Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither was the LSU gymnastics program. After 50 years of determination, they finally climbed the mountain, winning the program’s first national title in dramatic fashion.
The Tigers scored a 198.225 to beat out California, Utah, and Florida to become just the eighth program in NCAA history to win the women’s gymnastics championship.
“That’s what moved my emotions at the end to finally experience that feeling of finally getting over the hump and being able to exhale as the scores came in, it was just clutch,” head coach Jay Clark said.
It was more than clutch; it was an amazing final routine that secured the national championship. The Tigers trailed Utah heading into the final rotation, which was beam for LSU.
Sierra Ballard started the rotation with a 9.95. Savannah Schoenherr recorded a fall, so there was no margin for error.
Konnor McClain nailed her routine a 9.9625 and then LSU’s big three did their part.
Kiya Johnson, Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan each scored a 9.95 to secure the victory.
Clark was watching from 35 feet away chewing on a plastic cup as he normally does as his team competes on beam.
“For me, it was about the reaction of the kids, it was about watching them, seeing our fans, just the explosion of joy that came from all of us, it was like a bubble popped,” Clark said.
Clark was part of seven national championships during 20 years as coach at the University of Georgia. He was a long-time assistant at Georgia and then succeeded a legend in Suzanne Yoculan, who retired in 2009.
But after three seasons as the head coach at Georgia and no “Super Six” appearances, he resigned. Clark learned it’s never easy to follow a legend.
Clark thought maybe his coaching days were over, but another legend reached out, LSU’s DD Breaux.
Breaux built a respectable program, despite a limited budget, Title Nine issues and several other challenges. Breaux was smart enough to recognize that Clark can help take the program to another level.
He was named the Associate Head Coach of LSU in 2021 and the program did take off. LSU had its first runner-up finish in 2014 and had three more through 2019.
In 2020, Clark was named the head coach as Breaux retired after 43 years.
Clark helped bring in an unbelievable amount of talent led by Haleigh Bryant.
Bryant leaves LSU as the Tigers most accomplished gymnast.
“This is something I’ve dreamed about since I committed to LSU in the 8th grade,” Bryant said. “I knew Jay for so long and I just wanted to be coached by him, and I’m so excited to bring this national championship back to LSU.”
LSU is planning to honor the national champs with a parade on Wednesday. You can bet Breaux will be a big part of the celebration.
“She gave me an opportunity to join her when I needed one,” Clark said.” The facility we have and the 43 years she put in, the battles she fought…I felt it was important that when this program won its first national title it be hers as well.”
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