Gymnastics | 4/9/2025 3:56:00 PM

PITTSBURGH, Pa. (April 9, 2025) – The Texas Woman's gymnastics team continues to celebrate post season awards, after an incredible regular season of competition.

On Wednesday, the Pioneers received four Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Division II Awards.

According to the WCGA, "The WCGA presents awards annually in each of the six NCAA Division I regions, as well as in Division II and Division III (East and West), reflecting the depth of talent and dedication throughout the collegiate gymnastics community."

For Division II, Lisa Bowerman was named the Head Coach of the Year for the fourth time in her career.

Bowerman is in her 14th season as head coach of the Pioneers. This season, she led TWU to setting a program record team score of a 196.600 on March 9. She also serves as the lead coach on balance beam for the Pioneers. She coached Steelie King to the second highest NQS on beam in Division II, as King was named a WCGA Regular Season All-American. With her leadership, the Pioneers earned five WCGA Regular Season All-American honors across the four events.

"Lisa is a coach who truly puts the team first," said TWU Gymnastics Assistant Coach Kyana George. "With her growth mindset, she empowers us as assistant coaches to expand our knowledge and collaborate on innovative ideas that enhance the program. Whether it's developing a new game or exploring unique conditioning and endurance training methods, she is always focused on what will help the team thrive. Lisa fosters a loving, empowering, and competitive environment where everyone can grow."

"Lisa has been nothing short of the ideal role model for everyone within the program," said TWU Gymnastics Assistant Coach Zan Jones. "Her ability to lead with such grace while still holding each and every one of us to such a high standard is so admirable and something that we all strive to achieve as we become great leaders alike. The loyalty and true belief that she has in TWU Gymnastics has allowed us to continue to climb, set records, turn heads, and change the outlook of the program. She is the standard, and she rightfully is the Head Coach of the Year."

Earning their second Assistant Coaches of the Year honor, George and Jones were named the WCGA Division II Assistant Coaches of the Year.

George began her time at TWU last season in a part time role, and this season she stepped in to a full-time position. 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. As the lead coach on floor, George helped guide two Pioneers to WCGA Regular Season All-American honors on floor, Kyleigh Ghanbari and Sophie Hernandez.

In his first season with the Pioneers, Jones serves as the primary coach on vault and bars; additionally, he serves as the Pioneers' recruiting coordinator. On vault, Jones helped guide senior Kaitlyn Hoiland to becoming the first Pioneer in program history to compete a Yurchenko 1 1/2. On bars, Jones led the Pioneers to matching their program record on the event of a 49.325 on March 9 at home. Jones led Hoiland to a WCGA First Team Regular Season All-America honor on bars and Second Team Regular Season All-America honor on vault.

"Zan and Kyana have truly made such an impact on our program this year," Bowerman said. "Their energy, passion and commitment to our student-athletes and to the success of TWU Gymnastics can be felt in everything they do. I am grateful to have them by my side as we continue to work to elevate this program to new heights."

Fifth year gymnast Hoiland was named the Division II Co-Gymnast of the Year. In her second season with the Pioneers, Hoiland competes consistently in the Pioneers' vault, bars and beam lineups, serving as the primary anchor on bars and beam. This season, Hoiland became the first Pioneer in program history to compete a Yurchenko 1 1/2. She received three Midwest Independent Conference Weekly honors and placed second at the MIC Championships on vault. Hoiland has a season high of 9.900 on vault, 9.875 on bars and 9.900 on beam.

"Kaitlyn has been an integral part of TWU Gymnastics since she first set foot on campus two years ago," Bowerman said. "From the very first moment, she committed wholeheartedly to this team and to our culture and our missions. Her two seasons as a Pioneer have been nothing short of amazing, and she has forever left her mark on the TWU history books."

Sandee Mott, TWU Director of Athletics, was named the Division II Administrator of the Year. Mott, in her fifth year with the Pioneers, receives this honor for the second time in her career. In her role, Mott works to champion success for all Pioneers' programs and serves as a strong advocate for women's gymnastics.

"Sandee is truly a champion for women's collegiate gymnastics," Bowerman said. "She supports our staff and student-athletes in a way that is unmatched. We would not have the ability to compete at the high level we do if not for her incessant support and never ending work on behalf of each and every student-athlete at Texas Woman's University. I am truly grateful for all that she does."

The Pioneers now look ahead to the 2025 Women's Collegiate Gymnastics National Invitational Championship in Shreveport, La. on April 11-13.