Gymnastics | 4/8/2023 12:36:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (April 7, 2023) – In front of an energized sea of Pioneer fans, the Texas Woman's gymnastics team closed the curtains on the 2023 season of team competitions with a second-place finish at the USA Gymnastics Women's Collegiate National Championship.
 
Kitty Magee Arena played host to incredible gymnastics tonight, as the Pioneers squared off against Lindenwood, United States Air Force Academy and Southeast Missouri State for the National title.
 
After four rotations of heart, effort and passion, TWU finished in second place with a 194.900. Lindenwood claimed the title with a 195.325, and Air Force and SEMO tied for third place with a 194.850. Lindenwood claimed the title for the fourth time in program history.
 
The Pioneers started out on the balance beam tonight, going in the same rotation they did in 2018 when the Pioneers last hosted. TWU started the night off on a strong note, scoring a 48.800 on beam. Steelie King led the way in the opening rotation with a 9.850. In the leadoff position, Emily Six scored a 9.800. Seniors Kyla Podges and MacKenzie Kunzman relished in their final moments to compete in KMA, scoring 9.725s on beam. Alix Pierce, also a senior, stayed in the moment and stuck their landing to score a 9.700.
 
Moving on to the floor exercise, which was the Pioneers' strongest event in the semifinal round, TWU faltered slightly in today's rotation, finishing floor with a 48.650. Senior Daisy Woodring basked in the moment of her final time this season with her team in KMA, as she led the Pioneers on the floor with a 9.875—the second highest on floor in the meet. Performing an exciting routine, Pierce finished with a 9.750. Madeline Gose brought the crowd energy by scoring a 9.725, and Mara Johnson used the momentum to score a 9.700. Podges and King rounded out the six Pioneer gymnasts on floor with a pair of 9.600s.
 
Following the second rotation, the Pioneers claimed their first overall lead with a 97.450.

With a slight advantage in the scoring, TWU rotated onto vault, where collectively all four teams struggled to find their rhythm. Four Pioneers scored above a 9.775 to bring TWU's vault score to a 48.625.
 
King and Woodring reignited the Pioneers and closed the third rotation on an exclamation point. In the final two spots on vault, King and Woodring hit their routine to score a pair of 9.775s. Six, the tone setter for the Pioneers', left everything on the competition floor and scored a 9.775 for TWU. Johnson fed off Six's energy and made a statement in the vault lineup with a 9.750. The final counted score on vault for the Pioneers was Maddie Griffith with a 9.550.
 
Following the third rotation to keep it secretive in arena, the scoreboard was turned off for the final championship rotation. The meet results were close and came down to the wire. Heading into the fourth and final rotation, the Pioneers were in third with a 146.075.
 
Looking to make up some ground, TWU finished on bars, Lindenwood finished on floor, SEMO closed on beam and Air Force finished up the meet on vault.
 
In the fourth rotation, the Pioneers succeeded in giving their absolute best and pushing until the final routine concluded.
 
On bars, the Pioneers scored their highest rotation score of the day, a 48.825. Brooke Ferrari, in the sixth spot, stepped up in the moment and led the Pioneers with a 9.825. Not far behind, Pierce left in all on the bars, scoring a 9.800. Podges had a solid meet on her events, capping off her final competition in KMA with a 9.750. King and Johnson rounded out the top counting scores for the Pioneers with a pair of 9.725s. TWU gave their all to have a chance at the title. Nevertheless, it would not be enough to overcome Lindenwood's scores.
 
Competing in all-around, Steelie King scored a 38.950 to place second in all-around.
 
While the chapter to the team competition has come to a close for the 2023 season, select Pioneer gymnasts will compete tomorrow in the individual event finals. The top five scores from each session advanced to Saturday's finals.
 
On vault, Gose and Woodring will compete. TWU will be represented by Ferrari on bars. Kunzman, Pierce and Six all qualified and will compete on the balance beam. Finally, on floor, Pierce, Gose and Johnson advanced to Saturday's finals.
 
Additionally for high scores in events, but not advancing to the final round, King and Podges were named Second Team All-Americans. King received the honors on vault, beam and floor, and Podges received it on floor. 
 
The individual event finals meet will begin at 1 p.m. in Kitty Magee Arena. At the end of the meet, awards for individuals, special awards will be given and team recognition will occur – make sure to stick around after the meet.