LSU Gymnast Kailin Chio named 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year
Tina Howell • March 27, 2025
LSU gymnast Kailin Chio has been named the 2025 SEC Freshman of the Year, announced by the Southeastern Conference in its annual gymnastics awards for the season.
Chio has not only been the top freshman performer in the SEC throughout the 2025 season, but also in the country. On top of her FOTY honors, she was also named to the All-SEC and All-Freshman Team. Chio is just the fourth gymnast in LSU history to win the SEC Freshman of the Year award, joining Haleigh Bryant (2021), Kiya Johnson (2020) and April Burkholder (2003), and the 20th gymnast to earn a spot on the SEC All-Freshman Team since it began back in 2009.
Chio has had the most historic freshman debut in LSU's history. In her first year, she has competed in the all-around in every meet for the Tigers, recording season highs of 10.0 on vault, 9.950’s on bars and beam, 9.975 on floor and 39.800 in the all-around, the highest all-around score by a freshman in LSU history and in the country currently. She has placed as one of the top five gymnasts in the country for five straight weeks in only her first year, putting up veteran numbers all year long. She owns an NQS of 39.670 in the all-around heading into postseason and has ranked amongst the top 10 gymnasts in the nation for eight out of 12 weeks of competition so far in 2025, including claiming the No. 1 spot on vault for two weeks in week seven and Week 11.
Chio currently ranks in the top 20 on every event nationally with an NQS of 9.9+ across the board. She has had nine meets this year where she has put up scores of 9.900 or better on at least three events for the Tigers and owns 20 titles, with six of those coming on vault, five in the all-around, four on bars, three on beam and two on floor.
Chio has marked many “firsts” in her first year at LSU, including being the first freshman to record a 10 this season after her perfect yurchenko one and a half on vault against Auburn on March 22. It was only the fourth perfect score in the country by any gymnast so far this year.
She also made SEC history when she set the record for the most SEC Freshman of the Week honors in a single season, taking home nine out of 11 awards in 2025, the most by any freshman in SEC history. She broke the previous SEC record of eight set by Florida’s Kayla DiCello’s in 2023 and Haleigh Bryant’s previous LSU record of five.
In her postseason debut, Chio finished amongst the top 10 performers in the 2025 SEC Gymnastics Championships on vault, bars, floor and the all-around. She finished second on floor with her score of 9.950 and fourth in the all-around with her 39.650 at the championships.
A quick share helps us a lot!
Team Stats (Thunder at Pelicans) Final Score: 126-109 Rebounds: 38-35 Assists: 30-21 Blocks: 5-4 Steals: 12-9 Turnovers: 16-20 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Chet Holmgren, 26; Jeremiah Fears, 24 Rebound Leaders: Chet Holmgren, 9; Derik Queen, 8 Assist Leaders: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, 8; Jordan Hawkins, 6 My Player of the Game: Jeremiah Fears Chrissy's Key Takeaways * The ONLY good part about tonight's game was that no matter how far down the Pelicans got in the game, adjustments kept being made by James Borrego to help the home team go on some sort of run. * The Pelicans started off the game with two turnovers, when they knew the key to the game was to minimize turnovers. And then the Thunder scored 49 points in the first quarter because at one point, the Pelicans had more turnovers than shots taken . * Where is the pride in this team? Are they OK with making paychecks and looking pitiful against every team night after night? * The defense and turnovers have to improve or who knows when this team will win another game. * The Pelicans are now 2-12 on the season. Zion and Jordan Poole are still out with their injuries. Saddiq Bey was out tonight too with some kind of injury. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.
Team Stats (Warriors at Pelicans) Final Score: 124-106 Rebounds: 47-45 Assists: 34-22 Blocks: 5-4 Steals: 14-11 Turnovers: 21-19 Stat Leaders Scoring Leaders: Moses Moody, 32; Trey Murphy III, 20 Rebound Leaders: Moses Moody, 8; Trey Murphy III, 8 Assist Leaders: Moses Moody, 10; Derik Queen, 6 My Player of the Game: Trey Murphy III Chrissy's Key Takeaways * This was James Borrego's first time as a head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans and his starting lineup had Derik Queen in it, which a lot of people were hoping to see. * This game did not have the outcome everyone was hoping for, especially now that Willie Green is gone, but to think Borrego will turn the team around in one game is unrealistic. * Zion needs to become available as soon as possible. Having him out is hurting this whole team. * With Zion and Jordan Poole being hurt, this season is already feeling like the past several seasons where we say, "Well if this team was healthy then they would be good." * Trey Murphy III is doing all he can and putting up great numbers but he cannot lead this team to victory alone. * The Pelicans take the court again in a back-to-back game on Monday, Nov. 16 at 7 pm against the Oklahoma City Thunder. Follow @TheKneaux on X, and follow me there too, @SportsChrissy.