Gymnastics | 3/16/2023 8:50:00 PM

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (March 16, 2023) – On the eve of the 2023 Midwest Independent Conference Championship, the Texas Woman's gymnastics team sparkled with honors at the championship banquet.
 
The MIC teams – Centenary, Lindenwood, Illinois State, Southeast Missouri State and TWU – gathered at the banquet to celebrate the successes of the 2023 regular season.
 
The night was full of excitement as the teams look ahead to tomorrow's competition.
 
Champions in the gym and in the classroom, the night began with all 16 Pioneer gymnasts receiving recognition for being named to the MIC All-Academic Team.
 
Following the scholar announcements, seniors from all five conference teams were recognized for their accomplishments within the MIC.
 
Once the overall recognitions concluded, the presentation of the MIC Top Awards began.
 
Alix Pierce, a senior from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, was named the MIC Senior Athlete of the Year, as voted on by the MIC coaches.
 
Pierce joined the Pioneers in 2021 after the gymnastics program at Seattle Pacific University, where she competed her freshman year, was eliminated. In her first year as a Pioneer, Pierce captured All-America honors on beam and floor and was named a CoSIDA Academic All-American.  Pierce, in their junior season, won the individual floor title at the Midwest Independent Conference, scoring a 9.875. Pierce also led the Pioneers to their 12th USA Gymnastics National title and excelled in the classroom to help TWU claim the Academic National Championship in 2022.
 
Pierce's senior campaign has seen Pierce take another leap forward. Already a mainstay on beam and floor in her previous two seasons at TWU, Pierce entered the bars lineup this season and has consistently improved their career-high on the apparatus. In fact, Pierce has scored career-highs on all three events she competes in this season. On Feb. 5, 2023, Pierce hit a career-high on bars of 9.825 at home against Iowa State and New Hampshire. On Feb. 10 at Centenary, Pierce scored a career-high on beam of 9.850, where she claimed the event title in the dual meet. Finally, on Jan. 20 at home against Centenary, Wisconsin – Eau Claire and Air Force, Pierce scored a career-high on floor of a 9.900 to claim the event title. Pierce was nominated for the 2023 AAI Award and earned the MIC Performance of the Week following a career-high on floor on Jan. 25.
 
Pierce owns the highest NQS rankings for the Pioneers on floor, 9.855, and on beam, 9.815.
 
"I am so very proud of Alix and all that she has accomplished," TWU Head Coach Lisa Bowerman said. "It has not been a direct road for Alix, but she has always pressed on and worked toward their goals regardless of the circumstances. Having to find a new home in the middle of a pandemic, coming into a new team in a brand-new state midway through the year, and jumping right into line-ups sophomore year was just the start for Alix. Alix has worked hard every single day and it has been exciting to see Alix continue to excel and to continue to grow as a leader and as a competitor.  Alix has truly left a mark on our program and on the sport of gymnastics, and she is so deserving of this huge honor."
 
Then, for the eighth time in program history, the TWU Assistant Coaches were named the MIC Assistant Coaches of the Year.
 
Associate Head Coach Kristen Harold received her third MIC Assistant Coach honor, and Assistant Coach Matt DeGrandpre received his first honor in his first season with the Pioneers.
 
In her eighth season with the Pioneers, Harold serves as the primary coach on floor and shares responsibility on vault. Additionally, she serves as the TWU recruiting and conditioning coordinator.
 
DeGrandpre works as the primary coach on vault and bars, while also overseeing the Pioneers academic progress and team travel.
 
"I am truly blessed and honored to work side by side with these two every day," Bowerman said. "Kristen has been such a huge part of this program for so long and continues to impact each of us in big ways. Her commitment, passion, heart and strength push us all to be better. Matt has come in this year as a first-year assistant coach and has taken on many new roles and responsibilities. He works hard for our student-athletes and embraces every challenge that comes his way.  This team would not have the success that they have if not for the endless contributions of Kristen and Matt."
 
To close out the night, the annual pre-championship random order draw occurred. The Pioneers were selected second and chose to start the meet on Bars – the same order they went in last year when they claimed the title. TWU will rotate in the following order tomorrow: Bars, Beam, Floor, Vault and they will close the day with a bye and await the final scores.
 
March-in for the 2023 MIC Championship will begin tomorrow at Houck Field House at 5 p.m.