Gymnastics | 3/24/2024 12:24:00 AM

ST. CHARLES, Mo. (March 23, 2024) – Behind two event titles winners, the Texas Woman's gymnastics team placed second at the 2024 Midwest Independent Conference Championship.

The Pioneers finished the meet with a 195.875, just one tenth off their program record at an MIC Championship meet, to finish second. The host, Lindenwood, claimed the 2024 MIC Title with a 196.075.

After the random draw for order selection on Friday night at the banquet, TWU started the Championship on bars with a 48.900. In the anchor position, Brooke Ferrari led the Pioneers on bars with a 9.775. Aaliyah Gilmore and Kaitlyn Hoiland both added 9.750s. Kami Zarlengo finished with a 9.725. Finally, in the lead-off spot, Lainey Hunt started the Pioneers off on bars with a 9.675 to round out the top five scores for TWU. The Pioneers posted the highest team score of the meet on bars.

For the second rotation, TWU moved over to the balance beam. In her first season with the Pioneers, Emma Brkljacic has continued to be a positive impact on the Pioneers' lineup. With a stuck landing, Brkljacic scored a career high 9.900. Hoiland continued her impressive performances on beam with a 9.875 for the Pioneers. Daisy Woodring, in her final MIC Championship of her career, started off her meet with a 9.825 on beam – her second straight meet with a 9.825 on beam. Sophie Hernandez, Steelie King, and Emily Six all posted 9.750s on beam for the Pioneers. Six led-off TWU strong with her 9.750 in her final MIC Championship of her career. The Pioneers finished the second rotation with a 49.100.

TWU moved over to floor for the third rotation. During their floor party, the Pioneers were led by Woodring, the recently honored MIC Co-Athlete of the Year and MIC Woman of the Year, who scored a 9.900 to claim the event title. It marked Woodring's third 9.900 or higher on floor this season. Brkljacic also brought over her high score momentum from beam to the floor exercise, as she scored a 9.850. Continuing her solid freshman campaign for the Pioneers' was Hernandez who also scored a 9.850 on floor. In the final MIC Championship of her career, Gose scored a 9.800 for the Pioneers. King matched Gose's score on floor with a 9.800, and Six led-off the Pioneers strong her final MIC rotation on floor with a 9.750. On floor, the Pioneers posted a 49.200.

For their fourth rotation, the Pioneers rotated over to vault and closed the MIC Championship with a 48.900. Hoiland, the recently crowned MIC Co-Newcomer of the Year, capped off her strong meet with a 9.875 to claim the vault event title. Woodring capped of her solid night with a 9.850 on vault. King closed her meet with a 9.750. Brkljacic also recorded a strong Championship, closing with a 9.725 on vault. The pair of Sophia Isbell, who has had a great freshman season, and Zarlengo, with a strong sophomore season, both ended the meet with 9.700s on vault.

Since there are five teams in the MIC, each team has a bye during one rotation of the meet. TWU closed the meet with the bye and awaited the final rotation scores with their finalized 195.875, having left it all out on the floor.

The gymnasts finishing in the top three on any event earned First Team All-MIC honors, and those finishing fourth, fifth or sixth in an event were named Second Team All-MIC. For the Pioneers, Hoiland earned First Team All-MIC honors on vault and beam and Second Team honors on bars. Woodring was named to the First Team on vault and floor and earned Second Team honors on beam. Brkljacic was named to the Second Team on vault and First Team on beam and floor. King was placed on the Second Team on vault and floor, and Gose also earned Second Team honors on floor. Also on floor, Hernandez claimed First Team All-MIC accolades. Finally, joining Hoiland on the Second Team on bars was Ferrari, Gilmore and Zarlengo.

"Our team gave their all tonight," TWU Head Coach Lisa Bowerman said. "They stepped into the gym with a mission and brought their best. I am so proud of each of our gymnasts, and I am excited for us to continue training these next few weeks and have another opportunity to compete at the USA Gymnastics National Championship."