Florida fans before, though it was in the home confines of the Pete Maravich Assembly Center where the Tigers upset the then-undefeated Gators on Feb. 17.
Saturday was a different story. LSU finished third in the championships with a 197.800 behind Florida (198.425) and Alabama (197.925), and a spot in front of Kentucky (197.675).
Sophomore Aleah Finnegan tied for fourth place in the all-around with a 39.625, but Florida’s Trinity Thomas (39.800) set the pace for the Gators all night.
“(A score of) 197.8 is a great score anywhere and to think that’s third (best) just shows the strength of this conference and what we have in this conference,” LSU coach Jay Clark said. “No one was going to beat Florida in here tonight. That may be the best roster ever assembled in our sport and they were on fire. It didn’t matter what anyone else did, that team was going to win.”
LSU’s evening began on the uneven bars, led by two 9.850s by Olivia Dunne and Alexis Jeffrey. After her routine, Dunne yelled and slapped Clark’s hands as she handed the reins to Tori Tatum, who posted a 9.900 to keep the LSU section engaged. Finnegan and Haleigh Bryant closed out the rotation with a 9.850 and 9.875, respectively.
At the balance beam, senior Alyona Shchennikova was fired up after her season-high 9.875 and Jeffrey followed her with the same score.
Perhaps the most impressive beam routine for the Tigers came from junior Sierra Ballard. Right before she approached the apparatus, Florida’s Trinity Thomas scored a perfect 10 on bars and the arena erupted. Louder than it was during introductions or at any other point in the night, Ballard blocked out the noise and turned in a 9.850.
“When that sound erupts like that, the ability to stay focused on that piece of equipment is incredible and they did it,” Clark said. “That’s the thing about these types of meets. It’s like a three-ring circus. You really have to get in your own bubble. You think about what these kids have to do compared to other sports — you’re on a four-inch wide apparatus four-feet off the ground doing backflips and you’re required, in this sport, to be 90% perfect. No other sport requires that.”
The Tigers finished with a 49.350 on beam, their second-lowest score of the night after bars, and they followed it up with their best event of the meet — floor.
All six competitors dazzled.
Junior Chase Brock scored a career-high 9.925 and Ballard continued rolled over her success on beam to start strong on the floor. On her final tumbling pass, Shchennikova landed and threw her head back with a massive smile. Five of LSU's routines scored 9.900 or better, capped with a dynamite performance from Bryant (9.95) that brought the LSU fans back into the meet.
On the vault, the Tigers turned in a slew of 9.900s, highlighted by a special 9.925 from Bryce Wilson. The freshman landed on the mat at the same time as the other three teams finished their routines, which made for an arena-wide ovation.
“I said in the preseason that our strengths were on vault and floor,” Clark said. “I think they finally decided to settle down.”
The Tigers, who came into the meet ranked No. 6 nationally, now return home to await the NCAA selection show Monday to see where they will go for their NCAA regional in two weeks.
SEC championship scores
1. Florida 198.425
2. Alabama 197.925
3. LSU 197.800
4. Kentucky 197.675
5. Auburn 197.100
6. Missouri 197.000
7. Arkansas 196.825
8. Georgia 196.600
Individual (includes first place and all LSU competitors)
All-around – 1. Trinity Thomas, Florida, 39.800; T4. Aleah Finnegan, LSU, 39.625; 7. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 39.550; 11. Alyona Shchennikova, LSU, 39.450.
Vault – T1. Sloane Blakely, Florida, Gabby Gladieaux, Alabama, Cassie Stevens, Auburn, Jocelyn Moore, Missouri, 9.95; T5. Bryce Wilson, LSU, 9.925; T7. Elena Arenas, Aleah Finnegan, Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.90; T19. Alyona Shchennikova, LSU, 9.875; 48. Chase Brock, LSU, 9.25.
Bars – 1. Trinity Thomas, Florida, 10.0; T8. Tori Tatum, LSU, 9.90; T22. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.875; T28. Alexis Jeffrey, Olivia Dunne, Aleah Finnegan, LSU, 9.85; T43. Alyona Shchennikova, LSU, 9.80.
Beam – 1. Leanne Wong, Florida, 9.975; T6. Aleah Finnegan, LSU, 9.925; T15. Alyona Shchennikova, Alexis Jeffrey, LSU, 9.875; T23, Sierra Ballard, LSU, 9.85; T31. Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.825; T34. Elena Arenas, LSU, 9.80.
Floor – 1. Trinity Thomas, Florida, 10.0; T2. Aleah Finnegan, Haleigh Bryant, LSU, 9.95; T6. Chase Brock, LSU, 9.925; T10. Sierra Ballard, Alyona Shchennikova, LSU, 9.90; T35. Alena Arenas, LSU, 9.80.
Attendance: 9,544