Gymnastics | 3/12/2023 6:10:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (March 12, 2023) – The Texas Woman's gymnastics team hosted the finale to their 2023 regular season in Kitty Magee Arena on Sunday, March 12 against Florida, North Carolina State and Washington.

The Pioneers celebrated the accomplishments and impact of their seven seniors in their final home meet of the regular season in KMA.

The seniors, Maddie Griffith, Mara Johnson, MacKenzie Kunzman, Beth Lazarus, Alix Pierce, Kyla Podges and Daisy Woodring, were honored with their senior banner presentation during march-in and, following the meet, they were escorted by their family and friends as they received mementos from their years at TWU. To cap off the celebration, the junior class shared words of love and encouragement for each senior.

As senior day is always a joyful day for the Pioneers, the joy and celebration extended to the competition quickly.

TWU, showing off brand new leotards, started the afternoon out on vault and vaulted to a new season-high, 49.075, on the event.

Woodring quickly brought the senior magic in the opening rotation, tying her career-high of a 9.900 to lead the way for the Pioneers. Matching career-highs seemed to be a trend, as Steelie King hit her career mark of 9.850 for the third time. Madeline Gose kept the high scores rolling in, scoring a 9.825 on the event. Beth Lazarus scored a season-high 9.775 to help guide the Pioneers to the season-high finish. Along with Woodring and Lazarus, Maddie Griffith and Mara Johnson started off their senior day well, scoring a 9.725 and 9.700 respectively on vault.

Rotating to the uneven bars, where the Pioneers scored a season-high in their last meet, TWU continued to perform strong, just narrowly missing their season-high mark with a 48.775 on the uneven bars.

On bars, the seniors ignited the energy in KMA. Griffith led the Pioneers, matching her career-high with a 9.850. Pierce performed strongly on bars and scored a 9.800. King, who competed all-around for just the second time in her career, scored a 9.750 on the bars. The freshmen Brooke Ferrari with a 9.700 and Kami Zarlengo scored a 9.675 to notch the final top five scores for the Pioneers.

With a great tone set in the first two rotations, TWU moved over to the balance beam. Flying high today, Gose earned the title of beam queen for this meet, leading the Pioneers on the event with a 9.800. Kunzman continued to elevate the scores of TWU on beam, matching her season-high with a 9.775. Maintaining her high level of performance in her third event of the day, King scored a 9.725. Podges lit up KMA with her energy after her beam performance and scored a 9.725. Finally, Pierce anchored the Pioneers with a 9.675.

TWU ended their final regular season meet in KMA with fantastic floor routines. On floor, the Pioneers recorded their second rotation of the day with a 49, hitting a 49.025 in their final rotation. Once again, the seniors shone and led TWU on floor. Johnson brought the Pioneer fans to their feet with her season-high 9.850, and Woodring ignited the fans with a season-high 9.850 as well. Gose and King kept the energy level on 10 with a pair of 9.800s. To round out the top five scores, Podges flipped to a 9.725.

King, who competed all-around, scored a career-high 39.125 to tie for fifth all-around.

"It was an electric atmosphere in KMA today and a great way to close out our regular season," TWU Head Coach Lisa Bowerman said. "We are looking forward to a quick week ahead before conference championships on Friday!"
 
As the Pioneers wrapped up the regular season this afternoon, they will go on the road for the Midwest Independent Conference Championships on Friday, March 17 at 5 p.m., hosted by Southeast Missouri State in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.