Gymnastics | 3/18/2022 8:59:00 PM

DENTON, Texas – The Texas Woman's University gymnastics team posted a season-high team score of 195.750, with season-bests of 49.025 on vault and 48.925 on bars, and TWU gymnasts claimed nine all-conference honors as the Pioneers claimed the Midwest Independent Conference championship for the third time in program history on Friday night inside Kitty Magee Arena.

"I don't even have the words to express how proud I am of this team," said head coach Lisa Bowerman. "They came out from the very start attacking every thing they did. They did exactly what they prepared to do. They trusted their preparation, trusted each other, and took every moment one by one. It was not only special to win for the first time in 12 years, but to get to do it here in KMA made it even more incredible." 

Lindenwood, winners of the last seven conference titles, finished second with a score of 194.875, Illinois State placed third at 194.275, Southeast Missouri finished fourth at 193.425, and Centenary placed fifth at 189.350.

Opening on bars, the Pioneers were led by a third-place finish by Mara Johnson, whose 9.850 score set a new career high. Maddie Griffith tied her season high with a 9.800, tying for fifth, while Kyla Podges and Steelie King posted matching 9.775s to finish tied for eighth in the event – Podges' score tying her career high. Johnson earned a first team all-conference honor as a result of her finish, while Griffith earned a second team honor.

The Pioneers rotated to the balance beam next, and Steelie King led the way, finishing in first place with a 9.800. Madeline Gose's 9.775 tied for second, while MacKenzie Kunzman finished in a tie for seventh with a 9.725. Daisy Woodring, Emily Six, and Kyla Podges all put up matching 9.700s to tie for 10^th. King and Gose earned first team all-conference honors in the event.

In the third rotation, the Pioneers moved to floor with Alix Pierce's 9.875 finishing in a tie for first place. Isabel Goyco tied for third with a 9.850, while Gose tied for fifth at 9.825. Sierra Muns' 9.800 placed her in a four-way tie for ninth, while Domi Bonzagni hit a 9.750 to finish tied for 14^th. Pierce and Goyco were first team all-MIC honorees, while Gose earned a second team honor.

Closing on vault, the Pioneers were led by the tandem of Emerson Adams and Gose, who finished in a five-way tie for second with matching 9.825s. Daisy Woodring and Muns followed closely behind with matching 9.800s, tying for seventh – Muns' score tying her season high - while King (9.775) finished in a tie for ninth.

The Pioneers sat idle for the fifth and final rotation, having built a virtually insurmountable lead. Only Lindenwood was within mathematical reach of the Pioneers entering the final rotation – trailing TWU by 49.600 points.

The Pioneers' next team competition is scheduled for April 8-10, when TWU travels to Ithaca, N.Y. for the USAG National Championships.