LSU gymnastics falls short of third-consecutive SEC title behind Florida and Oklahoma

LSU gymnastics finished just short of Florida and Oklahoma in the 2026 SEC championship on Saturday night, scoring a 197.950, .225 behind first place. 

LSU would sit within a tenth of a point of first, when it wasn’t leading, for the whole meet. But the final rotation saw Florida and Oklahoma post only 9.9s, with Florida edging out Oklahoma by .025. 

But LSU didn't help itself in the final rotation, recording two 9.9s, one of which was a 9.975 from Kailin Chio to anchor vault. 

The Tigers’ vault leadoff, Lexi Zeiss, posted a 9.875 then Konnor McClain followed that with a 9.850. 

At this point, Oklahoma and Florida had both posted a 9.900 and 9.925. 

Victoria Roberts matched a career-high, posting a 9.900 in the third spot. 

Kaliya Lincoln then scored a 9.850, with Amari Drayton following with a 9.800, which was dropped. 

But Kailin Chio never gave up. With Florida and Oklahoma trading punches, she did her usual thing and scored a 9.975 to anchor the rotation. 

Zeiss set the tone from the jump for LSU. A stick gave her a 9.900 to lead off. 

Ashley Cowan was next, and a step back on her landing earned a 9.850. She would be joined by Courtney Blackson in the 9.8s, with a 9.875 coming in the fifth spot. 

But the third spot was Madi Ulrich. A beautiful routine, and stuck landing, would earn the second 9.900 of the rotation for LSU. 

Chio would claim the highest score of the rotation, earning a 9.950 in the fourth spot.

LSU’s dropped score came from Konnor McClain, who scored a 9.750. 

The score is less than ideal, but McClain avoided a major accident on her bar routine, almost hitting her feet, elbows and then her head on the bar. She never made contact with the bar and kept her routine going. 

LSU’s 49.475 would place them in second after one rotation, just .050 points behind Florida. 

But the second rotation saw LSU on beam, its second highest-scoring event. 

Kylie Coen opened the rotation with a 9.850 and Zeiss followed with a 9.800, which was ultimately dropped. Drayton would also score a 9.850 in the third spot. 

But then LSU would find a spark from Lincoln, who would score a 9.900. 

Following her, McClain and Chio both put up 9.950s to end the rotation and propel LSU past Florida for the lead by the halfway point. 

Oklahoma would make a push for the lead in the second rotation — after a season-low on vault — with all of its scores being over 9.9, but that wouldn't be enough. It would come up .025 points short behind Florida in second, and .050 short of LSU in first. 

The Tigers came out hot on floor. 

It opened with a 9.900 from Emily Innes, a 9.875 from Nina Ballou and then Coen wanted to turn the heat back up, scoring a 9.900 of her own. 

Drayton would get a 9.825, the dropped score for LSU, but Chio would right the ship with a 9.900. 

It all was anchored by Lincoln, who earned a 9.950 all while the BOK Arena erupted when Oklahoma’s Faith Torrez got a 10 on beam. 

Those routines, a 9.950 for LSU and 10 for Oklahoma in the anchor spot, would decide who took the lead, as Oklahoma’s .050 lead came from that difference.

LSU’s next chance to compete will be at the NCAA Baton Rouge Regional, taking place April 1-4.