The Clemson gymnastics team had their first meet of the season on Friday, where they finished third in the Sprouts Farmers Market Collegiate Quad in Oklahoma City. The Tigers were able to finish ahead of NC State, the 2024 ACC Champions, but fell behind Michigan and Arizona.
Last season, Clemson finished second in the ACC Championship, with a score of 196.425. Out of the top six scorers for each event, Clemson had four on vault, one on bars, two on beam and three on floor. Lilly Lippeat was named Newcomer of the Year, and head coach Amy Smith named Coach of the Year.
Lippeat was named Newcomer of the Year after earning Newcomer of the Week three times throughout the season, as well as all-conference honors on bars. Lippeat scored the first 9.9 in Clemson gymnastics history.
Smith, a former national champion, became the first-ever head coach of Clemson women’s gymnastics in 2022. Smith led the Tigers to the highest score posted by any program in its first meet: 196.325.
Before the season began, Clemson was ranked 28th in the Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association’s Preseason Poll and 25th in the College Gym News Preseason Poll.
In June, Clemson brought in transfer Tara Walsh, who previously competed for two seasons at Michigan State and two at Auburn. On National Signing Day, the Tigers welcomed three more athletes to the team.
Brooke Pierson, a native of Canby, Oregon, joined the team after attending Texas Connections Academy. In 2024, Pierson competed in the Xfinity Gymnastics Championships, the Core Hydration Classic, the American Classic and the Winter Cup.
“Brooke is an elite gymnast that should compete as an all-arounder for us. Her bars are at an extraordinary level, beautiful lines along with an extremely high level of difficulty, which make her an immediate stand-out on that event,” Smith said of Pierson. “She has a dynamic full-in and back 1.5 to front full on floor, which is huge. Her beam is equal to bars with beautiful lines and high difficulty skills. And her dynamic 1.5 will be making our vault line-up.”
Celeste Field, a Level 10 gymnast from Locust Valley, New York, is also among the signees. Field attended Saint Anthony’s High School and was the 2023 Regional All-Around Champion and the 2023 National Vault Champion. Field earned first place in vault at the 2023 Level 10 Nationals and was first all-around at the 2023 Level 10 Regionals.
Molly Brinkman, another Level 10 gymnast, also joined the Tigers. From Chandler, Arizona, Brinkman is a 2024 State All-Around Champion, a 2024 State Vault, Bars, Floor Champion, and a 2023 Regional Floor Champion. In the 2024 Level 10 AZ Grand, Brinkman earned first in vault and first all-around. Brinkman also claimed first in bars, floor, and all-around in the 2023 Level 10 CA Grand.
“Molly is also a level 10 gymnast that was initially recruited as a three-event gymnast – vault, beam and floor. However, the work Molly has put in over the last year on bars has put her in position to be an all-arounder for us, which is really cool!” Smith said. “She is a natural performer on the floor with dynamic tumbling – she is going to light up LJC!”
Following their meet in Oklahoma City, the Tigers will make stops at Pitt and Cal before welcoming Pitt for their home debut on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 5 p.m at LittleJohn Coliseum. Be sure to catch both the new and returning Clemson Tigers in action!
