LSU Gymnastics Advances to NCAA Championship Final

Tigers finish second in NCAA Semifinal Session I, punching ticket to national title meet

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:18am

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A fractured, multi-perspective painting in vibrant shades of purple and gold, capturing the energy and movement of a gymnastics competition through sharp, overlapping geometric shapes.LSU Gymnastics' dynamic performance in the NCAA Semifinal sets the stage for a thrilling championship showdown.Fort Worth Today

The No. 2 national seed LSU Gymnastics team punched their ticket to the 2026 NCAA Championship Final after a second-place finish in the NCAA Semifinal Session I with a final score of 197.4375 on Thursday afternoon in Fort Worth, Texas. The Tigers will advance to the national title meet alongside No. 3 Florida, who took first place in the session.

Why it matters

This marks the 11th national championship appearance in program history for LSU Gymnastics, and the third under head coach Jay Clark. The Tigers' strong performance in the semifinal, including individual event titles, positions them as a top contender for the national championship.

The details

LSU was boosted to its second-place finish with a 49.4750 on bars and a 49.5250 on floor. Individually, the Tigers took home four event titles, including sophomore Kailin Chio winning vault, floor, and the all-around, and junior Konnor McClain tying for the highest beam score.

  • The NCAA Semifinal Session I took place on Thursday, April 17, 2026.
  • The NCAA Championship Final is scheduled for Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 3 p.m. CT.

The players

LSU Gymnastics

The No. 2 national seed gymnastics team from Louisiana State University, competing in the 2026 NCAA Championships.

Jay Clark

The head coach of the LSU Gymnastics team, leading the program to its third NCAA Championship appearance under his tenure.

Kailin Chio

A sophomore gymnast for LSU who won individual titles in vault, floor, and the all-around in the NCAA Semifinal Session I.

Konnor McClain

A junior gymnast for LSU who tied for the highest beam score in the NCAA Semifinal Session I.

Florida

The No. 3 national seed gymnastics team that won the NCAA Semifinal Session I with a score of 197.7875, advancing to the NCAA Championship Final alongside LSU.

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What’s next

LSU will compete in the NCAA Championship Final on Saturday, April 18, 2026 at 3 p.m. CT, live on ABC. The Tigers will face off against Florida and the top two finishers from the second semifinal session, which includes No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 8 UCLA, No. 9 Arkansas, and No. 14 Minnesota.

The takeaway

LSU Gymnastics has established itself as a national powerhouse, earning its 11th NCAA Championship appearance and positioning itself as a top contender for the 2026 national title. The Tigers' strong performances in the semifinal, led by individual event champions, showcase the depth and talent of this program under head coach Jay Clark.