2023 had some very bright moments: broken records, new programs, and great progress in the sport. It also had some challenging lows, from scoreless meets to poor judging and many injuries. We rounded up the best of the best and worst of the worst.
Highs
Fisk, Simpson, and Greenville’s Debuts
The inaugural seasons for three schools was undoubtedly the most important highlight of the season, marking substantial growth for the sport. Fisk’s debut at the highly-anticipated and widely-watched Super 16 Challenge was arguably the most memorable, as it became the first HBCU to compete in NCAA gymnastics.
LSU’s Resilience
After losing Kiya Johnson to an Achilles injury just seven routines into the season, the Tigers were written off as a lost cause by more than a few gym fans. Even more joined in as Kai Rivers and KJ Johnson were sidelined later in the season. However, the adversity only seemed to motivate LSU: The Tigers maintained their top 10 status all season long, nabbed a solid regionals seed, snagged a berth to nationals, and even qualified for Four on the Floor. That’s quite a way to respond when facing adversity.
Boise State Finally Perfect
It was a standout season for Broncos Courtney Blackson and Emily Lopez, who each earned their first career perfect scores…
