Gymnastics | 1/13/2024 1:06:00 AM

NORMAL, Ill. (Jan. 12, 2024)— The Texas Woman's gymnastics team started off the 2024 season in record-breaking fashion, setting a new record for highest team score in a season opener.

On Friday night at a quad meet hosted by Illinois State, featuring Greenville and Central Michigan, the Pioneers scored a 193.775, breaking their former season opener team high score of 193.700, which was set during the 2022 season at Florida on Jan. 7, 2022.

TWU started out the 2024 season strong on bars, scoring their highest bars score since March 4, 2022. With a 48.875, bars represented the highest event rotation for the Pioneers on Friday night. TWU newcomers' Caroline Bowns and Kaitlyn Hoiland led the Pioneers in the opening rotation. In their debut with the Pioneers, both Bowns and Hoiland scored a 9.800, which tied for fourth overall, and set the tone high for the excitement of the opening meet. Bowns set her career mark in her freshman debut, and Holiand topped her former career high from her previous institution in her TWU debut. Brooke Ferrari, returning All-American on bars, scored a 9.775. In her freshman debut, Aaliyah Gilmore also shone for the Pioneers, scoring a 9.750. Kami Zarlengo opened her sophomore season strong on the uneven bars with a 9.750.

In the second rotation, TWU balanced their way to a 48.000. The newcomer momentum swung over from bars to the beam, as Emma Brkljacic recorded the top beam score for the Pioneers with a 9.775. Madeline Gose started off her senior season on a strong note, hitting a 9.775. To start her senior campaign, Emily Six scored a 9.650. Competing in the fifth spot, graduate student Daisy Woodring started of her season on beam with a 9.525. Freshman Sophie Hernandez smiled as she competed in her first collegiate meet, and she rounded out the top five scores on beam for the Pioneers with a 9.275.

Following beam, TWU moved on over to floor for the third rotation and scored a 48.425. Leading the way on the floor was Woodring with the highest individual score of any rotation for the Pioneers with a 9.825. Gose brought her energy over from beam and matched her beam score on floor with a 9.775. Bringing her debut joy over to the floor, Hernandez scored a 9.675. Also competing in her first collegiate meet, Sofia Steffan excitedly competed in her first TWU routine on the floor and recorded a 9.600. The final top five score on floor for the Pioneers was Six, who competed floor for the first time since 2022 and scored a 9.550.

The Pioneers ended the meet on vault, scoring their second highest event score in the final rotation. Hoiland put the exclamation point on the end of her TWU debut, scoring a 9.800 in her first-time competing vault collegiately. Additionally, Hoiland's score ranked second among all vaulters in the meet. Returning USAG Vault Champion Woodring hit a 9.725. Wrapping up her exciting TWU debut Brkljacic scored a 9.700, and Bowns capped of her freshman debut with a 9.685 on vault.

The Pioneers placed third in the quad meet, as Illinois State claimed first with a 195.750.

"It was great to finally take the floor tonight with this team and show everyone all we have been working on in preseason," TWU Head Gymnastics Coach Lisa Bowerman said. "Our team this season has set goals and competing tonight was the first step toward achieving those goals. The first meet of the season holds a lot of exciting moments and firsts. In first debuts with TWU, our freshmen and transfers stepped into the moment and competed strong for us tonight. While we aim to continue to elevate our gymnastics, I am proud of us for opening with a record-breaking score, and I am so excited for this journey to continue with this team."

The Pioneers remain on the road for the next meet of the 2024 season. They will travel to Shreveport, La. to compete against fellow Midwest Independent Conference opponent Centenary on Sunday, Jan. 21 at 2 p.m.