Oklahoma Sooners Reign Supreme in Gymnastics Showdown, Defeating LSU, Cal, and Utah
OKLAHOMA CITY – In a clash of titans that lived up to its billing as the regular season "meet of the year," the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners women’s gymnastics team delivered a resounding performance, conquering three top-10 opponents at the Sprouts Collegiate Quad on Saturday. Posting a season-high score of 197.950, the Sooners asserted their dominance, edging out the defending national champion LSU Tigers by .300, followed by the No. 6 Cal Golden Bears and the No. 4 Utah Red Rocks. The victory reaffirms Oklahoma’s position as the frontrunner in NCAA women’s gymnastics, showcasing their depth and talent across all events.
The meet was a nail-biter from start to finish, with razor-thin margins separating the top three teams until the final rotation. Oklahoma set the tone early, starting on beam with a commanding 49.525, fueled by Faith Torrez’s season-high 9.975. LSU responded with a powerful vault rotation, featuring six 10.0 start value vaults, including a stuck Yurchenko 1.5 from freshman Kailin Chio, keeping them within striking distance of the Sooners. Cal weathered a fall on bars, while Utah showcased Avery Neff’s recovered form on floor, setting the stage for an intense competition.
The second rotation saw Oklahoma maintain their slim lead with strong floor routines, but LSU continued to apply pressure with impressive performances on bars, highlighted by Ashley Cowan’s 9.95 and Konnor McClain’s 9.925. Utah faltered on vault, counting a sub-9.8 score, while Cal found consistency on beam, staying within reach of the top two teams. As the meet progressed, the tension intensified, with Oklahoma holding a narrow advantage over LSU and Cal.
The third rotation proved pivotal, as Oklahoma faced a setback on vault with a surprising fall, but rallied with four solid hits, including Jordan Bowers’ 9.90. LSU capitalized on Oklahoma’s slight wobble, but their own beam rotation was marred by a subpar score, keeping the gap tight. Cal surged forward with a stellar floor rotation, narrowing the deficit to LSU, while Utah’s Grace McCallum delivered a near-perfect 9.975 on bars, a high mark for the 2025 season, but the Utes couldn’t fully close the gap due to another sub-9.8 score.
Entering the final rotation, the drama intensified with just .250 separating the top three teams. Oklahoma, facing bars, delivered a clutch performance, posting a remarkable 49.700, averaging an astounding 9.94 per routine, effectively sealing the victory. LSU fought valiantly on floor, with Aleah Finnegan’s breathtaking routine earning a meet-winning 9.975, solidifying their second-place finish. Cal maintained their position ahead of Utah, who struggled on beam, ending their competition on a disappointing note.
Jordan Bowers’ all-around title underscored Oklahoma’s individual brilliance, edging out a three-way tie for second between LSU’s Aleah Finnegan and Kailin Chio, and Oklahoma teammate Faith Torrez. Individual event titles were distributed amongst the contenders, with Chio claiming vault, Finnegan dominating floor, Oklahoma’s Audrey Davis sharing the bars title with Utah’s Grace McCallum, and Torrez securing the beam title.
The Sprouts Collegiate Quad showcased the highest level of collegiate gymnastics, with Oklahoma’s victory solidifying their status as the team to beat. While LSU, Cal, and Utah faced setbacks, their performances hinted at the potential for a thrilling season ahead. The meet’s intensity and high scores, drawing comparisons to a national championship, set a high bar for the remainder of the season, promising an exciting journey culminating in April’s national championship competition.
