What We’re Talking About

William Shakespeare had it right when he wrote, “Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.” Oklahoma learned this lesson last season and LSU is getting their first taste in 2025. It seems the gymnastics community (or at minimum the coaches who voted in the WCGA Coaches Poll) believe LSU’s path to maintaining their thrown will be tough. The reigning national champions received only six first place votes for a second place pre-season ranking, while Oklahoma collected 42 votes to be the favorite to hoist the trophy at the end of the season. The Tigers come into 2025 fully aware of King Henry IV’s warning. LSU head coach, Jay Clark, told us the team’s motto this season is, “Protect the Crown. Everyday.”

After week one, the coaches for both programs should feel pretty good. Oklahoma posted the top score of the week with a 197.550 and LSU is sitting in second with a 197.300. The top two schools are the only programs in the nation to crack 197 in the opening weekend. In fact, only four other programs put up a 196 or better: Michigan State, Utah, Missouri and Cal. If these numbers seem a little low compared to last season, it’s because they are–and it’s intentional. We discuss it in this week’s podcast, which includes an interview with Cal co-head coach, Justin Howell.

This all to say after one week nobody should hit the panic button. It’s a new season with new scoring expectations. We’ll have a much better idea after week two when four of the top five teams (LSU, Cal, Oklahoma, Utah) compete head to head on ABC this Saturday. LSU, in particular, should already feel good about how they started the season. They posted the second highest score in the nation without their top gymnast Haleigh Bryant, who has been recovering from an elbow injury. Coach Clark has indicated that we could see Haleigh back in the lineup for the primetime showdown this weekend–at least on balance beam. No season is won or lost in week two, but having a strong queen lead the charge should help steady an uneasy head.

Feelings

• The Frontwave Arena in Oceanside, CA should be a mainstay for gymnastics events
• It’s an insult to women’s sports that two Paris gold medalists competed against each other and it wasn’t broadcast, let alone officially streamed.
• Jade Carey looks better than ever
• Absolutely love the tighter scoring
• Sad about the passing of oldest living Olympic medal winner, Ágnes Keleti
• When pumping music into an arena during a gymnastics competition don’t include songs with suicide lyrics
• LSU freshman, Kailin Chio, is our new obsession
• Nobody has more fun on the floor than Jordan Chiles
• Brooklyn Moors is a generational performer and we can’t take it for granted
• The big Sprout’s meet this weekend won’t actually mean much, but it will set the narrative

Facts

• Utah set a new record with 9,267 season ticket holders
• Missouri head coach, Shannon Welker, received a contract extension through 2029
• Georgia has sold out their first home meet of the season with the help of a GOAT
• Oklahoma had five all-arounders compete and the No. 2 gymnast in the country last year was their fifth best with a 39.2750
• Michigan State has entered the conversation as the No. 3 team after the first week
• Freshman Kailin Chio is currently the No. 4 all-arounder in the country behind two Olympians an a Sooner beam champion
• LSU had their largest attendance for a home opener in program history: 12,324
• Seven months post-operation, Ondine Achampong is doing full beam routines sans dismount
• The NCAA is considering the change of competition eligibility from four years to five
• Brooklyn Moors competed on three events for the first time since 2022
• Bonus: The best (and funnest way) to follow college gymnastics is to play our free fantasy game. Join here.

Award(s)

• Freshman of the Week: Kailin Chio
• Unsung Heroes: Social media managers who streamed the meets so fans can actually watch

What’s On the Socials?

The final piece to a historic season now forever lives in the PMAC.

The national championship banner moment 🥹💜 pic.twitter.com/asTB73iHPp

— LSU Gymnastics (@LSUgym) January 4, 2025

You've gotta watch Brooklyn Moors scoring a 9.900 on the floor 🎬👀#B1GWGym x @uclagymnastics pic.twitter.com/F5OQa0jZ0v

— Big Ten Gymnastics (@B1GGymnastics) January 4, 2025

sophomore season starting off strong#BoomerSooner x @Keirawellsss pic.twitter.com/fWWu1S4zus

— Oklahoma Women's Gym (@OU_WGymnastics) January 7, 2025