LSU Gymnastics just went through one of the biggest shake-ups in recent memory. After Olivia Dunne announced her retirement, her final season cut short by a tough kneecap injury, and the team said goodbye to ten seniors, including stars like Haleigh Bryant and Aleah Finnegan, a lot of fans were left wondering what now? Losing that much experience and leadership at once can shake any program. But instead of hitting the pause button, LSU made a huge move in the transfer portal that’s already got people buzzing.

They haven’t officially named the gymnast yet, but if you’ve been following, you probably know who it is. Madison Ulrich, a former 5-star recruit and Big 12 Newcomer of the Year, recently visited Baton Rouge and posted on 4th May about it on Instagram, asking, “Baton Rouge, how we feelin’? ❤️‍🔥” with a casual #notcommitted thrown in. But don’t be fooled by that, because just a few weeks later, on May 24th, Madison Ulrich officially confirmed she’s heading to Baton Rouge.

So, after checking out LSU in early May, this University of Denver transfer also stopped by Utah and the reigning champs, the Oklahoma Sooners, before making her big call. She went public on Instagram with a heartfelt post: “Vision steady on His time. I am honored and blessed to share that I have decided to commit to LSU for the remainder of my collegiate career!!”

She further continued with, “I am so grateful for this incredible opportunity and extremely excited and hopeful for what’s to come! Geaux Tigers!!! With all my love, I would like to thank my Denver family for these past two years. I have learned and grown so much through my time with you all and will carry the relationships and experiences I’ve had with me into this next chapter.”

She also added, ” Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful,” Sav :), user on X even shared it on X, and honestly, it sounds like she’s ready for this next step, but here’s the real question: can she step up and follow the amazing legacy left by the LSU legends like Olivia Dunne?

Filling the big shoes of Olivia Dunne and LSU’s gymnastics legends

Madison Ulrich’s resume speaks for itself. She’s been a star at the University of Denver, hitting some crazy career highs like a 9.95 on floor and an amazing 39.575 all-around score at the NCAA Regionals just last month. She’s a three-time 2025 WCGA Postseason All-American, qualified individually for NCAA Nationals, and has proven she can handle the pressure on the biggest stages.

For LSU, which just lost a ton of key players, getting someone who can compete across vault, beam, floor, and all-around? That’s exactly the kind of boost they need right now, and it looks like the LSU family already agrees. You can tell from how the current and former LSU gymnasts have been welcoming her. Haleigh Bryant posted, “These are your colors. Yes, yes, yes!”

Freshman Kaliya Lincoln chimed in with, “You look so good in purple and gold,” and Kailin Chio just said, “Yes, ma’am!” while junior Ashley Cowan wrapped it up perfectly with, “We feelin’ good!” It’s clear everyone’s excited to have her around even after saying goodbye to huge names like Olivia Dunne, Haleigh Bryant, and Aleah Finnegan, who helped LSU win the 2024 NCAA championship.

But despite those big departures, LSU’s future still looks bright. Head Coach Jay Clark is counting on the return of some real talent, freshman vault champ Kailin Chio, as well as upperclassmen Amari Drayton, Ashley Cowan, and Konnor McClain. Plus, there’s hope that sophomores Kaliya Lincoln and Zoe Miller will bounce back from injuries and be ready to compete.

So yeah, LSU might have lost a lot of talent this year, but they’re not starting from scratch. This transfer signing shows they’re ready to reload and keep pushing at the top of NCAA gymnastics. If this is just the start, Baton Rouge could be in for a really exciting next season. Keep your eyes peeled, there might be more big announcements coming soon.