Gymnastics’ Horton Named SEC Specialist of the Year, 10 Tigers Earn All-SEC Honors
3/25/2026 12:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
Mizzou’s five SEC Specialist of the Year awards are the most in the conference.
COLUMBIA, Mo. – Mizzou gymnast Hannah Horton (Brooklyn Park, Minn.) was named Southeastern Conference Specialist of the Year, while a conference-most 10 Tigers earned All-SEC honors, the league announced Wednesday.
Horton's award is the third-straight year and the fifth time in the last seven that a Tiger has won the conference Specialist of the Year honor.
Horton was joined by Ayla Acevedo (Virginia Beach, Va.), Kimarra Echols (Henderson, Nev.), Makayla Green (Mays Landing, N.J.), Kennedy Griffin (Strongsville, Ohio), Olivia Kelly (Bronx, N.Y.), Addison Lawrence (Olathe, Kan.), Kaia Tanskanen (Howell, Mich.), Maiya Terry (Coeur d'Alene, Id.) and Elise Tisler (Fairfax Station, Va.). Mizzou's 10 selections set the conference record for most All-SEC honorees in a single year, surpassing the previous mark of seven set by the Tigers in 2024.
Echols was also named to the All-SEC Freshman Team, marking the 13th selection in program history.
"This is a great recognition for Hannah and a really deserving one," head coach Shannon Welker said. "She's been incredibly consistent for us all year and stepped up in a big moment at SECs. To pair that with 10 All-SEC selections says a lot about the depth of this team and how many athletes contributed at a high level. It's a strong reflection of the work they've put in and gives us confidence as we continue to move into the postseason."
Mizzou opened the meet on uneven bars. Echols posted a team-best 9.900 to secure her All-SEC and All-Freshman recognitions, while Kelly contributed a 9.875. Green and Terry each added scores of 9.850. On beam, Lawrence highlighted the lineup with a 9.925, her sixth score of 9.925 or better this season, while Kelly also qualified with a 9.875.
Missouri dominated on floor, earning a meet-high 49.450. Tisler, Tanskanen, Griffin and Horton all scored 9.900, while Acevedo added a 9.850 in the rotation. Horton also captured the Session I vault title with a 9.950, while Echols followed with a 9.900 to tie for third as Missouri totaled a 49.350 on the event.
Florida's Skye Blakely and LSU's Kaliya Lincoln were also named SEC Specialists of the Year.
The five-yearly awards are determined by a vote of the league's head coaches. The All-SEC Team is comprised of the student-athletes with the top four scores (including ties) on each event and in the all-around competition in the first and second sessions of the SEC Championship. The All-Freshman Team is comprised of the freshmen student-athletes with the top score (including ties) on each event and the top two scores in the all-around competition in each session.
No. 8 Mizzou continues postseason action at the NCAA Championship Second Round of the Lexington Regional on Friday, April 3, at noon CT. The Tigers compete as the No. 2 seed against No. 9 Arkansas, No. 21 North Carolina State and No. 27 Maryland at Historic Memorial Coliseum. All regional action will be streamed on ESPN+.
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