Clemson Tigers Gymnastics Hosts Historic Tri-Meet on Military Appreciation Night

Tara Walsh scored a 9.850 on Vault vs. Stanford on Sunday, February 23, 2025 in Littlejohn Coliseum. (Photo By: Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

The Clemson Tigers gymnastics team is set to make history on Friday, February 28, as the Tigers host their first-ever tri-meet at Littlejohn Coliseum. The competition, which begins at 5:00 p.m., marks the final event of a three-meet homestand and will feature visiting teams from New Hampshire and Texas Woman’s University. The evening will also serve as Clemson’s annual Military Appreciation Night, with various tributes planned throughout the meet.

The Tigers enter the competition following a season-best performance last weekend against No. 16 Stanford. Despite falling just short with a score of 196.575 to Stanford’s 196.925, Clemson posted season-high marks on both vault and floor. Eve Jackson led the way on floor, earning a career-high 9.95, while Molly Arnold (9.9) and Brie Clark (9.925) joined her in delivering standout performances. This marked the first time this season that three Tigers recorded scores of 9.9 or higher in a single event.

Texas Woman’s University arrives in Clemson ranked No. 49 in the National Qualifying Score (NQS) standings. The Pioneers hold individual event rankings of No. 44 on vault, No. 42 on bars, No. 55 on beam, and No. 52 on floor, with their top team score of the season—a 195.375—coming in a meet against Cal and Utah State. Meanwhile, New Hampshire enters the competition ranked No. 52 in NQS, boasting event rankings of No. 41 on vault, No. 54 on bars, No. 47 on beam, and No. 44 on floor. The Wildcats’ highest score of the season, a 194.700, was recorded earlier this month in a matchup against Brown and Yale.

Fans attending Friday’s meet are encouraged to wear purple in honor of Military Appreciation Night. Purple poms will be distributed upon entry, and several military recognitions will take place throughout the evening to honor service members.

While presale tickets for the highly anticipated tri-meet have sold out, a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available at the Burton Gallery ticket windows on Friday, beginning when doors open at 4:00 p.m. Fans unable to attend the meet can watch the meet broadcast on ACC Network Extra.