Gymnastics | 3/20/2025 8:57:00 PM

SHREVEPORT, La. (March 20, 2025) – On the night prior to the Midwest Independent Conference Championships, the Texas Woman's gymnastics team celebrated their regular season.

At the 2025 MIC Banquet, the four MIC teams – Texas Woman's, Centenary, Illinois State and Southeast Missouri State – gathered to award conference awards and complete the championship day event draw.

TWU celebrated two conference awards this season.

Freshman Bailey Upton was named the 2025 MIC Newcomer of the Year.

During her freshman season, Upton was named the MIC Newcomer of the Week four times during the regular season and three times in a row. She competes in three events for the Pioneers – vault, bars and beam. She competes as the lead-off on beam in every single meet and has also competed as the lead-off on vault and floor throughout the season. Upton has a career high of a 9.800 on vault, which she scored at home on Jan. 17. On beam, she hit her career high of 9.825 at home on March 9. Finally, on floor, Upton scored a career high 9.850 twice, most recently at home on March 9. Of her 26 competitive routines thus far, she has hit 25 of them, giving her a 96% hit rate as a freshman.

"The impact Bailey has had on this program and our conference is undeniable," said TWU Gymnastics Head Coach Lisa Bowerman. "Her freshman season has been one for the books. I could not be prouder of her and the work ethic and competitive mindset she brings into each and every practice and competition. She is extremely deserving of this honor."

Upton becomes the seventh Pioneer to be named the MIC Newcomer of the Year.

Joining Upton with an MIC honor were the dynamic duo of TWU Assistant Coaches Kyana George and Zan Jones, who were named the MIC Assistant Coaches of the Year.

George began her time at TWU last season in a part time role, and this season she stepped in and dove into a full-time position. She does everything with 100% commitment and passion. A former Division I gymnast at California and graduate assistant coach with Alabama, George's experience has been invaluable in raising the level of TWU gymnastics. This season, she has served as the lead coach on floor and the Pioneers' social media coordinator. She has raised the level of technical execution and overall performance on the floor exercise. As the social media coordinator, George's passion and vision have grown the Pioneers' social media presence to better highlight TWU gymnastics and our student-athletes.

Jones joined the Pioneers this summer and serves as the primary coach on vault and bars; additionally, he serves as the Pioneers' recruiting coordinator. Jones came to TWU after serving as a coach with Talladega College, and he stepped into his role with an eagerness to invest in the goals and culture of the program. On vault, Jones helped guide senior Kaitlyn Hoiland to becoming the first Pioneer in program history to compete a Yurchenko 1 ½. The vault team has averaged a 48.725 and has earned several individual event titles. Then, on bars, Jones lead the Pioneers to matching their program record on the event of a 49.325 on March 9 at home. Jones has elevated both events, as they have shown vast improvement in technicality and overall consistency. His passion, dedication and leadership have made a huge, positive impact on TWU.

"Zan and Kyana bring a high level of passion and energy into every single day in the gym," Coach Bowerman said. "They both have a clear commitment to this program and to our goals. There is no doubt that a great deal of the success our team has had this season is a result of the work they put in for our student-athletes every day."

George and Jones become the ninth TWU Assistant Coaches to receive this conference honor.

During the banquet, the Pioneers also celebrated all 20 Pioneers being named MIC Scholar Athletes, and they recognized the TWU seniors for their impact on the program and conference.

The night ended with the infamous MIC Championships event draw. The Pioneers were selected last, so TWU will start tomorrow's Championship meet on floor.

The MIC Championships will start at 4 p.m. in the Gold Dome at Centenary College.