From the dazzling floor routines to the gravity-defying leaps and spins on the balance beam, the 2023 NCAA Gymnastics Championship has been nothing short of mesmerizing. The gymnasts involved have pushed themselves to the limit, performing jaw-dropping feats of strength and flexibility that have left the audience in awe.

What makes the NCAA Gymnastics Championships so special is the incredible atmosphere that surrounds the event. The passion and energy of the fans, the camaraderie and support of the teams, and the excitement of the competition all combine to create a truly unforgettable experience. Here's a rundown of any action you might have missed.

The Nation's Best

The Oklahoma women's gymnastics team clinched its sixth national championship in program history and ended the season as the top-ranked team with a score of 198.3875, which tied the NCAA Championships record previously set by OU in 2017. Throughout the 2023 season, the Sooners maintained their position at the summit, marking their third time achieving this feat in the program's history.

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OU has tied the record for the most women's gymnastics national titles over a nine-year period in NCAA history, matching Utah's six wins from 1982 to 1990. The Sooners have secured back-to-back championships for the second time in their program's history, the first time being in 2016 and 2017.

In the rankings, Florida and Utah came in at No. 2 and No. 3, respectively, with both teams repeating their runner-up and third-place finishes from the previous year. LSU secured fourth place in their first return to the NCAA Championships since 2021, while UCLA rounded out the top five in their first appearance since 2019.

OU's 28-2 season concluded with a national title on Saturday, accompanied by a Big 12 Conference championship and the program's 13th consecutive NCAA regional crown. The Sooners impressively registered 10 scores of at least 198, tying the NCAA record for the most such scores. Head coach K.J. Kindler led the team to the “triple crown” in all six of the team's national title victories: Big 12, NCAA regional, and NCAA championships.

The athletics department of Oklahoma University now has 42 team national championships to its name, out of which 23 (equivalent to 55%) were won during the 25-year period that Joe Castiglione has served as athletics director.

Final results:

1st place: Oklahoma: 198.3875

2nd Place: Florida: 198.2375

3rd Place: Utah: 197.9375

4th Place: LSU: 197.5250

Shining Stars

As always, the gymnasts have proven to be true stars, with many of them already being touted as future Olympians. Their skills, strength, and artistry on the floor have left fans and judges alike in awe. While there were many amazing performances, here are a few that were especially dazzling:

Olivia Trautman, who was originally told not to compete in her final season due to past injury risks, ended up delivering a 9.825 in her last event – even though she wasn't supposed to be competing at all. Against the advice of others, Trautman ultimately decided to stick with her gut. This led Oklahoma to their second consecutive national championship and sixth overall victory against top-ranked teams such as No. 2 Florida, No. 5 Utah and No. 6 LSU. On Thursday, she became the seventh gymnast in the program's history to win an individual title. Olivia Trautman's winning vault score was 9.9500, and she also tied for third place on beam with UCLA's Emma Malabuyo and Kentucky's Isabella Magnelli – all three girls having respective scores of 9.9500s.

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Jordan Chiles flawlessly executed a routine on bars at the NCAA championship, earning a score of 10 on bars and a 9.9875 on floor. Chiles is the reigning national floor and bar champion, coming in second place this year's all-around with her performance. The Bears were narrowly beaten by Utah for a spot in the championship by only .250 points.

The 2023 NCAA all-around champion, Maile O'Keefe, excelled on beam for the Red Rocks with a flawless routine. Utah's score was boosted to 197.9375, allowing them to take third place, thanks to her perfect score. Utah was also involved in second place ties for bars and beam, as well as a third-place tie for floor.

Trinity Thomas cemented her legacy as a Gator by tying the NCAA all-time record for perfect 10s with her flawless vault routine. Thomas, Jamie Dantzscher and Jenny Hansen hold the record for the most perfect 10s in a collegiate career with 28. Thomas achieved a score of 9.9125 on bars in her final collegiate event.

Jordan Bowers and Faith Torrez tied for third place in the floor exercise with scores of 9.9500, along with seven other gymnasts.

Leanne Wong of Florida and Haleigh Bryant of LSU both scored 9.9375 on bars, while Aleah Finnegan of LSU tied with Wong on floor exercise with a score of 9.9625.

Related: Athlete Feature: Jordan Chiles

Honorable Mentions

The dedication and hard work of the coaches and staff cannot be overlooked either. They have pushed their athletes to new heights, helping them to achieve personal bests and team victories. And of course, the fans have played a vital role in making this season so thrilling, with their passion and energy fueling the gymnasts and creating an electrifying atmosphere in the arenas. It is what makes the games so much more thrilling to watch!

As the season comes to a close, we can only look back with gratitude and admiration for the athletes, coaches, staff, and fans who have made it such a spectacular year. The future of women's college gymnastics is bright, and we can't wait to see what the next season has in store.

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Image Credit: Yahoo Sports

* Originally published on April 25, 2023, by Kelly Wick