Gymnastics | 6/18/2026 5:20:00 PM

DENTON, Texas (June 18, 2026) – Pioneering excellence in the classroom continues to be a foundational focus of the Texas Woman's gymnastics team.
 
TWU recorded a historic season in competition, while also excelling in their academics.
 
For the 2026 season, five Pioneers were named to the 2026 College Sports Communicators (CSC) At-Large Academic All-District Team: Caroline Bowns, Kyleigh Ghanbari, Sophie Hernandez, Sophia Isbell and Kami Zarlengo.
 
"Our student-athletes daily pursue excellence in all they do, because they take pride in being their best for themselves, their team and their community," said TWU Gymnastics Head Coach Lisa Bowerman. "I am so proud of them for pursuing excellence in the classroom, as well as in competition. Academics is a strong focus of our program, and our student-athletes truly embody that ideal and showcase their best in thier academics." 
 
The five TWU gymnasts were honored on the CSC Women's At-Large Team, which "recognizes the nation's top student-athletes for their combined performances in the athletic realm and in the classroom." To be eligible for nominations, student-athletes must be at least a sophomore and have at least a 3.50 cumulative grade point average (GPA). Gymnasts in the At-Large program also had to be ranked in the top 75 in an event within their division according to Road to Nationals. All five Pioneer honorees boasted above a 3.7 cumulative GPA.
 
As there is not a designated academic honor program for gymnastics, the At-Large program recognizes student-athletes from eligible sports within the NCAA not included in the other academic programs. The full list of At-Large sports can be viewed here.
 
Caroline Bowns, a junior majoring in political science, helped guide the Pioneers to a historic season. Bowns competed on bars and beam throughout the season. On March 27, at the WCGNIC Semifinals, Bowns matched her career high on bars of a 9.900. She twice hit her career high on beam of a 9.825, once on Feb. 1 at San Jose State and again on March 20 at the MIC Championships. After the regular season, Bowns was named a WCGA First Team All-American, as she posted the highest National Qualifying Score (NQS) in Division II on bars of a 9.840. At the MIC Championships, Bowns earned First Team All-MIC honors on both bars and beam, while claiming the event title on bars. Bowns and the Pioneers closed the season by winning their 14th National Championship Title, claiming the title of WCGNIC National Champions. Then, during the WCGNIC Event Finals, Bowns scored a 9.775 to claim the Individual National Title on bars – the first of her career. Following the conclusion of the 2026 WCGNIC Championships, Bowns was named a WCGNIC First Team All-American on bars and a Second Team All-American on beam. She was also honored for her success in the classroom, earning MIC Scholar-Athlete and WCGNIC Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Sophomore Kyleigh Ghanbari, who is majoring in general studies, competed on vault, beam and floor for the Pioneers this season. To help the Pioneers clinch their 14th National Championship, Ghanbari scored a career high on vault, a 9.850, during the championship meet. She hit her career high on beam of a 9.825 on March 8 at Oklahoma. On floor, she scored her season high of 9.900 three times during the 2026 campaign. Ghanbari posted the second highest NQS on floor in Division II of a 9.885 to earn WCGA Second Team All-America honors. With her high NQS, Ghanbari qualified for NCAA Regionals on floor, becoming the first Pioneer to qualify since 2021. Additionally, Ghanbari was honored for her success in the classroom, earning MIC Scholar-Athlete and WCGNIC Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Sophie Hernandez, a junior majoring in sport management, competed for the Pioneers on vault, beam and floor. She scored a career high 9.775 on vault on Feb. 1 at San Jose State. On beam, she hit her season high of 9.825 against Arizona and Denver in Kitty Magee Arena on Jan. 16. Finally, on floor, she scored her 9.875 season high five times during the season. Hernandez helped lead the Pioneers to back-to-back WGNIC National Titles. Along with Ghanbari, Hernandez also qualified for NCAA Regionals on floor, after posting a 9.870 NQS. For her committment to excellence in the classroom, she earned MIC Scholar-Athlete and WCGNIC Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Junior Sophia Isbell is majoring in criminal justice, and she competed on vault, beam and floor for TWU this season. Isbell matched her career high of a 9.850 on vault at the MIC Conference Championships. On beam, she scored a career high of 9.900 at a KMA Quad Meet on Feb. 27. Then, to help lead the Pioneers to their 14th National Title, Isbell scored a 9.900 career high on floor at the WCGNIC Championship Meet. Isbell earned WCGA First Team All-America honors on vault, posting the highest NQS in Division II. With her NQS, she joined Ghanbari and Hernandez in qualifying for NCAA Regionals. She became the first Pioneer since 2018 to qualify for NCAA Regionals on vault. At the MIC Championship Meet, Isbell claimed First Team All-MIC honors on all three of her events, claiming the event title on floor. Additionally, Isbell was named the Co-MIC Athlete of the Year. At the WCGNIC National Championship, Isbell was named a WCGNIC All-American on vault and floor. She was also honored for her success in the classroom, earning MIC Scholar-Athlete and WCGNIC Scholar-Athlete recognition.

Senior Kami Zarlengo, who is majoring in education, claims her second CSC Academic All-District honor. Zarlengo competed for the Pioneers on bars and floor during her senior season. She scored a career high 9.850 on bars at the WCGNIC Semifinals to help the Pioneers advance to the Finals. On floor, she also scored a career high during her senior year, hitting a 9.800 on Feb. 15 against Centenary. At the MIC Championships, Zarlengo claimed First Team All-MIC honors on bars. Then, to close her career out at TWU, Zarlengo helped guide the Pioneers to their second straight WCGNIC National Title. She was also honored for her success in the classroom, earning MIC Scholar-Athlete and WCGNIC Scholar-Athlete recognition. Zarlengo was named a CSC Third Team Academic All-American in 2024. 

This marks the first CSC Academic All-District honors for Bowns, Ghanbari, Hernandez and Isbell.

After being selected to the All-District Team, student-athletes were considered for advancement to the CSC Academic All-America ballot. According to the CSC, first-, second- and third- team honorees will be announced on Tuesday, July 7.