Oklahoma’s Faith Torres Leads Gymnastics Team to Victory

During Saturday’s NCAA Championships, Faith Torres, a standout gymnast from the University of Oklahoma, delivered a pivotal championship-winning routine, solidifying her team’s impressive legacy.

Torres performed her final floor exercise routine, finishing the competition as the last participant in the last rotation, which helped the Sooners clinch their fourth championship in five years. It marked a significant moment, as it was her last routine as a college athlete.

With an impressive score of 9.950, Torres contributed to the Sooners’ overall team total of 198.1625, narrowly ahead of LSU, which tallied 198.0750.

Florida State took home third place, while Minnesota celebrated its best season ever, finishing in fourth.

“It means everything. I’m so proud of this team,” Torres shared after winning the NCAA overall title earlier in the week. “If I’m going to do it with them, I don’t want to do it with anyone else.”

LSU initially gained the lead in the competition, thanks notably to Kailyn Chio’s flawless 10 on the vault—an impressive feat as it was the first perfect score seen at the U.S. Championships since 2023.

As LSU finished on balance beam, the Sooners were on floor exercises. In NCAA gymnastics, six athletes compete in each event, the lowest score is dropped, and the top five scores are added for the team total.

At one point, LSU led by only 0.0750, leaving minimal margin for error. Lexi Zeiss had a fall on the balance beam after a lengthy wait due to score deliberations on teammate Kylie Cohen, which allowed the Sooners to advance.

Despite the setback, the Tigers regained momentum thanks to U.S. Champion Connor McClain and Chio.

The competition culminated with Torres on floor and Chio on beam as the final performers. Torres, having battled injuries throughout the season and not competing in individual events until nationals, showcased a vibrant 90-second performance that set the stage for Chio’s efforts.

Chio had an outstanding season, achieving 13 perfect 10s; however, her score of 9.900 didn’t prevent Oklahoma from continuing their dominant streak.