Clemson Gymnastics: A Promising Start to Season Two

Eve Jackson with a 9.875 on Unbalanced Bars. (Photo Courtesy of: Clemson Gymnastics)

The Clemson gymnastics team began its second season with a challenging opener at the Sprouts Collegiate Quad, facing some of the nation’s top programs. The Tigers competed against 13th-ranked Michigan, Arizona, and 25th-ranked NC State, presenting a tough test for Team Two right out of the gate.

Despite the strong competition, Clemson held their own and delivered a competitive performance throughout the night. The Tigers, battle-tested from their inaugural season, showed resilience and promise against these highly ranked squads. Let’s dive into the recap of an exciting evening for Clemson gymnastics.

Clemson’s Beam Squad Shines 

Lilly Lippeatt kicked off Clemson's beam rotation with a solid score of 9.775. Brie Clark followed, earning a 9.800 to set an early tone for the Tigers. Freshman Danika Nielsen made her collegiate debut with a respectable 9.700, showcasing potential for future beam attempts. Sierra Church and Quinn Kuhl each delivered steady performances, both scoring 9.750. Despite a surprising 9.650 from beam standout Kielyn McCright, her score was dropped, as it did not factor into the team’s total. Clemson concluded the beam event with a team score of 48.775, averaging 9.755 per routine.

This performance marks a significant improvement from last season, where the beam event presented challenges for Team One. The Tigers’ beam squad appears ready for success, showing promise and consistency in their season opener.

Clemson's Floor Squad Shows Early Promise 

Lilly Lippeatt once again led off for Clemson, opening the floor rotation with an impressive 9.825. Maggie Holman followed with a 9.650, while Madison Minner delivered a strong routine, earning a 9.750. Team star Eve Jackson matched Minner’s score with another solid 9.750. Despite battling injuries, Molly Arnold showcased resilience, grinding out a 9.775 in her routine.

Brie Clark, known for her high-scoring performances on floor last season, attempted a daring Simone Biles-inspired move but stumbled, resulting in a surprising 9.300. Her score was ultimately dropped. Clemson wrapped up the floor event with a total score of 48.750, averaging 9.750 per routine.

While not their best performance, the team’s effort was good enough for the season opener. With their depth and potential, the floor squad promises to deliver exciting routines as the season progresses.

Clemson Vault Squad Delivers Steady Performance

The Tigers’ vault rotation began with Michigan State transfer Tara Walsh, who posted a strong 9.800 to set the tone. Molly Arnold, typically one of Clemson’s top vault performers, had an unusual outing, scoring 9.625. Trinity Brown brought energy to the lineup with an excellent 9.825, the highest vault score for the team. Maggie Holman’s 9.525 was dropped, while Madison Minner contributed a solid 9.750 to the team’s total.

Quinn Kuhl, competing on vault for the first time in her collegiate career after stepping in for Eve Jackson, capped the rotation with an impressive 9.775. Clemson finished the event with a total score of 48.800, averaging 9.76 per routine.

This consistent performance on vault continues to highlight the team’s strength in this event, a carryover from last season. Vault is poised to be one of Clemson’s standout events this year, offering opportunities for the team to excel throughout the season.

Tigers’ Bars Squad Shines

Lilly Lippeatt, one of Clemson’s top performers on bars, led off the rotation with an impressive 9.825. Takoda Berry, a promising young talent, secured her first counted bars score with a solid 9.800. Eve Jackson delivered the highlight of the event with a standout 9.875 in her third event of the night.

Hannah Clark, a newcomer to the team, faced a challenge with a fall on bars, scoring 9.250 which was dropped. Rebecca Wells, typically an all-around competitor, competed exclusively on bars due to an apparent ankle injury and contributed a strong 9.750. Quinn Kuhl, replacing Lauren Rutherford, rounded out the lineup with an outstanding 9.775 in her bars debut. Clemson would finish the bars event with an overall score of 49.025, averaging a score of 9.805.

Clemson finished the event with another strong showing on bars, showcasing this event as a reliable strength for the team. The Tigers are poised to capitalize on their strong performance on bars in many more meets this season. 

Final Results 

The Clemson gymnastics team placed 3rd overall at their season-opening meet, finishing with a score of 195.350. Michigan claimed the top spot with 195.925, followed by Arizona in 2nd with 195.825. A bright spot for the Tigers was their finish ahead of ACC rival NC State, which scored 195.000. This marks a significant improvement for Clemson, as they failed to defeat the Wolfpack in all three matchups last season.

Quinn Kuhl emerged as the standout performer for the Tigers, showcasing consistent excellence on beam, vault, and bars to earn an impressive combined score of 29.3. Kuhl’s debut performances on vault and bars highlight the results of her hard offseason work, positioning her as a key contributor for Clemson moving forward.

Overall, Clemson’s performance against strong competition signals a promising season ahead. The Tigers will look to build on this momentum at their next meet on the road against Pitt on January 17th at 7:00 p.m, at Fitzgerald Field House in Pittsburgh, PA.