LSU breaks through, takes first gymnastics title

FORT WORTH, Texas — After being the runner-up on four different occasions and having been a perennial contender for the past several seasons, LSU won its first NCAA gymnastics title Saturday in front of 7,684 fans at Dickies Arena.

The Tigers, who earned the highest score in Thursday’s semifinals, led for the first two rotations Saturday but fell .037 points behind Utah ahead of the final event.

But the team closed the deficit, and then some, on beam. And when Aleah Finnegan, the team’s final performer, stuck her dismount, she began to visibly shake and sob as she and her teammates — jumping up and down several feet away — seemed to realize what had just happened.

She earned a 9.95 to give the team a final score of 198.225 and the victory over second-place California (197.8500).

After struggling on vault, its final event, Utah fell to third place (197.8000). Florida finished in fourth (197.4375).

The numerous Tigers fans in attendance chanted “L-S-U” and stood on their feet in appreciation as soon as Finnegan’s routine ended and rarely stopped until after the formal presentation.

“It was hard, from time to time,” LSU coach Jay Clark said. “We weren’t without adversity … but it feels fantastic and I’m just so happy for them. I’m speechless.”

It already had been a surprising championship weekend as Oklahoma, the two-time defending champion and the favorite to win it all, was eliminated Thursday during the semifinals.

LSU is now the eighth team in NCAA history to win the title. Tigers senior Haleigh Bryant also won the individual all-around title on Thursday.