Gymnastics | 8/2/2024 2:10:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (August 2, 2024) – A true Pioneer – forever ingrained in the Texas Woman's history books, Daisy Woodring now adds 2024 NCAA Woman of the Year Nominee to her list of collegiate accolades.

Established in 1991, the NCAA Woman of the Year program "honors the academic achievements, athletics excellence, community service and leadership of graduating female college athletes from all three divisions."

Excellence in academics, athletics, leadership and community service are exemplified by all those nominated. According to the NCAA, eligible female student-athletes are nominated by their member school. Each conference office will now review the nominations from its core member schools and sponsored sports and submit its conference nominees to the NCAA. If a sport is not sponsored by its primary conference, then those student-athletes will go into a separate pool. Then, the NCAA Woman of the Year selection committee chooses a Top 30 – 10 from each division. Next, they select three finalists from each division. Finally, the NCAA Committee on Women's Athletics awards the NCAA Woman of the Year to one of the nine finalists at a luncheon during the NCAA Convention.

Woodring competed for the TWU gymnastics team for five seasons, during which she experienced incredible success both in and out of competition.

In her freshman year, Woodring shined brightly and started her career in impressive fashion, as she earned First Team All-Midwest Independent Conference and USA Gymnastics accolades on vault. Then, in her sophomore season, she continued to elevate her skill and hit career highs on vault (9.9) and floor (9.825).

Her junior year, Woodring continued to showcase success on all three of her events – vault, beam and floor. Woodring's success helped lead the Pioneers to the "triple crown" – the MIC Championship Title, the USAG National Championship Title and the Highest Grade Point Average in Collegiate Gymnastics. During the regular season, she boasted the second highest national qualifying score (NQS) on vault in Division II to earn Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association Second Team All-American honors. Additionally, she once again claimed USAG First Team All-America honors on vault, placing third nationally.

In her first senior year, Woodring continued to rewrite the history books for the Pioneers. After the regular season, she claimed the highest NQS in Division II and was named a WCGA First Team All-American on vault. Furthermore, Woodring also had the second highest NQS on floor in Division II to earn WCGA Second Team All-America honors, after setting a new career high mark of 9.900 on floor during the season. At the USAG National Championships hosted by TWU, Woodring claimed the Individual National Title on Vault and also earned USAG First Team All-American status on vault. Additionally, she was named a USAG First Team All-American on beam.  

Finally, during her fifth year with the Pioneers, she competed on vault, beam and floor. In historical fashion, Woodring set a TWU individual record on vault with her career high 9.950 on Feb. 23. Additionally, she matched TWU's individual record on floor with a career high 9.950 on Feb. 3 to help lead the Pioneers to their record-breaking team score on floor of 49.375. Woodring was a two-time MIC Performance of the Week winner during the season. She closed the season with the second highest NQS on vault and floor to earn WCGA Second Team All-America honors on both events. Woodring was honored as the MIC Athlete of the Year, the MIC Woman of the Year and the WCGA Division II Athlete of the Year. At the MIC Championships, she claimed the MIC Floor Title with a 9.900, claiming All-MIC First Team honors on floor. She also placed fifth on beam with a 9.825 to earn All-MIC Second Team honors. She also helped guide the team to multiple records: highest team score in a seaosn opener, highest team score in a home opener, second highest team score in program history and highest NQS in program history.  

During her time of success in competition, Woodring additionally boasted success in academics as well. She is a four-time USAG Scholar Athlete, a five-time MIC Scholar Athlete, a four-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and a two-time College Sports Communicators (CSC) Academic All-District and Academic All-American. In 2023, Woodring was named the CSC Division II At-Large Academic All-American of the Year.

Woodring additionally was named a five-time Chancellor's List, Dean's List and five-time Lone Star Conference Commissioner's Honor Roll. She was a member of TWU's Athenian Honors Society from 2019-23 and an American Chemical Society National Member. Woodring received the Academic Excellence Award from TWU Housing and Dining Department. She also received the Robert A. Welch Undergraduate Research Fellowship Recipient and a Willis Clark Endowed Scholarship in Chemistry Recipient.

In 2023, Woodring graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2023 with her bachelor's degree in chemistry and is currently pursuing her graduate degree in chemistry.

Woodring also excels in leadership and serving her community. She led the gymnastics team and served as a Fellowship of Christian Athletes Student Leader. During her five years at TWU, she accumulated countless hours of service. She served as a Chemistry Teaching Assistant, a TWU Block Party Volunteer, a volunteer with the Grace Like Rain Holiday Gift Program, Boo at the U Volunteer, Achiever Gymnastics Meet Volunteer, MLK March Volunteer, Celebrate Life 5K Volunteer, TWU Fun Run Volunteer, Make-a-Wish – Workout for Wishes volunteer, First Baptist Denton Service Day Volunteer, Denton Lighting Festival volunteer, Foster Kids Charity Coloring and Card Making volunteer, Athletic Department Student Tutor, Denton Public Library Volunteer and a Partnerships, Research, Innovation, Mentoring and Engagement Program (PRIME) Research Intern.

"Daisy is a once in a lifetime kind of student-athlete," said TWU gymnastics Head Coach Lisa Bowerman. "She is truly one of the most authentic, committed and competitive people I have ever had the pleasure to work with.  Since the day she set foot on campus, Daisy has been a leader for this program in both her words and actions. In addition to her leadership within this program and this community, Daisy had an incredibly successful competitive career.  As an athlete she broke numerous school records on both a personal and team level.  Her name will forever be cemented in the history books of this program, and her legacy is one that will remain long after her time in a Pioneer leotard."