Gymnastics | 4/11/2025 4:25:00 PM

SHREVEPORT, La. (April 11, 2025) – Tonight, the Pioneers will enter the Gold Dome for the 2025 Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championship.

Tonight, the Texas Woman's gymnastics team will begin their quest for the 2025 WCGNIC Title. While it starts with the semifinals tonight, it is a quest that began back in September during the Pioneers' preseason.

A season which has been defined by the Pioneering spirit, which the legacy of TWU Gymnastics has been built on.

"We are Pioneers, because every team reached to break new barriers that nobody before them has broken," Ruby Goad said.

A quest built on determination, passion, joy and connection – one that has been paved with hard work, sacrifice and a commitment to give your all for each other.

"One word I would use to describe the legacy of TWU gymnastics is solidarity," Steelie King said. "It just really embodies the ups and downs that we have been through and no matter what we stay together."

A quest that started for the 2025 team in September, but the attributes of this team point toward a bigger, stronger legacy of excellence from generations of Pioneers.

"I would describe the legacy of TWU gymnastics as unstoppable," Elly Eenhuis said. "TWU gymnastics will continue to be unstoppable, because we are relentless competitors and have so much love for each other and for this sport. This team and coaching staff never settle for less and are always looking for ways to improve. Our growth mindset and hunger towards our goals is what has made, and will continue to make this team unstoppable."

For the Pioneers, tonight is another step in their quest, and winning this week would mean so much more than just a trophy.

"TWU Gymnastics has built a legacy that lasts through decades of championships, leadership and culture," Jordan Loock said. "It's not just about winning, but about consistently showing up with grit and unity. The impact we make on and off the floor stays with every athlete long after the final routine."

"This year, we've poured so much love and passion into the sport of gymnastics, into this program and into each other," Brooke Ferrari said. "Winning this week would be more than just a title, it would be a celebration of the heart and connection we've built along the way. It would show that love, compassion and unwavering support do make a difference."

The legacy of the Pioneers has been personified this year in the Pioneers' six incredible seniors.

For Maddy Murphy and Caroline Bowns, the seniors are their why and motivating factors this week.

"It would mean so much to win this week, to be able to add another national championship to the program," Murphy said, "also, ending this historic season on a high for our seniors who have helped pave the way for this program and have done so much for this team."

"Competing one last time with our seniors as a team is what's motivating me extra this week," Bowns said. "All the memories, hard work and successes we've had together this season makes it so we can go out there this weekend and just compete freely, and with joy and love for each other! Winning Nationals will be the cherry on top of this historic season!"

Sofia Steffan said this whole season, she has wanted to achieve the best for the seniors, and this weekend, she wants to win one more time for them.

"The seniors are my ultimate motivation not just for this week, but they have been this whole season," Steffan said. "I'm beyond grateful to be able to call this special group of seniors my best friends. Let's do this thing one last time for them."

The Pioneers are ready to continue to build upon the legacy of TWU Gymnastics this week, because they have done the work already.

"My motto for the final week of season is to not make anything a bigger deal than it needs to be, but to trust my normal gymnastics and have so much fun with my team," Sophie Hernandez said.

They have prepared and shown up every day, every practice and every meet together with the same mission.

"Every year we begin at the level that the previous team ended at, building off of the grit and determination of the teams before us and adding new faces and talent," Lainey Hunt said. "I have been so honored and proud to represent these three letters for four years and am so grateful for the fearless competitors that came before me. All united with the same passion and goal - to pioneer the way for those to come."

"My team and coaches are my motivation this week as well as the gratitude of the sport," Kaitlyn Hoiland said. "These people make me better every single day, and push me to places I never thought I could go. I truly could not do it without them, and they deserve the world. They are my motivation to leave it all on the floor for one final run, and to give my whole heart to the sport I have loved for the past 20 years."

For Kyleigh Ghanbari, the Pioneers' anchor on floor, she is competing for her audience of one and aims to give her all for her team.

"My motivation for this week would be God alone," Ghanbari said. "Along with this team and it being the last meet with the best team, my motivation is to compete and give my all for an audience of one, taking the risk because why not take the risk, because it could be the best routine of your life and to also just compete with so much gratitude in my heart that I get to be a part of something so special."

This 2025 TWU team is special, and this weekend will mark the final time this group of individuals will compete together. A moment none of them are taking for granted.

"What's motivating me is giving my all to this team that we have right now because we will never get this time back together," Alaina Reid said.

"My motto for the final week of the season is "all in. for each other," Emma Brkljacic said. "This simply shows the fight, love and togetherness this team has. This motto means we are all bought in, committed and fighting until the very end. We know we have each other's backs, and we are going to compete all in and with a full heart to win."

As Amane' Glenn said, "this team is exceptional."

"This team has gone above and beyond what is usual and or expected," Glenn said. "We have broken our program record this year and this team has greatly influenced and shaped the future of TWU Gymnastics."

While this exceptional team has been preparing all season, they are going into this meet with strong mindsets and confidence in one another.

"My motto for the final week of the season is "I have already decided on what I want and now it's time to take it," Kami Zarlengo said. "I want to be in every moment and enjoy these last couple of opportunities to be with this team. Enjoying every moment, we get together because we have worked so hard this whole season and it's time to have so much fun!"

In the final rotations of the 2025 season, Bailey Bourgeois wants to walk away with zero regrets.

"My motto for the final week of the season is "no regrets," Bourgeois said. "Although this isn't my final season, I want to leave this week knowing I did all I possibly could and not have any doubts or regrets for one second about what I could've done better. This team is so prepared, and I want to do this for them and leave this week knowing I did all I could not only for our team, but especially our seniors who have given so much to this program."

Taking the floor and living in the final moments with pure joy – that is what is motivating Trinity Caffey this week.

"This time last year I had no idea what my senior year would look like with gymnastics, so being able to do another year is a blessing. I'm going to soak in every last moment and enjoy the fact that I get to be at a Nationals one last time."

Bailey Upton said she is doing it all for her younger self – never taking one single moment for granted.

"Something that is specifically motivating me this week is doing it for little me," Upton said. "I remember watching college gymnastics when I was younger and knew that was exactly what I wanted to do! Little me would be so proud of me!"

It's time for the Pioneers to take the floor. They have prepared. They have put in the work. They know who they are.

"We have already decided the outcome so we are going to go out, be us and take it," Sophia Isbell said.

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The WCGNIC can be watched live here. The Pioneers will compete in the semifinals on Friday night at 7 p.m. The top two teams from each session will advance to the finals on Saturday at 7 p.m. Individual Finals will take place on Sunday at 1 p.m.

If you are on TWU Denton campus, make sure to join the live watch party tonight at 7 p.m. in the Bridges Auditorium of Hubbard Hall.