This class is getting massive.
On Friday, LSU gymnastics got their eighth commitment for the class of 2027 from Kiari Sparks. Sparks is ranked as a four-star recruit by College Gym News’ recruit rankings.
All of LSU’s 2027 recruits have earned a minimum of a four-star rating.
Kiari Sparks began her Level 10 career at Mountain West Gymnastics in Boise, Idaho, in 2023. In March, she won the vault and all-around titles in her division at the Idaho state meet. Her division at Region 2 regionals included one other person, and she beat them in the all-around and on all events except beam. At Level 10 Nationals, Sparks’ best finish on any event was her sixth-place tie on vault.
In 2024, Kiari Sparks found more success. She won her division’s bars title and finished second on every other event at the state meet, and she was forced to compete in a senior division with people slightly older than her (a chart of 2025 age divisions to see why I don’t try explaining this). Sparks faced a full field in her division at regionals and swept every event title. She also outscored Josie Lynch in the all-around, a very tough feat. At Level 10 Nationals, she finished third in her division on vault, fourth in the all-around and fifth on floor.
In 2025, Kiari Sparks had another fantastic season. Funnily enough, one of her coaches was Courtney Blackson, LSU’s grad transfer from Boise State who took a year off. Before continuing, I want to note that I was wrong about Josie Lynch not competing at Region 2 regionals in my most recent piece. I just can’t find the results from that meet on MyMeetScores, and that will impact Sparks, too. At the Idaho state meet, Sparks won her division’s vault, bars and all-around titles. At Level 10 Nationals, she won her division’s all-around and beam titles while also tying for second on vault.
Kiari Sparks’ strengths are in areas that LSU is best: vault and floor. There’s still time for her to develop her skills as an all-arounder or a three-eventer, but that’s for the future. As for LSU, this means LSU is expected to have 21 people on their 2028 season roster. The current NCAA limit is 20, but there are some work-arounds. It’s also very likely that LSU’s going to see multiple people defer their enrollment by a year to make a run at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Barring something crazy, this should wrap up LSU’s recruiting run.
