Gymnastics | 3/17/2023 11:57:00 PM

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (March 17, 2023) – On St. Patrick's Day in Missouri, the Texas Woman's gymnastics team competed in the Midwest Independent Conference Championships hosted by Southeast Missouri State.
 
The Pioneers scored a 194.900 to finish the championship in fourth place.
 
Four Pioneers were honored at the conclusion of the meet for placing in the top three in their respective events. Daisy Woodring was the only Pioneer to place in the top three in two events, finishing tied for second on floor with a 9.900 and tied for third on vault with a 9.850. On beam, Madeline Gose and Steelie King finished in a four-way tie for third on beam with 9.850s, while Alix Pierce recorded a 9.875 to tie for second on beam.
 
TWU opened the championship on the uneven bars with a 48.050. In the anchor spot, Brooke Ferrari stuck her landing to lead the Pioneers with a 9.750. Competing in all-around for the third time in her career, Steelie King scored a 9.700 on bars. In the second and fourth spot respectively, Mara Johnson hit a 9.625 and Pierce scored a 9.675. Beth Lazarus finished with a 9.300 to record the fifth and final score for the Pioneers.
 
After bars, TWU rotated onto the balance beam, where they recorded a season-high 49.075. Matching her career-high to ignite the Pioneers, Pierce topped the TWU leaderboard with a 9.875. Gose and King fed off the TWU chants in the building to generate momentum and record a pair of 9.850s for the Pioneers. In the leadoff spot, Emily Six scored a 9.725, and MacKenzie Kunzman followed it up, setting the tone with a 9.775.
 
Rotating onto the floor exercise, the Pioneers kept the season-highs rolling in, scoring an overall season-high on the event of 49.075. Tying for second overall on the event, Woodring led TWU with an exciting 9.900 on floor. Pierce electrified the crowd with a 9.825. The high scores kept rolling for the Pioneers, as Johnson and King both scored 9.800s. Gose and Kyla Podges rounded out the scoring for TWU on floor with a 9.750 and 9.700 respectively.
 
For their fourth and final rotation before ending on a bye, TWU closed the night on vault. Woodring led the Pioneers, soaring to a 9.850. Closing out her career-high all-around performance of 39.150, King scored a 9.800. Maddie Griffith and Six both vaulted to 9.750s, and Gose closed the top five scores for the Pioneers with a 9.550.
 
Illinois recorded the championship win by .100 with a 196.375, Lindenwood came in second with a 196.275 and Southeast Missouri State placed third with a 195.525.

Following the conclusion of the meet, the Pioneers were awarded 10 All-MIC first and second-team honors. First Team honors were awarded to the gymnasts who finished in the top three of an event, while second-team honors were given to gymnasts who finished in fourth through sixth in the final standings. 

Alix Pierce on beam, Steelie King on beam, Madeline Gose on beam and Daisy Woodring on vault received first team honors. On the second team All-MIC was Steelie King on floor and vault, Alix Pierce on floor, Mara Johnson on floor, Emily Six on vault and MacKenzie Kunzman on beam. 
 
The Pioneers will prepare for the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championships at home in Denton, Texas on April 6-8. The final top eight USA Gymnastics qualifiers will be officially announced on Monday, March 20.