Gymnastics | 3/20/2026 10:10:00 AM
NORMAL, Ill. (March 20, 2026) - Texas Woman's gymnastics is set to compete for a conference title on Friday night as the Pioneers head into the Midwest Independent Conference Championship following the conclusion of the regular season in Tucson.
Friday's meet will feature the four teams that make up the Midwest Independent Conference, with TWU competing against Southeast Missouri State, Illinois State and Centenary College for the conference title. The Pioneers and SEMO enter the championship as the top contenders, with TWU holding a 194.940 National Qualifying Score (NQS), narrowly ahead of SEMO's 193.978. Illinois State ranks third with a 193.322 NQS, while Centenary sits fourth at 187.769.
FOLLOW THE ACTION
MARCH-IN
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LAST MEET: TWU last competed in a quad meet against Arizona, Ohio State and Southeast Missouri State, finishing third with a 194.325 team score. The Pioneers delivered consistent performances across all four events, highlighted by a pair of 48.650 team scores on uneven bars and floor. Caroline Bowns led the bars lineup with a season-high 9.875, while Kyleigh Ghanbari paced the floor rotation with a 9.900. Sophia Isbell continued her strong season on vault with a 9.800, and Ruby Goad led the beam lineup with a 9.825.
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RANKS: TWU ranks 45th in the country. The Pioneers have scored a season-high 196.100 on Feb. 15 against Centenary. They are ranked 45th on vault and bars, 41st on beam and 37th on floor.
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LAST MIC CHAMPIONSHIP: The Pioneers placed second at the 2025 Midwest Independent Conference Championships with a 194.800 team score at Centenary College. TWU opened strong on floor with a 48.850, highlighted by Kyleigh Ghanbari and Sophie Hernandez posting matching 9.850s. The Pioneers followed with a season-high 49.050 on vault, led by Sophia Isbell and Kaitlyn Hoiland with 9.850s, giving TWU the lead at the halfway point. After a 48.200 on bars, TWU moved into second heading into the final rotation and closed the meet with a 48.700 on beam to secure the runner-up finish. Illinois State claimed the conference title with a 196.025, while Southeast Missouri State finished third and Centenary placed fourth.
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TOP BARS: Junior Caroline Bowns leads the Pioneers on uneven bars this season, highlighted by a season-high 9.875 in the regular-season finale. A consistent anchor in the lineup, Bowns has delivered multiple scores of 9.800 or higher. Senior Brooke Ferrari has also been a key contributor on bars, regularly posting strong scores in the lineup and adding depth to one of TWU's most consistent events.
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TOP BEAM: Ruby Goad has been a steady force on balance beam for the Pioneers, recording a team-leading 9.825 and consistently delivering under pressure. Joining her, Sophia Isbell has also been a reliable presence on beam, contributing solid routines throughout the season, hitting a 9.900 on Feb. 27.
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TOP FLOOR: Sophomore Kyleigh Ghanbari leads TWU on floor exercise with a season-high 9.900, consistently pacing the team with top scores and strong finishes in the final rotation. She is joined by Sophia Isbell, who has also been a key contributor on floor, regularly scoring above 9.800 and hitting a high of 9.875.
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TOP VAULT: Sophia Isbell has paced the Pioneers on vault this season, consistently scoring 9.800 or higher, scoring 9.850 four times this season and earning five weekly MIC honors. Kyleigh Ghanbari has also been a strong performer on vault, adding depth with consistent scores and helping TWU maintain steady team totals on the event.
-PIONEERS-
