General | 12/31/2024 5:38:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (Dec. 31, 2024) – As we reflect on the past year and look ahead to 2025, we remember the triumphs, the joy, the hard work, the perseverance and the enduring success of our Pioneers.

This year, we had the privilege of telling the stories of our incredible student-athletes, coaches and department. TWU had a great year, full of pioneering history and unforgettable memories. While every moment spent with our Pioneers is memorable, we would like to highlight the top moments from our teams and department this season.

#1 TWU Artistic Swimming posts historical finish at U.S. Collegiate Nationals, finishing third for first time in program history

March 23, 2024: The Pioneers place third at U.S. Collegiate Nationals, defeat 2023 Champions Ohio State.
April 13, 2024: Two Pioneers named USAAS All-Americans for first time in program history: Candela Fidalgo Garcia and Maya Schwickert. Additionally, five Pioneers, Fidalgo Garcia, Schwickert, Makayla Crichton, Ashley Latchford and Regina Ramirez, earned USAAS All-Collegiate Honors – the most in program history.

#2 TWU Basketball records historic season; close 2023-24 season as National Runner-Up

Feb. 29, 2024: TWU claims the Lone Star Conference Regular Season and East Division Title for second straight season.  
March 6, 2024: Ashley Ingram was named LSC Player of the Year for first time in program history. Coach Beth Jillson earns third straight LSC Noel Johnson Coach of the Year award, as she was named the Co-Coach of the Year in 2024. Ingram also earned First Team All-LSC honors and LSC All-Academic honors. Leila Patel and Scout Huffman were named to the All-LSC Second Team, and Jada Celsur claimed LSC Honorable Mention honors.
March 10, 2024: The Pioneers defeat UT Permian Basin to win first LSC Title since 2011 and second all-time. TWU earns No. 1 seed in NCAA South Central Regional Tournament for first time in program history. Averee Kleinhans was named the LSC Tournament Most Valuable Player, while Ingram and Celsur also earned All-Tournament honors.
March 19, 2024: TWU wins South Central Regional Title for first time in program history, defeating UT Tyler, 65-51. Pioneers claim No. 2 seed in NCAA Elite Eight Tournament. Ingram was named the Tournament Most Valuable Player, and Patel and Celsur were named to the All-Tournament Team.
March 29, 2024: The Pioneers close historical season as National Runner-Up, record most wins and fewest losses in program history, while also setting six more program records: Most Points in a Season, Most Assists in a Season, Most Field Goals Made in a Season, Most Field Goals Attempted in a Season, Most Free Throws Made in a Season and Most Free Throws Attempted in a Season. Scout Huffman and Ingram were named to the Elite Eight All-Tournament Team.
April 4, 2024: The Pioneers earn first Dave Campbell's Non-DI All-Texas honors in program history – Coach Beth Jillson was named the Coach of the Year, Ingram was named the Player of the Year and Kleinhans was named the Sixth Woman of the Year.
July 9, 2024: The Pioneers travel to Greece for impactful and unforgettable experience.
August 9, 2024: TWU posts fourth highest GPA in the nation and claim highest GPA among women's basketball teams in LSC.
Nov. 14, 2024: TWU earns No. 1 national ranking for first time in program history.
Ashley Ingram makes history – becomes first Pioneer to be named D2CCA South Central Region Most Valuable Player. Ingram was named a WBCA First Team All-American, as she became the first Pioneer to receive back-to-back All-America honors. She was named the first D2CCA All-American in program history, earning First Team honors. Ingram earns first CSC First Team Academic All-American honor in program history.

#3 TWU Pioneer Pride Dance Team claims two First Place finishes and earns a Gold Paid Bid to 2025 NDA College National Championships at NDA Summer Camp for first time in program history

March 26, 2024: PPDT finishes in first place in Hip Hop at the American Drill/Dance Team competition. They also finish second in Pom and second overall in Division II. They place first in Spirit Showdown in the Union Virtual College Classic and fourth in Pom.
April 14, 2024: The Pioneers finish third in the Spirit Rally and fourth in the Pom category at 2024 NDA College National Championships.
August 5, 2024: PPDT made history, earning first Gold Paid Bid in program history. Caden Hensley, Kendall Madkins and Maddy Keehn were named NDA All-Americans.

#4 TWU Gymnastics sets eight new program records and celebrates historical season

Jan. 12, 2024: The Pioneers set new record for highest team score in a season opener: 193.775 – at Illinois State Quad Meet.
Jan. 27, 2024: TWU set new record for highest team score in a home opener: 194.700 – against Lindenwood.
Feb. 3, 2024: The Pioneers record new floor team score record: 49.375 – vs. Missouri at home.
Feb. 23, 2024: Daisy Woodring set new individual vault record with a 9.950 at Utah State Quad Meet.
Pioneers record multiple 196.000 team scores for first time in program history – at TWU Quad Meet on March 3 and against Centenary on March 17.
March 3, 2024: TWU breaks largest home crowd record, as the Pioneers welcomed 1,305 fans into KMA for a quad meet featuring Oklahoma, Clemson and Penn.  
March 17, 2024: Kaitlyn Hoiland set new individual bar record with a 9.950 against Centenary.
TWU closes season with highest NQS in program history: 195.575.
March 22, 2024: Hoiland was named the MIC Co-Newcomer of the Year. Woodring was named the MIC Athlete of the Year and MIC Woman of the Year. 
Nov. 14, 2024: Woodring becomes first Pioneer in department history to be named a recipient of the NCAA Top 10 Award.

#5 TWU Soccer advances to LSC Championship Semifinal for first time since 2019

Nov. 13, 2024: TWU defeats St. Edward's at home in penalty shootout to advance to the LSC Championship Semifinal for first time since 2019.
Nov. 14, 2024: Four Pioneers earn All-LSC honors. Alyssa Valdez was named to the First Team, Amanda Farris was named to the Second Team and Celeste Beltran and Erica Brelove earned Third Team honors.
Nov. 18, 2024: Valdez and Faith Graves earned LSC All-Tournament honors.
Nov. 26, 2024: Valdez earns D2CCA All-South Central Region honors for second consecutive season.
Dec. 10, 2024: Valdez and Brelove named to the United Soccer Coaches All-South Central Region team. This marks Brelove's second consecutive honor.

#6 TWU Softball returns to LSC Tournament for first time since 2017 and records most wins in LSC play in program history

April 28, 2024: TWU returns to LSC Tournament for first time since 2017.
May 1, 2024: Alyssa LeBlanc was named First Team All-LSC, earning her fourth All-LSC honor.
May 2, 2024: LeBlanc breaks record for most strikeouts in a career at TWU with 523. Pioneers record 23 wins in LSC action, marking most in program history.

#7 TWU STUNT competes in inaugural LSC Tournament and celebrates first conference awards in program history

March 23, 2024: TWU places third at inaugural LSC Tournament, defeating UT Tyler.
April 22, 2024: The Pioneers earn LSC Co-Coaching Staff of the Year honors. Jocelyn Dennie was named the LSC Freshman of the Year. Six Pioneers earned All-LSC honors: Jasmine Monroe, Allison Schneider, Kailen Smalls and Dennie were named to the First Team, while Alicia Kenney was named to the Second Team. Laurel Jones earned LSC All-Academic honors.
May 30, 2024: For the first time in program history, two Pioneers earned College Stunt Coaches Association All-America honors – Smalls and Dennie.
June 24, 2024: Jones receives LSC Scholar-Athlete Award.

#8 TWU Volleyball returns to the NCAA Tournament for first time since 2015 and celebrate historical season

April 13, 2024: Malia Viernes named LSC Athletic Performance Athlete of he Year – first in TWU program history.
June 17, 2024: TWU welcomes Jessica Ransom, the 2023 Sooner Athletic Conference Coach of the Year and South Central Region Coach of the Year at Texas Wesleyan, as Head Coach of the Pioneers.
Nov. 2, 2024: The Pioneers record 10th straight win, marking longest win streak since 2006.
Nov. 6, 2024: TWU defeats No. 22 Dallas Baptist in five sets, recording first win against DBU since Spring 2021 and first win over a ranked team since 2017.
Nov. 16, 2024: The Pioneers close regular season with best record in LSC play since 2015 at 12-4 and return to LSC Tournament for second consecutive season.
Nov. 21, 2024: Five Pioneers receive All-LSC honors. Cara Pool was named to the All-LSC First Team and LSC All-Academic Team. Tori Woods earn All-LSC Second team honors and LSC All-Academic Team honors. Grace Reynolds was named to the All-LSC Second Team. Luna França and Viernes receive All-LSC Honorable Mention honors.
Nov. 25, 2024: TWU named sixth seed in NCAA South Central Regional Tournament, return to the Big Dance for the first time since 2015.

#9 TWU Wrestling competes in inaugural RMAC Championships, hosts Regionals and qualifies three wrestlers to Nationals

Feb. 3, 2024: Six Pioneers finish in top three at the RMAC Championships. Brooke Zejda, Tom Hanks, Kira Phillips, Nari Miller and Mia Howell all finished third in their respective weight classes, while Jermariah Ferguson placed second. Zejda was also named the Wrestler of the Championship. The sophomore from Dallas, Texas, notched three pins, the most in the event, in just over four minutes for the Pioneers.
Feb. 26, 2024: Pioneers host Regional Championship.
March 8, 2024: Three Pioneers represent TWU at National Championship: Livier Dubon, Nari Miller and Jermariah Ferguson.

#10 TWU Pioneers boast highest GPA among LSC women's sports and finish fourth in Division II in number of community service hours

April 5, 2024: TWU Pioneers earn National Strength and Conditioning All-America honors for first time in program history: Anaya Kashikar of TWU Artistic Swim and Malia Viernes of TWU Volleyball.
May 22, 2024: TWU finishes fourth in Division II community service hours, recording over 2,600 community service hours.  
August 27, 2024: TWU receives LSC Academic Excellence Award for second straight year. TWU Soccer, TWU Basketball and TWU STUNT claim LSC Academic Champion Titles.

To all our Pioneer student-athletes, coaches, administrators, staff and fans, thank you for a truly unforgettable year. Here's to everything we will accomplish in 2025 and as always: Go Pioneers!