Missouri
No. 3 Alabama
No. 7 Gymnastics Travels to No. 3 Alabama
1/22/2026 8:30:00 AM | Gymnastics
Mizzou travels to Tuscaloosa, Ala., for its second of four-straight meets against top-four teams.
No. 7 Mizzou gymnastics competes in its first Southeastern Conference road meet of the 2026 season as it heads to compete against No. 3 Alabama on Friday, Jan. 23 at 6:45 p.m. at Coleman Coliseum. The meet will be livestreamed on SEC Network+, with commentary provided by Gray Robertson and Luisa Blanco.
THE FIRST TOUCH
-The Tigers' meet against No. 3 Alabama marks the second of Mizzou's four-straight contests against the nation's top four teams.
-Mizzou stands at No. 7 in the country for the second-consecutive week, also ranking in the top five on floor (2) and vault (5).
-Across the first three meets, 34 of Missouri's 72 routines have earned a 9.900 or higher from at least one judge.
-Mizzou returns four Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) All-Americans from its 2025 NCAA third-place finishing team, including Elise Tisler (Fairfax Station, Va.) (first team, vault), Hannah Horton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) (second team, bars), Olivia Kelly (Bronx, N.Y.) (second team, bars and beam) and Addison Lawrence (Olathe, Kan.) (second team, beam).
-Thirteen members of the 2025 squad return to this year's roster, accounting for 14 of 24 routines.
-Mizzou opened the season ranked seventh in the WCGA preseason poll, receiving two first-place votes.
THE MATCHUP
-Mizzou is 4-29 all-time against Alabama but is looking for its fourth-straight win.
-The Tigers and Crimson Tide met three times during the 2025 season - at the Zou to the Lou meet, the SEC Championship and the NCAA Championship Semifinal - with the Black & Gold earning the win in each meeting.
-Missouri is seeking its first win in Tuscaloosa in program history.
KNOCKING ON THE DOOR OF HISTORY
-Missouri is looking to earn its third road win against the No. 4-ranked team in program history in its meet at Alabama.
-The Tigers have previously done so at Nebraska on Jan. 28, 2012, and at Oklahoma on Feb. 18, 2011.
-The most recent time Mizzou beat the No. 4 team was at the 2025 NCAA Championship Final on April 19, 2025, when it defeated Utah, 197.2500-197.2375, in Fort Worth, Texas. The program is seeking its 12th win over a top-five opponent in history.
AMONG THE BEST OF THE BEST
-The Tigers' 49.450 on bars marked their best opening-meet score on the apparatus and sixth-highest score nationally this season when they topped the Cyclones.
-MU stands fifth in the country on vault, which ties the program's best ranking on the apparatus from week three onward. It has previously reached No. 5 on vault on or after week three four times - in week seven in 2004 and during week four in 2016, 2019 and 2024.
-Mizzou's 197.275 at the Ameritas Master's Classic ranks as the seventh-best team score this season.
-After beating Iowa State to begin the season, Missouri won its first meet of the season for the fifth-straight year.
JUST HORTON THINGS
-Following the few meets of the season, Horton is among the nation's best in two of the three events she's competed in.
-The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native ranks tied for third after a career-best 9.975 on vault at the Ameritas Master's Classic and is also tied for sixth on floor after earning three-consecutive scores of 9.925.
-Horton is one of just six gymnasts nationally to rank in the top six of two or more individual events.
-The junior won event titles on vault, bars and floor in the team's meet against Iowa State and on vault and floor at both the Ameritas Master's Classic and against Oklahoma.
FAB FLOOR LOOKING FAB
-Mizzou's highest event ranking comes on the floor exercise, where it stands second nationally with an average of 49.408.
-The team's No. 2 ranking on floor ties the program's second-highest individual-event team ranking from week three onward. It previously ranked No. 1 on beam in weeks eight and nine in 2006 and No. 2 on beam in weeks three and five in 2022.
-Horton leads the team in scoring average on floor with 9.925, which stands sixth in the country, while Ayla Acevedo (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Kennedy Griffin (Strongsville, Ohio) join her in the top 25, tying for 20th with 9.982.
-Mizzou is one of two programs nationally with three gymnasts ranked in the top 20 on floor and one of just four schools with three gymnasts ranked in the top 20 on a single event.
GODDESS WITH GLASSES
-Ayla Acevedo (Virginia Beach, Va.) caught media attention in her first routine as a Tiger.
-After not breaking into lineups as a freshman, she trained largely on her own during the summer, consistently attending voluntary morning practices, going to class and returning later in the day for conditioning while balancing a biochemistry major.
-Acevedo earned a new floor routine after approaching the staff and being told she could get one if she became competition-ready. She received the routine roughly one month before the season during Black & Gold exhibition meet week.
-The sophomore made her collegiate debut on floor at the team's season opener against Iowa State, scoring a 9.900, and matched that score in the third meet against Oklahoma.
-Her 9.982 scoring average on the apparatus ranks 20th nationally.
-She performs to K-pop music from KATSEYE, the first known NCAA floor routine using that group, according to program research.
OFF TO A HOT START
-Following the first meet of the season, Horton is among the nation's best in two of the three events she's competed in.
-The Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, native ranks tied for third after a career-best 9.975 on vault at the Ameritas Master's Classic, and is also tied for sixth on floor after earning three-consecutive scores of 9.925.
-Horton is one of just six gymnasts nationally to rank in the top six of two or more individual events.
-The junior won event titles on vault, bars and floor in the team's meet against Iowa State and on vault and floor at both the Ameritas Master's Classic and against Oklahoma.
NO SHORTAGE OF ALL-AMERICANS BACK IN COMO
-Of the nation-leading nine WCGA All-America honors MU tallied following the 2025 NCAA Championship Semifinal meet, four return to Mizzou, tied for most in the country along with Alabama, Oklahoma and Florida.
-Tisler was named a WCGA Vault First Team member. On the WCGA Second Team, Horton earned recognition on uneven bars, while Kelly was recognized on uneven bars and balance beam, and Lawrence was also honored on balance beam.
TURNING HEADS IN THE PRESEASON
-Mizzou opened the 2026 season ranked No. 7 nationally in the WCGA preseason poll, marking its highest preseason ranking in program history.
-The Tigers earned multiple first-place votes, one of just five teams nationally to do so, and have appeared in the WCGA preseason top 10 in three of the last four seasons.
THE BEST SEASON IN MIZZOU WOMEN'S SPORTS HISTORY
-The 2025 Mizzou gymnastics season finished as the most successful season of any varsity women's team in school history, placing third at the NCAA Championship Final.
-It marked the first time the program advanced to the NCAA National Championship Final and the second time it had competed in the NCAA Championship Semifinals, having done so for the first time in 2022.
-Helen Hu captured the program's first individual national title after scoring 9.9875 on balance beam.
-The coaching staff was recognized for its outstanding season, as head coach Welker garnered 2025 WCGA National Coach of the Year and SEC Coach of the Year honors, while the staff was named the 2025 College Gym News Coaching Staff of the Year.
NO FLUKE
-The Tigers' best season in program history reflected sustained growth rather than a one-year breakthrough.
-Under Welker's leadership, Mizzou has consistently become one of the premier programs in the nation, finishing in the top 15 in each of the last six seasons after only doing so four times between 1998 and 2014.
-Both times the Tigers ranked among the top five to finish the season were under Welker - 2022 (fifth) and 2025 (third).
A NEW ERA
-Mizzou gymnastics announced it has changed its primary home venue to Mizzou Arena on Oct. 21, 2025.
-The Tigers compete in five of six regular-season home meets at Mizzou Arena during the 2025-26 season.
-Mizzou Arena previously hosted select gymnastics meets, with the most recent coming at the team's 2025 season opener, the Beauty and the Beast meet.
-Hearnes Center remains part of the schedule, hosting Senior Day vs. Arkansas for the team's last meet in Columbia for the season on March 1.
-Mizzou Arena opened in 2004 and is home to Mizzou men's and women's basketball, known as one of the nation's top home-court advantages, with both programs beating a No. 1-ranked opponent in the last four seasons.
ELITE COMPETITION COMING TO MIZZOU ARENA
-In the program's first season at Mizzou Arena, the Tigers welcome some of the best teams in the country.
-No. 1 Oklahoma (Jan. 16), No. 2 LSU (Jan. 30) and No. 3 Florida (Feb. 6) are all slated to compete in CoMo.
-This marks the first time since at least 1998 that Mizzou competed against multiple preseason top-three teams at home in the same season.
ANOTHER CROP OF IMPRESSIVE FRESHMEN JOINS THE AMBUSH
-Mizzou's incoming freshman class, led by five-star and top-10 recruit Kimarra Echols (Henderson, Nev.), ranks No. 11 nationally and fifth in the SEC, according to College Gym News.
-Echols is joined by four-star Hayli Westerlind (Riverton, Utah), three-star Maiya Terry (Coeur D'Alene, Idaho) and Bryce Kupbens (Belmont, Calif.) in the 2025 freshman class.
-It marks the third time since 2021 the Tigers have welcomed a top-11 recruiting class.
KIMARRA ECHOLS - A NAME TO WATCH
-Echols was named to the College Gym News 2026 Freshman of the Year Watchlist on Dec. 22, 2025.
-She is the highest-ranked recruit to join Missouri gymnastics in history as the No. 7 prospect in her class and the latest top-tier addition to the Tigers' nationally-ranked roster.
-A five-star recruit, Echols has brought immediate lineup potential across all four events.
-Echols won the all-around at the Black & Gold exhibition (39.600) before making her collegiate debut against Iowa State with a 38.650 all-around, highlighted by a 9.900 on bars. She added a career-best 9.925 on bars at the Ameritas Master's Classic.
TRANSFER EXPERIENCE BOLSTERS 2026 ROSTER
-Mizzou continues to be a premier destination for transfers, as it brought in three talented gymnasts for 2026.
-Makayla Green (Mays Landing, N.J.) joins as a veteran uneven bars specialist and 2025 Illinois team captain after a breakout senior season that included multiple bars titles. The year was highlighted by a win at the NCAA Championship First Round, while posting a career-best score of 9.925 four times during the year.
-Dakota Essenpries (Adrian, Mo.) brings SEC and NCAA Championship experience to Columbia after competing in every vault lineup for Arkansas during the 2025 season. She recorded a career-high 9.900 at the NCAA Championship Second Round, adding depth and consistency to Mizzou's vault rotation.
-Sara Wabi (Chicago, Ill.) arrives as an experienced all-around contributor after earning three All-Midwest Independent Conference First Team honors. She helped lead Illinois State to MIC championships in 2023 and 2025 and qualified as an individual on uneven bars for the 2025 NCAA Regional.
TANSKANEN AMONG THE WORLD'S BEST
-Sophomore Kaia Tanskanen (Howell, Mich.) represented Finland internationally throughout the offseason, highlighted by a 15th-place finish in the all-around final at the FIG Artistic Gymnastics World Championship, marking the best all-around finish by a Finnish gymnast in history at the event.
-Tanskanen was the only active NCAA women's gymnast to compete in the World Championship all-around final and one of just two NCAA athletes to qualify, competing among the world's top 24 gymnasts.
-She advanced to the world final after placing 16th in qualifications, posting consistent routines across all four events and debuting upgraded difficulty on bars and floor as part of her elite development.
-Earlier in the summer, Tanskanen placed 11th all-around at the European Gymnastics Championships, recording a 50.799 total to qualify for the World Championships and finish as the top Finnish athlete in the field.
2026 SIGNING CLASS AMONG BEST IN MIZZOU HISTORY
-Mizzou welcomes the No. 6 recruiting class nationally for 2026-27, according to College Gym News, marking the second top-10 signing class in the past three years and the program's second-highest ranked class ever.
-The six-member class—Addison Anderson, Ashtyn Conley, Dakota "Coco" Haynes, Raegan McCarty, Kendall Morgan and Imani White—ranks fifth in the SEC and continues Mizzou's run of three consecutive top-20 classes.
-The group features two five-star recruits and multiple national, regional and state champions, bringing proven success across all four events and depth throughout the lineup.|
-White headlines the class as the highest-rated signee in program history, ranking No. 5 nationally, with a decorated résumé that includes a career-high 10.0 on vault, multiple national team selections and extensive postseason experience.
FEATURE - THE GIRL WITH THE KOI FISH TATTOO: GROWTH COMES FROM WITHIN
-Lawrence's journey is defined by perseverance, symbolized by a koi fish tattoo inspired by Japanese folklore, reflecting her belief in growing through adversity rather than avoiding it.
-After starting gymnastics at age five, Lawrence navigated injuries, pressure, and a hip surgery that sidelined her for the entire 2024 season, strengthening her resolve as she leaned on her support system and long-term growth.
-She returned in 2025 as a WCGA All-American, crediting Mizzou's culture for reshaping her relationship with the sport, and now aspires to coach and mentor young gymnasts, emphasizing joy, communication, and confidence beyond results.
FEATURE - HORTON BOUNCES BACK
-Horton's freshman season tested her resilience as she navigated the twisties late in 2024, stepping back to reset mentally with support from her coaches and teammates.
-That approach fueled her 2025 breakout, highlighted by WCGA Uneven Bars Second Team All-America honors and an NCAA Seattle Regional bars title.
FEATURE - AN IMPACT IN AND OUT THE GYM
-Kelly arrived at Mizzou as one of the nation's top recruits and has consistently used gymnastics as a platform to uplift and serve others beyond competition.
-A native of Barbados, she is one of the few collegiate gymnasts representing the Caribbean and became the first Barbadian woman to compete at the Pan American Championships and qualify for the World Championships.
-Kelly has been open about competing with scoliosis, managing the condition through treatment and recovery while crediting gymnastics with building resilience and body awareness.
-She co-founded the Stronger Together Foundation and authored Am I Too Tall for Gymnastics?, while also earning 2025 WCGA Uneven Bars and Balance Beam Second Team All-America honors.
FEATURE - THE ART OF THE LEO
-Leotard design at Mizzou is a collaborative process, led by associate head coach Whitney Snowden with input from staff and direct feedback from student-athletes throughout the year.
-The Tigers try on and train in sample leotards so the staff can evaluate how designs move, fit and catch the light, while athletes share what feels best and what helps them compete confidently.
-Athlete comfort is the priority, as the design goal is to balance Mizzou pride with performance-ready fit, ensuring gymnasts can focus on routines rather than how a leo feels or moves.
-With multiple fabrics, stones and revisions involved, the team's GK partnership helps streamline the process and allows more testing and refinement—making the final look a true player-first, team-built product.
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Players Mentioned
