Denver faces significant changes in 2026, having graduated a large class of key gymnasts and losing top all-arounder Ulrich to LSU. A new assistant coaching staff—John Carney, Megan Haught, and Mary Rice—joins the program this season. A sizable freshman class and transfer Addie Hewitt will help offset the routines lost.
2025 Rewind
No. 13 overall | No. 3 at Big 12 | No. 18 in regular season | Regional final
Denver stumbled out of the gate in 2025, struggling to put together strong performances across all four events early in the season. The Pioneers recovered in the second half, coming just short of upsetting UCLA in the Utah regional final and advancing to nationals.
Losses & Gains
| RETURNING |
| Seniors: Mila Brusch, Cecilia Cooley, Kiley Rorich |
| Juniors: Ashley Gallen, Amanda Hargraves, Maddison Reidenbach |
| Sophomores: Sophia Hampp |
| IN |
| Freshmen: Megan Aamold, Shyla Bhatia, Sevana Kasparian, Kaitlynd Kastl, Terra Rutter, Abby Steeley |
| Transfers: Addie Hewitt (Maryland) |
| OUT |
| Graduated: Rosie Casali (VT/UB), Mia Hebinck (UB), Momoko Iwai (BB/FX), Bella Mabanta (VT/BB/FX), Rylie Mundell (VT/UB/BB), Abbie Thompson (BB) |
| Transferred: Madison Ulrich (LSU – AA) |
| Retired: Ava Mabanta |
| INJURY UPDATE |
| Freshman Aamold tore her ACL in December 2024 and is working back from surgery. She has potential in the all-around but is only currently training bars, beam, and floor. Fellow freshman Steeley had a medial Meniscus repair in May but is back on bars and beam. Mabanta was removed from the roster in November and is now a student coach. |
Fresh Faces
Denver offsets lost routines with a large, talented freshman class. Former five-star Bhatia leads the group, excelling on vault and floor and likely contributing across multiple events or in the all-around. Four-star Aamold and three-star Steeley are returning from injuries; Aamold stands out on beam and floor while Steeley shines on bars and beam. Four-star Kasparian and three-star Kastl round out the class, pushing for lineup spots. The Pioneers also added Steeley a year early and welcome Maryland transfer and Denver native Hewitt, who could see an expanded role.
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2025 Event Ranking: No. 13 | NQS: 49.245 | Average: 49.154 | High: 49.500
| Event Overview: Denver’s vault lineup loses three 10.0 vaults from last season. Bhatia competed a Yurchenko one and a half in level 10, and Hargraves was seen training one last preseason. As many Denver lineups will, this lineup will look a lot different in 2026. | ||
| Locks: Shyla Bhatia, Mila Brusch, Maddison Reidenbach Brusch is a rockstar leadoff for the Pioneers with her clean and consistent Yurchenko full. Reidenbach debuted a Yurchenko one and a half last season, and Bhatia competed one in level 10. | ||
| Contenders: Cecilia Cooley, Amanda Hargraves, Addie Hewitt, Sevana Kasparian, Terra Rutter Cooley is pushing for the all-around by training a Yurchenko full while Hargraves has consistently competed a Yurchenko full in a number of meets and has been working on a potential upgrade. Kasparian competed a nice full in level 10 but also threw a one and a half at nationals in 2023, showing potential for an additional 10.0 start value. | ||
| Wildcards: Kaitlynd Kastl, Kiley Rorich Freshman Kastl has competed a Yurchenko full in the past, and senior Rorich competed one in level 10 but has yet to make her collegiate debut. |
Bars
2025 Event Ranking: No. 10 | NQS: 49.390 | Average: 49.288 | High: 49.525
| Event Overview: Denver is known for strong bars, but this lineup will see change and new leadership with the departure of former associate head coach Linas Gaveika. There are strong bars options among the newcomers that should fit in the top six nicely. | ||
| Locks: Cecilia Cooley, Kiley Rorich, Sevana Kasparian, Kaitlynd Kastl Cooley and Rorich return from last season’s squad, while Kasparian and Kastl both were excellent in level 10 with toe-on to Maloney to Pak salto routines. | ||
| Contenders: Megan Aamold, Shyla Bhatia, Addie Hewitt, Sophie Hampp, Maddison Reidenbach, Terra Rutter, Abby Steeley Reidenbach exhibitioned bars for most of 2025, gaining valuable competition experience to compete for a potential lineup spot this season. Steeley also has a gorgeous bar routine, while other newcomers should push for lineup time as well. Bars is arguably Bhatia’s weakest event, though she made major strides throughout her level 10 career. | ||
| Wildcards: Mila Brusch, Ashley Gallen Brusch has been featured in Instagram Story clips on bars, and Gallen has been seen on bars as well—though both routines have some built-in deductions. |
Beam
2025 Event Ranking: No. 21 | NQS: 49.180 | Average: 48.989 | High: 49.550
| Event Overview: Denver’s beam lineup had high highs and low lows in 2025. Its beam lineup has the most turnover of the four events, but its dependable leadoff returns in Cooley. All of the newcomers have potential to make the lineup, with Aamold leading the way. | ||
| Locks: Megan Aamold, Cecilia Cooley Cooley was the perfect leadoff for Denver in 2025, cementing her place in the beam lineup for another year. Aamold was one of the best level 10 beam workers pre-injury, garnering a near-perfect recruit rating of 24 of 25 points on the event. | ||
| Contenders: Shyla Bhatia, Ashley Gallen, Sophie Hampp, Addie Hewitt, Sevana Kasparian, Kaitlynd Kastl, Maddison Reidenbach, Terra Rutter, Abby Steeley Gallen emerged as a beam option late in the 2025 season and showed she could deliver strong scores under pressure. Hampp saw exhibition time while Reidenbach has a nice routine if she can find consistency. The other five freshmen are strong on beam—it’s a matter of who can hit consistently—and Hewitt is an option as well. | ||
| Wildcards: Mila Brusch, Amanda Hargraves, Kiley Rorich Brusch and Hargraves have both exhibitioned in the past, while Rorich has shown beam in the as well. |
Floor
2025 Event Ranking: No. 27 | NQS: 49.225 | Average: 49.125 | High: 49.500
| Event Overview: Floor was one of Denver’s most consistent events in 2025, and four gymnasts from that lineup return in 2026. | ||
| Locks: Mila Brusch, Cecilia Cooley, Shyla Bhatia Cooley emerged as one of Denver’s best floor workers last season, and Brusch often put up strong numbers. Bhatia’s best event is floor, where she has exceptional performance quality and execution, a front double twist, and a near-perfect recruit rating of 24 out of 25 points. | ||
| Contenders: Megan Aamold, Ashley Gallen, Amanda Hargraves, Addie Hewitt, Sevana Kasparian, Maddison Reidenbach, Kiley Rorich, Terra Rutter Both Reidenbach and Rorich were consistently in the lineup last season and could have the inside door for lineup time. Aamold’s floor was great pre-injury, and Hewitt, Kasparian, and Rutter all have clean form. Gallen and Hargraves both exhibitioned floor last season and were knocking at the lineup’s door. | ||
| Wildcards: Sophie Hampp, Kaitlynd Kastl Hampp’s floor was a highlight in level 10, but she didn’t compete it her freshman year. She has been seen training a double layout in preseason. Kastl is also an option if needed. |
Records Watch
Team: 198.150 | AA: 39.825 (Jessica Hutchinson) | VT: 49.600/10.000 (Maddie Karr) | UB: 49.750/10.000 (Lynnzee Brown) | BB: 49.650/10.000 (Jessica Hutchinson) | FX: 49.825/10.000 (Jessica Hutchinson)
Bhatia’s excellent performance quality, difficulty, and cleanliness on floor could see her join clubmate Hutchinson in the record books. Aamold also has potential to match records on beam.
The Big Picture
Denver faces significant change in 2026, with success hinging on how the newcomers adapt and how the upperclassmen step up. The Pioneers add the No. 8 recruiting class and a transfer to replace departed routines. While a return to nationals is unlikely, a regionals final berth is attainable.
Likely 2026 finish: Regional final
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Article by Tara Graeve
