Gymnastics | 1/15/2023 1:05:00 AM

TUCSON, Ariz. (Jan. 14, 2023) – The Texas Woman's gymnastics team continued to build upon their strengths and make strides in their second meet of the season at the Arizona Quad Meet on Saturday.
 
TWU started off the 2023 season with back-to-back road meets. This week, their schedule took them to Arizona, where they competed against the host Wildcats, the University of Illinois and Bowling Green State University.
 
In Tucson for the first time since 2017, the Pioneers brought a high level of energy to the McKale Memorial Center.
 
"We made some good strides today as a team," TWU Gymnastics Head Coach Lisa Bowerman said. "We competed with a lot of energy and showed more confidence this week. I am proud of the steps we took. We are now looking forward to the opportunity to compete at home next weekend."
 
For the second time this season, TWU started the day on the balance beam. Ruby Goad led the Pioneers in the first rotation, scoring a career-high 9.800 in just her second meet as a Pioneer. Goad continues to grow after scoring a 9.7750 in her debut last week at Denver.
 
Along with career-highs, four other Pioneers recorded season-highs on the beam. Alix Pierce displayed a great beam routine to score a 9.6750, Kyla Podges stuck her landing to increase her season-high to a 9.7500, Madeline Gose displayed confidence on the four-inch apparatus to score a 9.7250 and Daisy Woodring rounded out the season-highs with a 9.500.
 
On their lead off rotation, the Pioneers finished beam with a team score of 48.4500, which shows improvement from the first meet.
 
The Pioneers moved to floor exercise for their second rotation of the afternoon. On floor, TWU maintained a high level of energy and displayed passion. The Pioneers scored a season-high 48.900 on floor, with all five top scores being a 9.7250 or higher. TWU's floor score was just .025 off of Illinois.
 
Mara Johnson led TWU on floor, tying her season-high of a 9.8250. Woodring showcased her skills and confidently set a new season-high with a 9.8000. Continuing to elevate her performance, Gose bested her former season-high by .025 with a 9.7750. After a misstep last week, Pierce confidently displayed her talent and scored a 9.7750.
 
Goad in her floor debut continued her impressive day, scoring a 9.7250. Finally, Podges tied her career-high on floor with a 9.6250.
 
Rotating onto vault, the Pioneers scored a 48.4250. Woodring led TWU on the high-flying apparatus with a season-high 9.8000. Then, Johnson tied her season-high with a 9.7250, and Beth Lazarus topped her season best with. 9.7000 to round out the Pioneers who scored a 9.7000 or higher on the vault.
 
Finally, TWU closed their second meet on the uneven bars with a 47.9750.
 
Brooke Ferrari continued her great freshmen campaign on bars, leading the Pioneers with a 9.7500. Making her season debut on bars, Lazarus scored a 9.6500. Narrowly behind her was the leadoff for the Pioneers, Kami Zarlengo who scored a 9.6000. Johnson with a 9.5250 and Griffith with a 9.4500 closed out the top five scores for the Pioneers.
 
Following the conclusion of all four rotations, the Pioneers placed third at the meet with a 193.7500, beating Bowling Green who finished with a 192.0500. Illinois placed second with a 195.7250, and Arizona won their home opener with a 195.8750.
 
Additionally, Woodring tied for third overall on vault with her 9.800, and Johnson tied for third on floor with her 9.8250.
 
Arizona also honored a gymnast of the meet for each team, as selected by the coaches. For TWU, Goad was selected as the gymnast of the meet.
 
After two weeks on the road, the Pioneers return to Kitty Magee Arena for their home opener on Friday, January 20 against Centenary, Air Force and Wisconsin – Eau Claire. The Pioneers will be giving away free posters and honoring cancer awareness at the meet as well. March-in will begin at 7 p.m.