Missouri Tigers women's gymnastics
| Missouri Tigers women's gymnastics | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1980; 46 years ago |
| University | University of Missouri |
| Head coach | Shannon Welker (12th season) |
| Conference | SEC Division I Division |
| Location | Columbia, Missouri |
| Home arena | Mizzou Arena (Capacity: 15,061) |
| Nickname | Mizzou; Tigers |
| Colors | Black and gold[1] |
| Four on the Floor appearances | |
| 1 2025 | |
| NCAA Tournament appearances | |
| 34 (1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) | |
The Missouri Tigers women's gymnastics team represents the University of Missouri in NCAA Division I women's gymnastics. The team competes in the Southeastern Conference and is coached by Shannon Welker. The team's home venue is the Mizzou Arena.
History
The program was founded in 1980. The Tigers made their first NCAA regional in 1982 and their first NCAA semi-final in 2010.[2]
Shannon Welker was appointed head coach in 2014. Since 2015 the team has made 10 consecutive NCAA regional appearances.[3] In 2022 the Tigers made their second ever NCAA semi final.[3]
They finished third at the 2025 NCAA Championship Finals, reaching the final for the first time in program history.[4][5] They were originally awarded fourth place, but after an inquiry into Amy Weir's score on beam, Missouri's team score increased enough to raise them to third place ahead of Utah.[6] Helen Hu also made history, earning first place on balance beam.[4]
Championships
| Missouri Tigers Individual NCAA Championship Titles | |||||
| Gymnast | All-Around | Vault | Uneven Bars | Balance Beam | Floor Exercise |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Helen Hu | 2025 | ||||
NCAA Championship appearances
| Missouri Tigers Four on the Floor Appearances | |
| Year | Finish |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 3rd |
Arena and facilities
Mizzou Arena
The Tigers announced that they would change their home venue from Hearnes Center to Mizzou Arena for the 2026 season.[7] Mizzou Arena has a capacity of 15,061.
Hearnes Center
Missouri gymnastics competed at the 13,611 capacity Hearnes Center from the program’s first season in 1980 until 2025.[7]
Head coaches
| Name | Year |
|---|---|
| Jake Jacobson | 1980–2012 |
| Rob Drass | 2000–2013 |
| Shannon Welker | 2014–present |
2026 Roster
| Name | Height | Year | Hometown |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ayla Acevedo | 5-3 | SO. | Virginia Beach,VA |
| Grace Anne Davis | 5-0 | GR | Albertville, AL |
| Kimarra Echols | 5-0 | FR | Henderson, NV |
| Dakota Essenpries | 5-2 | JR | Adrian, MO |
| Makayla Green | 5-3 | GR | Mays Landing, NJ |
| Kennedy Griffin | 5-6 | JR | Strongsville, OH |
| Hannah Horton | 5-1 | JR | Brooklyn Park, MN |
| Railey Jackson | 5-1 | SO | Park Forest, IL |
| Olivia Kelly | 5-6 | SO | Bronx, NY |
| Bryce Kupbens | 5-2 | FR | Belmont, CA |
| Addison Lewrence | 5-4 | SR | Olathe, KS |
| Rayna Light | 5-4 | JR | Brandon, FL |
| Lauren Macpherson | 5-1 | GR | Gilbert, AZ |
| Lisa Szeibert | 5-1 | SO | Wyoming, MI |
| Kaia Tanskanen | 5-2 | SO | Howell, MI |
| Maiya Terry | 5-6 | FR | Coeur D'Alene, ID |
| Elise Tisler | 5-6 | SR | Fairfax Station, VA |
| Sara Wabi | 5-2 | GR | Chicago, IL |
| Hayli Westerlind | 5-4 | FR | Riverton, UT |
| Amy Wier | 5-1 | SR | St. Louis, MO |
Coaching staff
- Head coach: Shannon Welker
- Associate head coach: Whitney Snowden
- Assistant coach: Lacey Rubin
- Assistant coach: Jackie Terpak
- Director of Operations: Mady Clark
References
- ^ "Mizzou Athletics Brand Guidelines and Toolkit". Retrieved August 20, 2025.
- ^ "Mizzou Gymnastics History". University of Missouri Athletics. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ a b McAndrew, Calum. "Can Mizzou gymnastics make NCAA Championship? What to know, how to watch Missouri in regionals". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ a b "Mizzou Gymnastics Finishes Third in NCAA Finals". Missouri Tigers On SI. 2025-04-19. Retrieved 2026-01-06.
- ^ McAndrew, Calum. "Missouri gymnastics finishes third in NCAA National Championship at end of historic season". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
- ^ Xuan, Story by Henry Chappell; Photos by Yong Li (2025-04-19). "Third's a charm: Mizzou gymnastics rallies in NCAA Championships final for best finish in program history". Columbia Missourian. Retrieved 2026-02-07.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ a b McAndrew, Calum. "No more Hearnes Center home meets for Missouri gymnastics, as Tigers move to Mizzou Arena". Columbia Daily Tribune. Retrieved 2026-02-07.