Mizzou Gymnastics Leans on Helen Hu to Advance to Program's First NCAA Finals

Helen Hu posted a meet-high score to push the Tigers to a top-two finish.

Apr 17, 2025; Fort Worth, TX, USA; The University of Missouri Tiger team celebrate after the announcement of the final team scores during the 2025 Women's National Gymnastics Semifinal at Dickies Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images / Jerome Miron-Imagn Images

Missouri gymnastics competed in the NCAA Championship Semifinal, participating in a quad meet with Oklahoma, Florida and Alabama on Thursday afternoon.

In a stacked semifinal made up entirely of Southeastern Conference programs, with only the top two teams advancing, the Tigers finished in second place (197.3000). The Sooners won the meet with a 197.5500, while the Gators earned third with a 197.2000 and the Crimson Tide finished fourth with a 196.8250.

After jumping from third to second place, all the pressure was on Missouri to clinch a top-two finish in the final rotation. After notching a 49.5000 on beam, Missouri succeeded, punching its ticket to the NCAA Championship Final.

Junior Addison Lawrence stepped up big with a 9.9125 on beam, and redshirt senior Helen Hu earned a meet-high 9.9875 to seal Missouri's fate. The score held up through the other semifinal, held Thursday evening in Fort Worth, Texas, giving her the individual national title in the event.

The Tigers also had a big showing on bars, logging a 49.4500 to move from third to second place.

After falling on her vault landing, sophomore Hannah Horton redeemed herself on bars with a 9.8875. Other notable bar scores included a 9.8750 by senior Amari Celestine, a 9.8875 by freshman Olivia Kelly and a 9.9375 by graduate student Mara Titarsolej.

Over on vault, Florida was struggling, recording three scores in the 9.7000s. Titarsolej's strong routine pushed Missouri into second place, leading the Gators 147.8000-147.7250.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Missouri Gymnastics (@mizzougym)

Missouri ranks fourth in the nation on floor, but the team did not perform to its standard in this meet. No gymnasts cracked 9.9000 on the apparatus, with the highest score being a 9.8750 by sophomore Kennedy Griffin and senior Jocelyn Moore.

Missouri's floor score was a 49.2250, but even with the lower score, the Tigers were not out of the mix. Their floor routine put them in third place behind Oklahoma (49.4000) and Florida (49.3000).

The Tigers performed the worst on vault, posting a 49.1250 on the apparatus. Redshirt junior Elise Tisler led the Tigers with a 9.8750, tying her season high. Moore was close behind with a 9.8625. After two rotations, the Tigers had yet to hit a 9.9000.

The second rotation featured two falls, one by Missouri's Horton on vault and another by Oklahoma freshman Lily Pederson on beam. Despite the fall, the Sooners remained at the front of the pack.

Missouri, Oklahoma, and two teams from the other semifinal, Utah and UCLA, will compete in the NCAA Championship Final at 4 p.m. Saturday at the same venue, Dickies Arena.

How to Watch Four On The Floor

Semifinal I

Top two teams advance
1. Oklahoma Sooners 197.5500
2. Missouri Tigers, 197.3000
3. Florida Gators, 197.2000
4. Alabama Crimson Tide, 196.825

Semifinal II

Top two teams advance
1. Utah Utes, 197.7625
2. UCLA Bruins, 197.7375
3. LSU Tigers, 197.525
4. Michigan State Spartans, 197.3625

Individual Honors

All-Around:Jordan Bowers, Oklahoma, 39.7125
Vault: Kailin Chio, LSU, 9.975
Bars: Jordan Chiles. UCLA, 9.975
Beam: Helen Hu, Missouri 9.9875
Floor: Brooklyn Moors. UCLA, 9.9625

Read more Missouri Tigers news:

feed