Clemson Overcomes Beam Struggles to Advance in NCAA Regionals

MOVING ON!! Clemson Gymnastics team shows much excitement during the NCAA Tuscaloosa Regional meet vs. the Rutgers Scarlet Knights. (Photo By Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

Slow Start, Strong Finish as Tigers Top Rutgers

Clemson gymnastics faced an uphill battle in their opening-round NCAA Regional meet against Rutgers, competing without key contributors Lilly Lippeatt, Rebecca Wells, and Danika Nielsen. Despite early struggles, the Tigers mounted a comeback on floor exercise to claim a 195.400-193.875 victory and advance to the next round. Let’s jump into how the meet unfolded in Tuscaloosa. 

Vault: Solid but Slightly Behind

Clemson opened the meet on vault, delivering a steady performance but falling just behind Rutgers after the first rotation. Tara Walsh led the way with a meeting leading 9.800, nailing her Yurchenko 1.5 with a stuck landing. Quinn Kuhl would put up a 9.650 with a Yurchenko Full. Madison Minner followed with a 9.775 on her tucked Yurchenko 1.5, while Maggie Holman posted a strong 9.750 for her front handspring pike half. However, a pair of 9.625s from Eve Jackson and Kate Bryant left the Tigers trailing 48.675-48.600 heading into bars.

Bars: Clean Routines but Still Playing Catch-Up

On bars, Clemson kept things steady but couldn’t gain ground on Rutgers. Hannah Clark delivered one of the highlights with a stuck dismount, earning a meet leading 9.825. Quinn Kuhl also stuck her landing to score a 9.750, while Lauren Rutherford contributed a 9.775. Takoda Berry put up a 9.650 and Eve Jackson scored a 9.725 adding solid scores, but Kate Bryant’s fall would be dropped. After two rotations, Rutgers clung to a narrow 97.400-97.325 lead.

Beam: Struggles Keep Clemson Behind

Beam proved to be a challenge for the Tigers, as inconsistency kept them from overtaking Rutgers. Sierra Church led the squad with a meet leading 9.825, while Tara Walsh added a solid 9.800. Both Hannah Clark and Brie Clark posted 9.750s, but Quinn Kuhl’s 9.675 and Kielyn McCright’s 9.025 left Clemson trailing heading into the final rotation. With Rutgers ahead 146.450-146.125, Clemson needed a huge effort on floor.

Floor: Tigers Roar Back for the Win

Clemson’s depth and power on floor proved to be the difference-maker, as they stormed back to take control of the meet. Eve Jackson and Brie Clark each delivered stunning performances, scoring 9.900s, which was tied for meet best to set the tone. Maggie Holman put up a 9.850, while Madison Minner would score a 9.825 and Molly Arnold scoring a 9.800 kept the momentum rolling. The Tigers had secured the win before Tara Walsh’s turn, meaning she didn’t have to compete.

Final Score and What’s Next

Overcoming their struggles on beam, Clemson finished strong on floor to clinch a 195.400-193.875 victory over Rutgers. With the win, the Tigers advance to face Florida, Oregon State, and NC State in the next round of the NCAA Regionals. The meet is set for Friday at 8 p.m. Eastern Time, with coverage available on ESPN+. They’ll look to build on their floor success while tightening up their performances on the other three events as they battle for a spot in the regional final.

Analyst Take

Clemson showed both resilience and depth in this meet, overcoming mistakes and missing key gymnasts to pull off the win. Their beam struggles were concerning, and it’s an area they must clean up heading into the next round. The absence of Lippeatt, Wells, and Nielsen forced younger gymnasts to step up, and while there were some shaky moments, they delivered when it mattered most. Floor was the standout event, showcasing the team’s power and grit, and they’ll need to carry that momentum forward against much tougher competition tomorrow night. Going up against Florida, Oregon State, and NC State, Clemson will have to be sharper from the start. Sticking landings, avoiding falls, and bringing confidence to every routine will be key if they hope to keep their postseason run alive.