Gymnastics | 2/14/2025 11:59:00 PM

FORT WORTH, Texas (Feb. 15, 2025) – The Texas Woman's gymnastics team celebrated Valentine's Day by competing their hearts out and scoring a season high at the Metroplex Challenge.

TWU scored a 195.375 on Friday night, as they competed against California and Utah State.

The Pioneers started out with a season high on beam, scoring a 48.775. In the fifth spot, Emma Brkljacic led the way for TWU with a season high 9.875 – she tied for the event title on beam with her 9.875. Steelie King, in the third spot, scored a season high 9.800. Bailey Upton and Sophie Hernandez set the tone with the high scores in the opening rotation with a pair of 9.725's in the one and two spots of the lineup. Sophia Isbell rounded out the counting scores for the Pioneers with a career high 9.650.

For the second rotation, TWU moved over to floor and scored a 49.000. It marked the second time this season the Pioneers have scored a 49.000 or higher on floor. Kyleigh Ghanbari led the way for the Pioneers in the anchor spot, matching her career high with a 9.875. In the lead-off spot, Upton got the high scores rolling with her second highest score of the season – a 9.825. Kami Zarlengo followed Upton with a career high 9.775. In the fourth spot, Isbell scored a 9.775, marking her fourth straight meet with a 9.725 or higher on floor. Hernandez continued her strong night with a 9.750 on floor.

TWU rotated over to vault for their third rotation and scored a 48.925. In exciting fashion, the Pioneers' lineup ended with two sticks. In the fifth spot, Isbell recorded a season high 9.825. Then, in the anchor spot, Kaitlyn Hoiland stuck her vault for the first time this season and matched her career high with a 9.900. In her TWU debut on vault, Maddy Murphy scored a 9.750. Alaina Reid and Upton opened the rotation with a strong pair of 9.725's. Steelie King rounded out vault lineup for TWU in the third spot with a 9.700.

In the fourth and final rotation, the Pioneers closed the meet on bars and scored a 48.675. Three Pioneers topped the leader board with 9.775's – Hoiland, Brooke Ferrari and Lainey Hunt. Ferrari and Hunt both matched their season highs. In the fourth spot, Zarlengo recorded a 9.725. Bailey Bourgeois lead off with a 9.625 to round out the counting scores for TWU.

"We continued to elevate tonight," said TWU Gymnastics Head Coah Lisa Bowerman. "Every person competed with joy and intentionality and brought what we have been working on in the gym to the competition floor. We enjoyed competing in the Metroplex Challenge in front of an exciting crowd. We are ready to continue to build upon our success tonight with a quick turnaround to our meet at Denver on Sunday."

Cal claimed the win at Metroplex Challenge with a 197.050, and Utah State scored a 196.475.

The Pioneers will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 16 at 3 p.m. CST in a quad meet at Denver with Oregon State and Ball State.