Although the Gophers are now finally having to contend with replacing program legend Mya Hooten, they sit in a good spot, losing primarily quality routines and not a large quantity of routines heading into 2026. With a large freshman class, there should be plenty of opportunity to find those routines, as former four and five-star recruits are primed to make an impact for Minnesota.
2025 Rewind
No. 15 overall | No. 3 at Big Ten | No. 10 in regular season | Regional final
Integrating a big rookie class into lineups had Minnesota off to a slow start in 2025, but by the halfway point of the regular season, it had established itself as a threat for a regionals seed and firmly No. 3 in the Big Ten. Both of those trends played out, as the Gophers finished third in a tight conference meet and then secured a spot in the top 16 to close out the season. To close out her momentous career, Hooten represented Minnesota at nationals on floor.
Losses & Gains
| RETURNING |
| Fifth Years: Gianna Gerdes (rejoined team as Gr), Lauren Pearl |
| Seniors: Seria Johnson, Sarah Moraw, Brooklyn Rowray, Megan Steensland |
| Juniors: Leah Gonsiorowski, Jordyn Lyden, Sophia Nguyen, Jenna Olshefski, Sophie Swartzmiller |
| Sophomores: Teryn Crump, McCauley Harrington, Ava Stewart |
| IN |
| Freshmen: Lilly Gullickson, Isabella Nguyen, Arianna Ostrum, Lacie Saltzmann, Stella Kate Skenteris |
| Other Additions: Emma Slevin (joined as Jr.) |
| OUT |
| Graduated: Anahit Assadourian, Mya Hooten (VT/UB/FX), Marissa Jencks (UB/FX), Emily Koch (BB/FX) |
| Transferred: Marisa Fisher (Penn State), Kendall Landry (EMU), Jayda Lewter (Rutgers), Samantha Schneider (Iowa State) |
| Retired: Lilly Timmerman, Morgan Walsh |
| Not quite an injury, but after graduating in 2024 and not competing in 2025, Gerdes has rejoined the team for a final season in 2025. She’s been seen training vault, bars, and beam so far this preseason. |
Fresh Faces
With one of the biggest glow-ups of the recruiting class of 2025, former five-star Ostrum is a true gem of a recruit after the Gophers got her commitment when she only carried a three-star rating. Now, she looks ready to compete in the all-around immediately, as she already has the college polish that should be huge in replacing Hooten. Former four-star Saltzmann isn’t one to sleep on either, adding depth across the board, as she will certainly threaten for lineups early on. Plus, joining as a junior is Irish elite Slevin, who brings in international experience and composure and is one of the most underrated roster additions of the entire offseason.
Apparatus Deep Dive
Vault
2025 Event Ranking: No. 12 | NQS: 49.275 | Average: 49.134 | High: 49.400
| Event Overview: With half a lineup of 10.0 start values, the Gophers held their own on vault in 2025, anchored by Hooten, a two-time Big Ten champ on the event. While her loss hurts, it’s the only departure, so the Gophers gain overall from the potential difficulty and depth of their newcomers and returnees. Vault has the potential to be a strength for Minnesota in 2026. | ||
| Locks: Teryn Crump, Arianna Ostrum, Ava Stewart Adding to last season’s returning Yurchenko one and a halves from Stewart and Crump is Ostrum, who stuck for a perfect 10.0 to take the title at JO nationals and assure herself a lock on vault in her debut season with the Gophers. | ||
| Contenders: Gianna Gerdes, Sarah Moraw, Isabella Nguyen, Sophia Nguyen, Lauren Pearl, Megan Steensland A full-strength Gerdes would make a huge impact here if she can bring her one and a half from 2024 (and that she’s been seen performing in practice this fall), as Minnesota would welcome the added difficulty. Moraw was a regular a season ago and is a lineup favorite with her experienced Yurchenko full. Additionally, Sophia Nguyen was recently spotted sticking a very viable Yurchenko one and a half on mats. She could contend as well. | ||
| Wildcards: Lacie Saltzmann, Stella Kate Skenteris, Emma Slevin Rookies Saltzmann and Skeneris both have fulls that could make an appearance early in a lineup, like Sophia Nguyen did in week one in 2025. |
Bars
2025 Event Ranking: No. 16 | NQS: 49.265 | Average: 49.168 | High: 49.425
| Event Overview: It wasn’t typically Minnesota’s highest-scoring event, but bars was a consistent one throughout 2025. The Gophers return their top NQS in Lyden and, like elsewhere, should have plenty of options when it comes to filling lineups. | ||
| Locks: Teryn Crump, Jordyn Lyden, Arianna Ostrum, Lacie Saltzmann, Ava Stewart Not only do the Gophers return Lyden, but they also return three of their top four NQSs, as well as add college-ready Ostrum to the mix. Expect another season for Lyden in the anchor spot, while newbie Saltzmann should slide into the latter half of the lineup. | ||
| Contenders: Gianna Gerdes, McCauley Harrington, Seria Johnson, Sophia Nguyen, Emma Slevin Boding well for Minnesota is having experienced routines vying for what should be the final spot in the top six. Should Gerdes resemble her 2024 self, she’s the frontrunner with a consistent routine capable of hitting in the 9.9s. If not, Harrington was a regular in 2025’s lineup. | ||
| Wildcards: Lilly Gullickson, Isabella Nguyen Sophia Nguyen broke into the bars lineup early last season, and both she and her sister Isabella Nguyen have the finesse to see competition time. |
Beam
2025 Event Ranking: No. 16 | NQS: 49.305 | Average: 49.220 | High: 49.525
| Event Overview: While it had its woes at times, beam was a strong event for the Gophers and oftentimes was one of their two better-scoring events. With all but their lowest NQS returning, that makes this lineup tough to crack for newcomers, but the rookie class has the poise to make some noise. However, Minnesota stuck to the same six all season long in 2025, so don’t expect them to go more than seven or eight deep this year. | ||
| Locks: Jordyn Lyden, Sarah Moraw, Brooklyn Rowray, Ava Stewart Not only do these returning five bring back experience and consistency, the scoring potential is there for some chart-topping totals. Lyden, Moraw, Rowray, and Stewart all went 9.900 or better at some point last season, and it’s hard to forget Rowray’s lone routine of her 2024 season prior to injury—a beam 9.975 in her collegiate debut. | ||
| Contenders: Gianna Gerdes, Arianna Ostrum, Lauren Pearl, Lacie Saltzmann, Emma Slevin Ostrum excels on beam, so she’s the favorite to slide into the open lineup spot, which also coincides with her bid for the all-around. Gerdes competed on beam in every meet for the Gophers in her most recent season, but with this deep lineup, this is the event where her return is needed the least. Pearl got the nod every week in 2025, but with Slevin, a Paris World Cup Challenge finalist on this event also contending for lineup time, nothing is a guarantee. | ||
| Wildcards: Lilly Gullickson, Seria Johnson, Isabella Nguyen, Sophia Nguyen, Jenna Olshefski, Megan Steensland While she hasn’t competed on the event since her freshman year in 2023, Johnson has made Gopher beam lineups before. But with the top-tier depth it retains, a set from Johnson will likely not be needed. |
Floor
2025 Event Ranking: No. 11 | NQS: 49.430 | Average: 49.257 | High: 49.550
| Event Overview: There’s no replacing Hooten’s iconic routine, but further complicating things for Minnesota is needing to replace three of their top five NQSs from 2025. There are plenty of athletes capable of filling open lineup holes, but between the rookies and returners, somebody is going to need to step into a starring role to replicate the success of this lineup a season ago. | ||
| Locks: Leah Gonsiorowski, Arianna Ostrum, Lauren Pearl Of the returning sets, Gonsiorowski should get the early nod to anchor with a big full-in E-pass, while Ostrum’s clean lines and execution will secure her spot in the top six despite flashy tumbling. Pearl’s 9.8-plus NQS from a year ago, paired with experience, will get her major lineup time again in 2026. | ||
| Contenders: Teryn Crump, Gianna Gerdes, Jordyn Lyden, Lacie Saltzmann, Emma Slevin, Megan Steensland, Sophie Swartzmiller Rarely scoring lower than a 9.900 in 2024, Gerdes’ comeback on floor would give this lineup a major scoring-potential lift as she undoubtedly gets the nod for the lineup with a clean bill of health. Swartzmiller stepped into a lineup spot last March and stayed through the postseason. She should be able to carry that momentum into competition this year, along with Steensland, who held a 9.8-plus NQS. | ||
| Wildcards: Seria Johnson, Isabella Nguyen, Brooklyn Rowray Both Rowary and Johnson made at least one appearance in last season’s lineups, with Johnson hitting a high of 9.925 that could sneak her into 2026’s top six at some point. |
Records Watch
Team: 198.025 | AA: 39.850 (Lexy Ramler) | VT: 49.600/10.0 (Maddie Quarles) | UB: 49.575/9.975 (Jordyn Lyden) | BB: 49.700/10.0 (Lexy Ramler) | FX: 49.750/10.0 (Mya Hooten)
With the sublime bars workers, the Gophers have touted over the decades—or even just this decade—it’s a bit crazy the school record isn’t a perfect 10.0. One of the current record holders, Lyden, will try to change that this season after one judge thought her routine was perfect in 2024. As mentioned before, Rowray has been as high as 9.975 on beam, meaning the program best on that event is within her grasp.
The Big Picture
Momentum is headed in the right direction, as the Gophers’ strong recruiting the last few seasons has prevented them from having to enter rebuilding mode after losing program greats each of the last few seasons. Ostrum is a name to know, as she’ll be a contender for Big Ten Freshman of the Year and help keep Minnesota in the dark horse hunt for a trip to Fort Worth.
Likely 2026 finish: Regional Final
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Article by Brandis Heffner
