Gymnastics | 3/17/2022 9:40:00 AM

DENTON, Texas - The Texas Woman's University gymnastics team will compete in its final meet inside Kitty Magee Arena on Friday, March 18, hosting the 2022 Midwest Independent Conference championships. The Pioneers, Centenary, Illinois State, Southeast Missouri, and Lindenwood will compete Friday beginning at 5 p.m. 

The Pioneers will be looking to capture the third MIC title in program history and the first since 2010. TWU previously hosted the championships in 2005, 2010, and 2015. 

Tickets are on sale for $15 at twuathletics.com/tickets. A live stream will be available at twuathletics.com. 

CENTENARY LADIES
Friday's championship meet will mark the final MIC championship for longtime Centenary coach Jackie Fain, who is retiring from coaching at the conclusion of the 2022 season. The Ladies are coming off a season-high performance in a dual meet at TWU on March 12, where Centenary posted a team score of 191.575. Senior Kendall Sanders has posted the Ladies' high scores on vault (9.800) and floor (9.800), while Taylor Ann Wilson has been the Ladies' high scorer on bars with a score of 9.850. Sanders and Kennedy Stephens are tied for the high score on beam with a 9.775, while Sanders has been Centenary's lone competitor in the all-around this year, posting a high of 38.875. 

ILLINOIS STATE REDBIRDS
The Redbirds will be looking to capture the third program title in team history, having claimed the championship in 2001 and 2012. The Redbirds have put up their share of big numbers at the MIC championships - but none bigger than Wendy Lahucik's 10 on vault during the 1995 season that earned her a co-championship in that event. Illinois State has cleared the 195 point plateau six times this season, posting a season-high 195.875 against Southeast Missouri on Feb. 25. The Redbirds have had their share of strong performances, with Alana Laster posting a team-high 9.95 score on vault, Sofia Iribarren and Madison Kipp posting 9.900 scores on bars, Kipp adding a 9.900 on floor, and Jaye Mack adding a 9.925 on floor. Labat's 39.475 all-around score is ISU's high mark this year. 

LINDENWOOD LIONS
Lindenwood has won or shared each of the seven MIC championships, capturing outright titles at the MIC championships in all years except 2019 (when the Lions shared a title with Illinois-Chicago) and 2020 (when the championship was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the championship was awarded based on Lindenwood having the MIC's highest national qualifying score). The Lions posted a season-high 195.475 back in January in a tri-meet against Northern Illinois and Southeast Missouri, and are coming off a strong 194.825 performance in a quad featuring Illinois, Iowa State, and Missouri. Gayla Griswold posted a 9.975 on vault - the highest score among MIC teams in any event this season - with Hannah Appleget leading LU with a 9.850 high score on bars. Hadley Roberts' 9.900 high on beam and Griswold's 9.900 on floor are high-water marks for LU, while Moon posted a team-best 39.125 in the all-around. 

SOUTHEAST MISSOURI REDHAWKS
The Redhawks have captured five MIC championships, winning titles in 1996, 1997, 2009, 2011, and 2014. Much like Illinois State, SEMO has posted some huge numbers historically at the MIC championships - with Mary Kate Farrington's 10 on vault tying for the 1995 championship. Ashley Godwin set a pair of individual records during the 2003 championship, with Ashley Godwin posting a 9.975 on beam and a 39.550 in the all-around. This season, SEMO has posted a high team score of 194.200 - coming in a dual meet against Illinois State on Feb. 25. Anna Kaziska's 9.95 on floor remains SEMO's high floor score this year, while Kaziska and Anna Speller both have 9.900 scores on beam. Sensational newcomer LIndsay Ockler has led the way with team high scores on vault (9.850) and bars (9.875), while Lydia Webb's 39.075 score is SEMO's high all-around mark this year. 

TEXAS WOMAN'S UNIVERSITY
The Pioneers will be looking to capture the third title in program history, having earned MIC titles in both 2006 and 2010. The Pioneers have put in their best scores of the season since the beginning of February, not falling below 194 points in the last seven meets. TWU posted a season-high 195.725 in a second-place finish in a quad against OU, Air Force, and Southeast Missouri on March 6, and posted season-high team scores in vault (49.000) and floor (49.275) in that same event.