There’s no place like the NCGA for heartbreak, Cinderella stories, underdogs, and dynasties—and that’s just in a regular season meet. So when the lights shine on Gus Young Court at Gustavus Adolphus, with six teams, individuals chasing dreams built on chalk and sweat, hundreds of grips, dozens of leos, and miles of tape, the storylines are sure to be larger than life.
Last season we saw a West-heavy nationals, but this year looks more traditional with an even split of teams: Oshkosh, Whitewater, and La Crosse will face off against Brockport, Cortland, and Rhode Island. Although Oshkosh is the favorite to win and could secure its fourth title in a row, its closest challengers—Whitewater and Brockport—are no strangers to the top, as the most recent titleholders before the Titans’ reign.
Team
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The Contenders
UW-Oshkosh
Starting Event: Vault
Relevant Stats: 193.9563 SAS | 193.9250 regional final | 192.323 average | 194.350 season high
Why It’ll Win: Oshkosh has built a Division III gymnastics dynasty—think “the Oklahoma of Division III gymnastics.” The Titans have no real weaknesses across events and lineups, with every routine capable of scoring 9.7 or higher. Plus, they’ll be competing in Olympic order, finishing on floor—a high-scoring event that can give them an edge, especially as scores tend to rise late in the meet.
Why It Won’t Win: Oshkosh is human and not immune to inconsistency. There have been meets this season where the Titans couldn’t put together a national-caliber performance, including meets where they scored in the 191 range—well below their championship potential.
Why It Would Be Cool If It Won: Oshkosh would secure its fourth consecutive NCGA national title, a feat that hasn’t been accomplished since La Crosse’s run from 2008 to 2011. Matching that history would solidify Oshkosh’s place among the great DIII dynasties.
UW-Whitewater
Starting Event: Floor
Relevant Stats: 193.2438 SAS | 192.8500 regional final | 192.439 average | 193.750 season high
Why It’ll Win: This team is nothing short of determined. Improving week by week and putting up some of the most technically sound gymnastics in the NCGA, the Warhawks are right behind Oshkosh in the rankings. One thing about Whitewater gymnastics—it will fight to the very end, and it has beaten Oshkosh before.
Why It Won’t Win: Whitewater doesn’t have the same soaring season highs as Oshkosh, but it knows how to take advantage of mistakes from other teams. To win, it may need others to open the door.
Why It Would Be Cool If It Won: This team has endured a season like no other. Following the tragic passing of All-American gymnast Kara Walsh, the Warhawks have dedicated their season to her. A national title would be a powerful testament to this team’s resilience and a celebration of the love Kara had for gymnastics and her teammates.
Brockport
Starting Event: Beam
Relevant Stats: 192.8438 SAS | 192.5250 regional final | 191.731 average | 193.100 season high
Why It’ll Win: The Golden Eagles are riding high after capturing their fifth consecutive NCGA-East regional title, and as anyone in gymnastics knows, momentum matters just as much mentally as it does physically. Brockport is dominant on floor, and if the beam lineup hits, this team could take an early lead and never look back.
Why It Won’t Win: Brockport has the whole package, but beam and bars have been inconsistent at times. Add to that the challenge of facing WIAC teams—arguably the strongest conference in DIII—and the Golden Eagles will have to be nearly perfect to come out on top.
Why It Would Be Cool If It Won: The West has taken home the team title eight times since 2014, and Brockport was the last team from the East to win, back in 2019. A victory would not only be historic but also a huge moment of pride for the NCGA-East.
In the Mix
UW-La Crosse
Starting Event: Bye, Bars
Relevant Stats: 192.5875 SAS | 192.9750 regional final | 191.514 average | 192.975 season high
Why It’ll Upset: This season has largely been the Whitewater and Oshkosh show out West, but La Crosse has proven it shouldn’t be overlooked. After a slower start, the Eagles have steadily climbed into the high-192 scoring range. They pulled off a statement upset at regionals, scoring a season-high 192.975 to grab the second automatic nationals spot over Whitewater. All signs point to La Crosse peaking at just the right time.
What’s Holding It Back: La Crosse hasn’t consistently posted the same big team scores as the “big three” and has yet to break into the 193s. But just because the Eagles haven’t hit that mark yet doesn’t mean they can’t ride the adrenaline and high stakes of nationals to a breakthrough performance.
Why It Would Be Cool If It Won: La Crosse has a rich history of NCGA national titles, and a win here would reignite that legacy—proving this program is still capable of being as dominant as it once was.
The Dark Horses
Cortland
Starting Event: Bye, Floor
Relevant Stats: 191.7750 SAS | 192.0500 regional final | 189.843 average | 192.075 season high
Why It’s An Underdog: The Red Dragons have flirted with a national title, finishing as runner-up six times, most recently in 2014. From years of last-place finishes and sending only individual qualifiers to now earning back-to-back second-place finishes at East Regionals and qualifying full teams, Cortland has proven it can’t be counted out.
What’s The Brightside: Cortland has been on fire this 2025 season, setting program records and becoming the first vault squad in Red Dragon history to feature an entire lineup of twisting vaults. No matter what happens at nationals, this team’s trajectory is clearly on the rise.
Why It Would Be Cool If It Won: Landing on the podium with second place is always an accomplishment, but finally claiming a national title would be a well-earned reward for this powerful and hardworking team.
Rhode Island College
Starting Event: Bye, Beam
Relevant Stats: 191.9000 SAS | 190.8750 regional final | 189.981 average | 192.725 season high
Why It’s An Underdog: This is RIC’s first trip to the Big Dance since 1998, and as an at-large qualifier, the Anchorwomen have some ground to make up to reach the podium.
What’s The Brightside: This marks just the fifth time RIC has qualified for NCGA Nationals, and no matter the outcome, this team has already secured its place in the history books. For a program that has been rewriting records the past few years, that’s no small achievement.
Why It Would Be Cool If It Won: A championship today would be the first for the Anchorwomen, who have yet to bring home team hardware from nationals—though they do boast individual vault titles.
All-Around
Olivia Keyes, Rhode Island College
Relevant Stats: 38.6500 SAS | 38.106 average | 38.725 season high
Why She’ll Win: Olivia Keyes has been on an unstoppable streak this season. With the exception of two routines, she hasn’t counted below a 9.325 across any event. When you look up consistency in the dictionary, you’ll find Keyes’ picture.
Why She Won’t Win: Although she owns the all-around season high in the East, Krause and Graff are hot on her heels, and the three have spent the season rotating as the top all-arounder each week. This title is a game of tenths.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Keyes’ season-long accomplishments have often been celebrated: she’s been named NCGA-East Rookie of the Year, NCGA-East Gymnast of the Year twice, and all-around Gymnast of the Week nearly a dozen times over her career. The only thing missing? A first-place finish at nationals.
Aaliyah Krause, Rhode Island College
Relevant Stats: 38.5250 SAS | 38.050 average | 38.575 season high
Why She’ll Win: Aaliyah Krause can throw some big scores, especially with her front handspring front tuck on vault—a vault she stuck cold at regionals. She fights for every last tenth on every event.
Why She Won’t Win: She doesn’t bring quite the same consistency as Keyes, and beam could certainly trip her up in pursuit of that all-around title. She’ll need to stay calm, cool, and collected, especially since Rhode Island starts on beam.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: As a freshman, Krause has already proven she’ll be a star for Rhode Island. Seeing her kick off her collegiate career with a shiny gold medal would be fabulous.
Emmy Graff, Utica
Relevant Stats: 38.4438 SAS | 38.019 average | 38.625 season high
Why She’ll Win: Emmy Graff is more than capable of going 9.650 or better on every event, and if she delivers on each event, Graff will be unstoppable. Where others may lack on bars, she can add important tenths to her score.
Why She Won’t Win: Graff doesn’t consistently go 4-for-4. Vault is steady, but beam could pose a problem, and a fluke showing on floor or bars could derail her title hopes.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: This is only Utica’s second team in program history, and having someone atop the podium would leave an extraordinary, long-lasting mark.
Honorable Mention: Erin Roe (Ursinus), Jamie Beatty (Stout), Emma Brookins (Brockport), Gillian Cummins (Stout), Amara Nelson (Greenville)
Vault
Kiara Hockman, Brockport
Relevant Stats: 9.7938 SAS | 9.725 average | 9.850 season high
Why She’ll Win: Vault is all about height, power, form, and a stick that’s both aggressive and delicate. Hockman has all that, with flair reminiscent of Alex McMurtry and an uncanny knack for knowing exactly where the floor is.
Why She Won’t Win: Anything beyond a small hop will cost her valuable tenths. Overcooking the vault could keep her from the top of the podium.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: A textbook vault deserves a storybook ending. She may not be able to chase a 10, but a perfect 9.95 is well within reach.
Erin Roe, Ursinus
Relevant Stats: 9.7500 SAS | 9.706 average | 9.800 season high
Why She’ll Win: Roe’s Yurchenko 1.5 has height, distance, and form. All she needs is to nail the landing and make those feet look glued to the mat.
Why She Won’t Win: With vault this competitive, there’s no room for error—even a tiny hop. Roe will need to go all-in on sticking without underrotating.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Roe’s Yurchenko 1.5 is a first for Ursinus, and winning a title the year it debuted would be the perfect full-circle moment.
Kennedy O’Connor, Winona State
Relevant Stats: 9.7750 SAS | 9.711 average | 9.825 season high
Why She’ll Win: O’Connor’s Yurchenko full-on pike-off is consistent and dynamic, with no built-in deductions. She’s a model of dependability.
Why She Won’t Win: She’s dipped into the 9.6s a few times and does a unique vault that can be harder to judge. While she may lack stickability, her wow factor could overcome that.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Already a 2022 national vault champ, O’Connor could add a second title to cap off a stellar five-year career.
Honorable Mention: Lili Guy (Gustavus), Reanna McGibboney (Oshkosh), Kaelynn Tally (Simpson), Maren Eramo (Brockport), Natalie Steed (Ithaca)
Bars
Reanna McGibboney, Oshkosh
Relevant Stats: 9.7438 SAS | 9.675 average | 9.800 season high
Why She’ll Win: McGibboney is a dream leadoff, always hitting her full-in dismount and bringing huge releases. She’s been incredibly consistent.
Why She Won’t Win: Bars scores often build through a lineup, and leading off in the third rotation could hurt her final number.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Following in the footsteps of two-time national champion Emily Buffington, McGibboney would keep Oshkosh’s bar dynasty alive.
Kelsey Kollhoff, Whitewater
Relevant Stats: 9.4563 SAS | 9.456 average | 9.850 season high
Why She’ll Win: Despite her ranking, Kollhoff holds the highest bar score nationally. A five-year veteran, she knows how to peak when it counts.
Why She Won’t Win: She’s only competed bars four times this season due to injury, but if anyone can rise to the moment, it’s her.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: After fighting her way back from injury, a win would honor her comeback and dedication to Kara Walsh.
Autumn Adkins, Cortland
Relevant Stats: 9.7125 SAS | 9.633 average | 9.750 season high
Why She’ll Win: Adkins brings a strong mental game and has never dropped below a 9.500 on bars this season.
Why She Won’t Win: The WIAC bar field is stacked, so she’ll need perfection to win. Even her teammate could challenge her.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: As a sophomore, a national title would be an incredible way to set up a powerhouse junior season.
Honorable Mention: Amaya McConkay (Oshkosh), Lauren Babineaux (Ithaca), Arianna Goodwin (Whitewater), Hayden Gough (Whitewater)
Beam
Lienna Kay, Brockport
Relevant Stats: 9.8000 SAS | 9.581 average | 9.875 season high
Why She’ll Win: Lienna Kay is a calm, cool, and collected cucumber on beam. She is the beam record holder at Brockport and although she’s only a sophomore, she has more than demonstrated her grace under pressure.
Why She Won’t Win: While Kay’s SAS is out of this world and her season high is the best among the East and the West, she has had a few hiccups this season. Add to that equation that beam is the first event for Brockport and Kay, and the pressure is on.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Holding program records AND having a national title to her name would solidify her place in Brockport Beamer history without a doubt.
Raina Christenson, La Crosse
Relevant Stats: 9.8063 SAS | 9.569 average | 9.850 season high
Why She’ll Win: Christenson has been a rock for La Crosse on beam and has yet to go below 9.700 for a hit routine. She delivered a clutch 9.825 performance following for La Crosse at regionals to clinch their spot at Nationals by .25. To say she knows how to hit under pressure is an understatement.
Why She Won’t Win: The field of potential winners on beam is deep with 19 gymnasts scoring above a 9.8 on beam this season. To win a national beam title, the gymnasts will need to deliver a routine with not only no wobbles or steps, but the full package with no built-in deductions. Last season, to even become an all-American on the event (top 6), you needed to score a 9.8. I think it’s safe to say, the score to win this title is above 9.85.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: As a freshman, Christenson narrowly missed the sought-after All-American Status by a quarter of a tenth. Winning this title would solidify her status as one of the best beamers in the country.
Delaney Cienkus, Oshkosh
Relevant Stats: 9.8063 SAS | 9.655 average | 9.825 season-high
Why She’ll Win: Cienkus has scored above a 9.800 three times this season and knows how to hit a “no move” routine when it counts. Especially with the Titans searching for a national team title to add to their collection, fans can count on a hit routine for Cienkus.
Why She Won’t Win: Cienkus does have a few built-in deductions throughout this routine but has been able to make up for it with her assertive attitude and no bobble routines. When the field is so close on this event, it is possible that the judges will be stricter on things like split positions and leg form, especially by the third rotation when Oshkosh goes to beam.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Oshkosh has not won a national title on beam since 1996, so this would be the team’s first in nearly 30 years.
Honorable Mention: Samantha Meadows (Cortland), Emily Kobusky (Ithaca), Bryce Stoltz (Winona State), Effie Ferguson (Stout)
Floor
Kiara Hockman, Brockport
Relevant Stats: 9.8813 SAS | 9.831 average | 9.900 season high
Why She’ll Win: Kiara Hockman danced so close to qualifying for NCAA Regionals this year, and although the chips didn’t end up falling in just the right way, it goes to show just how dominant she has been on floor throughout this season.
Why She Won’t Win: If Hockman decides to throw her full-in, she’ll need to be sure it’s going to be clean and not overcook things, otherwise that automatic out-of-bounds deduction is going to hurt big time.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Hockman more than deserves to claim this title as her own this year: her routine is studded with power and elegance, floaty tumbling and not to mention a switch ring that could be used as an example for the rest of history.
Olivia Keyes, Rhode Island College
Relevant Stats: 9.8313 SAS | 9.689 average | 9.900 season high
Why She’ll Win: Olivia Keyes is a powerhouse on floor. At the NCGA-East regional she was the final competitor and closed the meet with her floor routine that went 9.900, although, having been there live and in person, it was textbook.
Why She Won’t Win: Floor is TOUGH this year. So although Keyes is remarkable in every way, it’ll only take a little shuffle or a low chest position on her double pike that isn’t quite what the judges want to see for there to be a difference between first and second.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: To close out her collegiate career in her fifth and final year with a title on floor as the reigning NCGA-East Gymnast of the Year is what Hollywood movies are made of.
Emma Brookins, Brockport
Relevant Stats: 9.8313 SAS | 9.703 average | 9.875 season high
Why She’ll Win: With the exception of low 9, Emma Brookins has spent the season in the rafters with both her tumbling and her scores; each pass, including a front double full, is effortless, and she leaves no doubt on her leap extension.
Why She Won’t Win: Her only real hiccup this season is with her Rudi in her last pass, so long as that doesn’t pose any problems, or her front double full, Brookins is golden.
Why It Would Be Cool If She Won: Brookins is not only an incredibly talented all-around gymnast, but she’s what you think of when you think of Brockport floor routines. This freshman could certainly add a dazzling exclamation point to her first season out.
Honorable Mention: Kelsey Kolhoff (Whitewater), Grace Murray (Ithaca), Delaney Cienkus (Oshkosh), Megan Matteucci (Ursinus), Jay Ratowski (Oshkosh)
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