LSU Gymnastics Soars Into NCAA Regional Finals

Tigers post program-record score, led by Kailin Chio's historic performance

Apr. 3, 2026 at 8:33pm

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An abstract, energetic painting featuring vibrant brushstrokes of neon colors, capturing the dynamic movements and raw athleticism of a gymnastics competition.LSU's gymnastics team rides a wave of momentum and confidence into the NCAA Regional Finals, poised to continue their dominant postseason run.Baton Rouge Today

The No. 2 seeded LSU gymnastics team continued its dominant postseason run, posting a program-record NCAA Regional score of 198.375 to win the Baton Rouge Regional and advance to Saturday's regional final. Sophomore Kailin Chio led the way with two perfect 10.0 scores, becoming just the second gymnast in LSU history to achieve that feat in a regional meet. Head coach Jay Clark praised the team's complete and impressive performance, which he said should boost their confidence heading into the next round.

Why it matters

LSU's record-breaking regional performance not only secures their spot in the next round, but also highlights the team's impressive depth and individual talent, especially from standout gymnast Kailin Chio. The Tigers are aiming to reach the NCAA Semifinals for the fourth consecutive year, further cementing their status as one of the top gymnastics programs in the country.

The details

In the second round of the Baton Rouge Regional, LSU posted a season-high and program-record NCAA Regional score of 198.375, finishing first and advancing to Saturday's regional final. The Tigers will compete against No. 7 Stanford, No. 10 Michigan, and No. 15 Clemson for a spot in the NCAA Semifinals. Sophomore Kailin Chio continued her dominant season, earning two perfect 10.0 scores and becoming just the second gymnast in LSU history to achieve that feat in a regional meet. Head coach Jay Clark praised the team's complete and impressive performance, saying it should boost their confidence heading into the next round.

  • On April 3, 2026, LSU competed in the second round of the Baton Rouge Regional.

The players

LSU Gymnastics

The No. 2 seeded LSU gymnastics team, which is aiming to reach the NCAA Semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.

Kailin Chio

A sophomore gymnast for LSU who earned two perfect 10.0 scores in the regional meet, becoming just the second gymnast in program history to achieve that feat.

Jay Clark

The head coach of the LSU gymnastics team, who praised the team's complete and impressive performance in the regional meet.

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What they’re saying

“It was awesome. I mean, they left no doubt, no room for doubt, and what I told them at the end was that this should improve their confidence level, and they ought to be supremely confident going into Saturday.”

— Jay Clark, Head Coach, LSU Gymnastics

“I mean, going out there tonight, that's still not our best, and we're capable of so much more. So it's just really exciting knowing that there's still more in us. We got out there, did that, and were having the time of our lives. It's not over yet, so I think we're just excited to keep stacking the days, keep it going, and get ready for Saturday.”

— Konnor McClain, Junior, LSU Gymnastics

What’s next

LSU will compete in the regional final on Saturday, April 5, 2026 at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the NCAA Semifinals in Fort Worth.

The takeaway

LSU's dominant regional performance not only secures their spot in the next round, but also highlights the team's impressive depth and individual talent, especially from standout gymnast Kailin Chio. The Tigers' record-breaking score and historic achievements should boost their confidence as they aim to reach the NCAA Semifinals for the fourth consecutive year.