Clemson Tigers Gymnastics: Clemson Set to Face No. 16 Stanford Cardinal in Exciting Youth Day Meet

Clemson Gymnast Brie Clark shares excitement with her squad after a strong floor performance vs. Pitt. (Photo By: Charles Mays/Tiger View Media)

The Clemson Tigers gymnastics team continues their homestand with a Youth Day meet against the No. 16 Stanford Cardinal. This is the second of three consecutive home meets for the Tigers, and it promises to be an exciting competition.

Clemson Tigers Gymnastics: The Tigers are coming off a close meet against NC State, where they earned their second-highest overall score of the season (195.95) but narrowly lost (195.95-196.05). Key performances included Sierra Church's season-high 9.90 on beam, earning her second-career event win, and Brie Clark's impressive fourth-straight score of 9.9 or higher on floor (9.925). Additionally, Tara Walsh set a career-high on beam with a 9.875 in just her second appearance in the lineup this season.

Stanford Cardinal Gymnastics: Stanford embraced the challenge of a new environment last Friday, topping Southern Utah with a score of 196.775 to 196.125. This marked Stanford's second-best road score of the season. Senior Brenna Neault led the team with her second all-around title of the year, scoring 39.425 and winning her first bars event of the season. Junior Anna Roberts secured the vault title with a score of 9.900 and shared the floor title, while freshman Alana Walker achieved her first collegiate event win on the floor with a career-best performance.

First Ever Meet: Stanford and Clemson will meet for the first time in both programs' histories. Clemson is in its second season as an NCAA Division I program, having finished second in the ACC in its inaugural season. The Cardinal enters Week 7 NQS rankings as the No. 16 team in the nation, their highest first-week NQS ranking since 2016. Their first NQS of the 2025 season is 196.565, the highest since 2011.

Key Matchups:

Balance Beam: Sierra Church (Clemson) and Clemson’s beam team vs. Stanford's top beam performers

Floor Exercise: Brie Clark (Clemson) along with the other dominant performers on floor vs. Anna Roberts and Alana Walker (Stanford)

Overall Team Performance: Clemson's recent momentum vs. Stanford's season-long consistency

What to Watch For:

• Clemson’s beam lineup, featuring Church and Walsh, both of whom posted strong scores last week.

• Brie Clark’s floor routine, which has been one of Clemson’s biggest highlights this season. Along with other solid performers such as Molly Arnold, Eve Jackson, Lilly Lippeatt and Madison Minner.

• Stanford’s execution across all events, particularly on beam and floor, where they are highly ranked.

• A sold-out Littlejohn Coliseum bringing high energy for Youth Day.

Tickets: Presale tickets are sold out, but a limited number of walk-up tickets will be available at the Burton Gallery ticket windows starting at 3:00 PM on Sunday.

This meet is set to be a thrilling contest between two talented teams. Clemson will look to leverage their home advantage and recent strong performances, while Stanford's consistency and high rankings will be key factors. With standout gymnasts on both sides, fans can expect an intense and electrifying meet at Littlejohn Coliseum this evening.

Event Details:

Date: Sunday, February 23, 2025

Time: 4:00 PM EST

Location: Littlejohn Coliseum, Clemson, SC

Broadcast: ACC Network

Video Via: Clemson Gymnastics Social Media