Gymnastics | 1/21/2026 10:40:00 AM

DENTON, Texas (Jan. 21, 2026) – Following the second week of competition for the Texas Woman's gymnastics team, Sofia Steffan received this week's Midwest Independent Conference Coaches' Choice Award.

While the MIC Sports Information Directors vote on the Newcomer of the Week, the Gymnast of the Week and the Performance of the Week, the Coaches' Choice Award is voted on by the MIC Head Coaches.

The Coaches' Choice Award honors a gymnast for not only her performance but also her attitude and overall impact on the success of the team.

Steffan is in her junior season with the Pioneers. During her freshman year, she competed five times on floor and once on bars and was finding her love for the sport again. She came into her sophomore season very motivated to make an impact in competition. Unfortunately, she suffered a season-ending energy just two weeks into season.

Nevertheless, she brought the positive energy every single day for her team, making a daily difference and impact. She worked hard over the summer and continued to train, building her confidence back in the gym.

After rehabbing and working her way back, Steffan has entered TWU's beam lineup this season, competing for the first time on beam since she was a senior in high school. This past week, against Denver and Arizona, Steffan displayed a strong routine and scored a career high 9.700. Steffan's joy when she hit the routine was radiant throughout Kitty Magee Arena.

Her score helped propel the Pioneers to a 48.725 on beam and a 195.275 overall team score.

"It has been pure joy to get to see Fi out on the competition floor again," said TWU Head Gymnastics Coach Lisa Bowerman. "She has put in a tremendous amount of work to get to this point. She is not only competing in line-up, but she is competing with confidence and the grace of a veteran."

This marks the Pioneers first MIC Coaches Choice Award of the season and second overall weekly award of the season.