Luke Tully achieved a significant milestone for William & Mary Tribe Men’s Gymnastics on April 24, finishing sixth in the all-around at the 2026 NCAA Championships and becoming the program’s first NCAA All-American as an all-arounder. Tully said his achievement was a result of consistent preparation and remaining injury-free throughout the season. “It was amazing,” Tully said. “All the way through the lift, working with the coaches, to just the training every single day, all of the hard work paid off. The best part of it all was that there were no injuries this season. Not getting injured was the top priority—thankfully I was able to stay healthy.”
Tully’s performance highlights both his physical and mental discipline during his sophomore year, which he credited for helping him deliver steady routines under pressure. He became only the ninth All-American in William & Mary gymnastics history, joining a list he admired growing up.
Messages from alumni followed his accomplishment at nationals, including one from Scott McCall—a former NCAA national champion on rings—who congratulated him after his performance. “It meant the world,” Tully said about receiving recognition from past athletes.
Tully explained that competing as an all-around gymnast means participating in six events: floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, and high bar—the latter being his favorite event where he finished ninth at nationals.
Preparation extends beyond practice for Tully; recovery includes daily sauna sessions with teammate Ricky Pizem and pre-meet rituals such as reading Philippians 4 to calm nerves.
Family has played a central role in shaping Tully’s resilience; he is one of ten siblings and credits their support—and competition—for motivating him athletically. His younger brother Chase plans to join William & Mary next season.
Tully also acknowledged Director of Gymnastics Mike Powell and Associate Head Coach Bo Morris for introducing new training methods that improved team confidence during meets: “We have a structured plan… Once you hit those routines after just one turn, the confidence builds and builds.” Teammate support helped him overcome setbacks earlier in college when struggles on high bar threatened his confidence.
Looking ahead, Tully hopes to improve further by focusing on basics—especially on pommel horse—and working alongside Chase over summer break. Despite reaching All-American status this year through determination and attention to detail, he remains focused on future growth: “Given the leap he made this season…he’s aiming even higher.”
