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NCAA Gymnastics Week 10: OU, LSU and Cal return to 1-2-3

March 11, 2024, 02:11 pm ET

In a preview of a future SEC matchup, Arkansas hosted Oklahoma on Sunday for the first time in five years. And, even with 9,771 fans in attendance (the third-largest crowd in Razorbacks history), the Sooners showed just how good they are, regardless of conference.

No. 1-ranked Oklahoma took an early lead during its first rotation on bars, thanks to strong performances from Audrey Davis (9.975) and Katherine LeVasseur (9.925). And the Sooners never looked back. During the third rotation on the court, Jordan Bowers earned his second perfect 10.0 of the season and fifth overall. Then, during the final event of the day, Ava Siegfeldt recorded her first perfect score on her (wait for it) season debut on beam.

Oklahoma, which will officially join the SEC for the 2025 season, won the meet 198.350-197.275 and became the first team in NCAA history to record a score of 198.0 or better for seven consecutive meets. The Sooners remain undefeated this season and rank first in overall team scoring, as well as on vault, bars and beam (and are second on floor).

In case you need a reminder of how good the Sooners are and how incredibly difficult gymnastics is, let the Oklahoma football team help you. Team members were on hand last week to cheer on their fellow Sooners, and their reactions to everything they saw were priceless.

Here's what you may have missed from Week 10 of the 2024 NCAA gymnastics season:

Saving the best for last

California had won a share of the Pac-12 regular-season title over the past two seasons, but had never won the distinction outright.

On Sunday, the Golden Bears defeated Stanford 198.550-197.975 to finish their conference schedule with a perfect 7-0 record and take home the coveted regular season honor.

“Winning it outright is incredibly special,” Justin Howell, the team's co-head coach, told the school's website. “We haven't really talked about it. We really just wanted to come here and get better, and we did.”

But Cal didn't just win on Sunday. The team broke the record for the highest all-around score in program history, as well as on floor (49.750), and tied the all-time mark on beam (49.825). Sophomore eMjae Frazier tied her own school record for individual all-around score (39.825) and junior Mya Lauzon earned the second-highest all-around score (39.775) in program history.

Lauzon earned a perfect 10.0 on beam for the second time this season and is now ranked No. 3 nationally on this event.

A night for the record books

At this point in her career, there is little that LSU senior Haleigh Bryant hasn't done. He has won an NCAA title, an SEC title and has earned countless awards and honors. But even by her incredibly high standards, Bryant had an unforgettable night Friday during a quad meet against Auburn, George Washington and Texas Woman's.

Bryant opened the competition with consecutive scores of 10.0 on vault and bars, and in doing so became the 10th gymnast in NCAA history to record a single-season “Gym Slam” to earn a perfect mark on each event in this event. anus. She now has 16 perfect 10.0s on her collegiate resume, the most among active gymnasts and tied for 10th all time.

Bryant also scored a 9.95 on beam and a 9.975 on floor for a mind-blowing all-around score of 39.925. She won the overall title, each individual event title and set the mark for the highest total in the country this season.

Perhaps most importantly, Bryant's performance led the Tigers to victory and a final score of 198.425. The team now has its best ever NQS of 198.125 and returns to the number 2 spot in the standings. Cal is currently in third place, with Florida and Utah in fourth and fifth place, respectively.

Luisa Blanco and the rest of the Club Perfecto 10.0

Competing for the last time at Coleman Coliseum, Alabama senior Luisa Blanco earned her first 10.0 of the season on vault, with a Yurchenko 1.5 to open Friday's meet against Minnesota, Illinois and Talladega.

Blanco, who will compete for Colombia in this summer's Olympics, earned a 9.95 on bars and a 9.90 on beam before ending her night on floor. After performing all of her passes and nailing her choreography, Blanco was visibly excited by the time she finished her routine. It was clear what the moment meant to her, regardless of the score, and her teammates surrounded her and hugged her. When the 10.0 flashed, she blew kisses to the crowd. Blanco became the first Alabama gymnast in 19 years to earn multiple perfect scores during the same meet.

As if that wasn't the most perfect Senior Night ever, Alabama also won the meet with a final score of 198.00 (the second time the team surpassed the 198 mark in three weeks) and Blanco also won the overall title. such as the titles on the floor, vault and bars.

While Blanco and Bryant were the only ones to earn multiple 10.0s this weekend, here's who else earned a perfect score besides Lauzon, Siegfeldt and Bowers:

Grace McCallum, Utah: During the opening rotation of Utah's final Pac-12 regular-season meet against Arizona, the Red Rocks junior earned her second perfect score of the season and third on the event in her career, with a stellar bars routine . McCallum took home the overall crown and led Utah to a 197.875-195.725 victory and the highest road score in program history.

Raena Worley, Kentucky: After a career of coming this Close to earning a 10.0, the Wildcats' fifth-year senior has seemingly been on a mission this season to rack up as many as she can. During Kentucky's 197.800-196.525 win over North Carolina on Friday, Worley earned her fourth 10.0 on floor and fifth overall, with another dynamic, high-energy performance, complete with an ice stick on her final double pass.

Chloe Widner, Stanford: Competing in her final meet at Maples Pavilion, the fifth-year senior earned the first perfect 10.0 of her career on the vault on beam. While Stanford was not victorious, Widner, who also earned a 9.975 on floor, helped the team earn its second-best score (197.975) in program history and second-highest total on beam (49.675).

The best of the rest

Brie Clark, Clemson: During the final home meet of Clemson's inaugural season, and in front of a sold-out crowd, the sophomore tied her career-high score on floor (9.95) with a fan-favorite routine complete with Boyz II Men, powerful cartwheels and contagious choreography. We will understand if you start dancing at home.

Brynlee Andersen, BYU: It was Senior Night in Provo, but one freshman stole the show. Andersen earned a 10.0 from a judge for the second time this season and finally earned a new career-high score of 9.975 on beam during Friday's 197.125-196.450 loss to Ohio State. She became the fifth gymnast in program history to record the score. And did we mention she's only a freshman?

Delanie Harkness, Michigan State: Harkness, one of eight seniors honored during the team's final regular-season home meet, made the most of the day by tying her career-high score on bars (9.95) and winning the event title during the Spartans victory over Central Michigan, Fisk. and Greenville on Saturday. Harkness also earned a 9.925 on floor and 9.90 on beam to help lead Michigan State to a final score of 198.150, its second-best mark in history.

Suki Pfister, Ball Status: The Cardinals senior has proven all season that she is one of the best in the country on vault. On Sunday, during the team's 196.100-194.675 win over Northern Illinois, she did it once again with a nearly flawless front half pike that earned a 9.925. It was her sixth competition of the season in which she earned a 9.90 or better in the event, and she currently has the fourth-highest NQS score in the country.

Key meetings to watch this weekend

Friday: Iowa State, LIU, North Carolina State at Florida; 7 pm Eastern on SECN+

Friday: Denver at Michigan; 7 pm ET on B1G+

Friday: Nebraska at Arkansas; 8 pm Eastern on SECN+

Friday: North Carolina at LSU; 8:30 pm ET on SECN+

Friday: Stanford, Utah State at Utah; 9 p.m. ET on Pac-12 Insider

Friday: Southern Connecticut in the state of Arizona; 9 pm Eastern Time

Friday: UC Davis, San Jose State, California; 10 pm eastern time

Saturday: Clemson at UCLA; 5 p.m. ET on Pac-12 Networks

Saturday: Auburn, Kentucky, Ohio State at Fisk; 8:15 pm Eastern Time

Sunday: Oregon State, Utah State at Boise State; 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time

Sunday: Arizona, Missouri, southeast Missouri in Illinois; 3 pm Eastern Time

Sunday: Michigan State, Centennial, Rutgers at Texas Woman's; 3 pm Eastern Time

Sunday: Air Force, Northern Illinois, West Virginia at Minnesota; 3 pm ET on B1G+

Sunday: Alabama at Oklahoma; 4 p.m. Eastern on ESPN2

Sunday: Stanford, Sacramento State, California; 5 pm eastern time



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