2026 College Gym News Awards Announced

College Gym News is proud to announce the fifth annual end-of-season award recipients. Members of the CGN staff nominated individuals in seven categories based on specified criteria. Then, the field was narrowed down, and editors voted. You can find the categories, winners, and remaining nominees below.

Gymnast of the Year

Winner: Kailin Chio (LSU)

Nominees: Jordan Chiles (UCLA), Selena Harris-Miranda (Florida), Anna Roberts (Stanford), Maggie Slife (Air Force), Faith Torrez (Oklahoma)

Criteria: Nominees didn’t just top the standings but were a significant contributor throughout the season for their team. Nominees rarely had missteps and consistently produced top scores that made an impact. They stand out from their peers.

Kailin Chio put together one of the most dominant all-around seasons in recent memory, leading the rankings for much of the year and racking up an astounding 13 perfect 10.0s across three events. From her historic perfect 30 against Arkansas to her season-high 39.875—tied for the best score in 2026—Chio was the driving force behind LSU’s runner-up finish. The most impressive part? She accomplished all of it as just a sophomore, setting the stage for an even brighter future.

NCGA Gymnast of the Year

Winners: Amara Nelson (Greenville) & Erin Roe (Ursinus)

Nominees: Jamie Beatty (Stout), Aaliyah Krause (RIC), Grace Murray (Ithaca)

Criteria: Nominees didn’t just top the standings but were a significant contributor throughout the season for their NCGA team. Nominees rarely had missteps and consistently produced top scores that made an impact. They stand out from their peers.

Amara Nelson and Erin Roe proved equally deserving of NCGA Gymnast of the Year honors with record-breaking seasons that redefined their programs’ standards. Nelson consistently raised the bar at Greenville, winning the NCGA national all-around title before surpassing that program-record score at WCGNICs, also setting new program records on vault and beam at the meet. Meanwhile, Roe cemented her legacy at Ursinus by holding four of the program’s top five all-around scores—all but one set this season—while also rewriting the record books on vault and bars. Both gymnasts have been transformative forces for their teams.

WCGNIC Gymnast of the Year

Winner: Taylor Ingle (SEMO)

Nominees: Abigail Kenney (Bridgeport), Abby Royer (SCSU)

Criteria: Nominees didn’t just top the standings but were a significant contributor throughout the season for their WCGNIC-eligible team. Nominees rarely had missteps and consistently produced top scores that made an impact. They stand out from their peers.

Taylor Ingle delivered a near-flawless performance at WCGNICs, coming within reach of a complete event sweep. She captured the all-around title, won vault and beam, tied for the bars title, and finished runner-up on floor, showcasing her incredible versatility and consistency. Her impact extended beyond WCGNICs, as she also earned a spot at NCAA regionals as an individual on floor, capping a truly standout season.

Freshman of the Year

Winners: Arianna Ostrum (Minnesota) & Azaraya Ra-Akbar (Alabama)

Nominees: Mackenzie Estep (Oklahoma), Tonya Paulsson (California), Sydney Seabrooks (North Carolina), Ashlee Sullivan (UCLA), Tiana Sumanasekera (UCLA), CaMarah Williams (Georgia)

Criteria: Nominees must be true freshmen this season. They are gymnasts who not only consistently produce top scores but made an impact on their own team and stand out from their peers.

Arianna Ostrum and Azaraya Ra-Akbar made immediate and lasting impacts in their debut seasons, earning a tie for Freshman of the Year. Ostrum played a pivotal role in Minnesota’s historic run to the national final, competing in the all-around and delivering standout performances across all four events, including a perfect 10.0 on vault and a 39.675 all-around high. Ra-Akbar, Alabama’s first SEC Freshman of the Year since 1999, shined with a perfect 10.0 on bars and consistent high-level routines across multiple events, quickly establishing herself as a cornerstone for the Crimson Tide.

Coaching Staff of the Year

Winner: Minnesota

Nominees: Air Force, Clemson, Georgia, San Jose State, Stanford

Criteria: Nominees first and foremost coached their team to athletic success, whether that meant a large improvement over past seasons or record-breaking performances.

Minnesota’s coaching staff orchestrated one of the most remarkable seasons in program history, guiding the Gophers to their first-ever NCAA championship final and a program-best fourth-place finish. Entering the season ranked outside the top 10, the team built momentum through a series of upsets, culminating in postseason victories over several top programs. Head coach Jenny Hansen and assistants Kiki Parenteau, Sam Scherwinski, and Mya Hooten crafted a season defined by resilience, belief, and historic achievement.

NCGA Coaching Staff of the Year

Winner: UW-Oshkosh

Nominees: UW-Eau Claire, Rhode Island College

Criteria: Nominees first and foremost coached their NCGA team to athletic success, whether that meant a large improvement over past seasons or record-breaking performances.

Oshkosh’s coaching staff continued its dynasty with another dominant campaign, capturing the program’s fourth NCGA national title in five years. Their sustained excellence also includes six WIAC titles in the past seven championship seasons, underscoring the consistency and culture built by head coach Lauren Kamitz and assistants Eboni Jackson and Rahdea Jarvis.

WCGNIC Coaching Staff of the Year

Winner: Texas Woman’s

Nominees: Fisk, SEMO

Criteria: Nominees first and foremost coached their WCGNIC-eligible team to athletic success, whether that meant a large improvement over past seasons or record-breaking performances. See WCGNIC-eligible teams for 2026 here.

Texas Woman’s coaching staff led the Pioneers to yet another WCGNIC title, marking back-to-back championships and the program’s 14th overall. Beyond postseason success, the team demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout the regular season with frequent 195+ scores, while also producing individual national champions and multiple NCAA regional qualifiers. Head coach Lisa Bowerman and assistant Zan Jones have built a standard of excellence that continues to define the program.

Breakout Performer of the Year

Winner: Jordyn Lyden (Minnesota)

Nominees: Ciena Alipio (UCLA), Skye Blakely (Florida), Chloe Cho (Illinois), Annalise Newman-Achee (California), Keira Wells (Oklahoma)

Criteria: Nominees are sophomores, juniors, or seniors who were particularly successful this season after not having competed, having only competed one or two events, or having only received mediocre scores to start their careers. Nominees “came out of nowhere” on events they weren’t expected to contribute on, started getting scores much higher than previous averages, or added events you didn’t know they were even training.

Jordyn Lyden’s breakout season was instrumental in Minnesota’s Cinderella run, as she expanded from a limited role in previous years to become a key contributor across three events. Anchoring floor and delivering multiple 9.950 performances on bars, beam, and floor, Lyden emerged as a reliable and high-impact scorer. Her first-team All-American honor on floor at nationals highlighted a season of tremendous growth and impact.

Comeback Gymnast of the Year

Winner: Sydney Barros (UCLA)

Nominees: Kayla DiCello (Florida), JerQuavia Henderson (Iowa), Emily Leese (Rutgers), Hannah Scheible (Oklahoma)

Criteria: Nominees missed at least the majority of the previous season and didn’t just start competing again this year, but did very well, producing effective scores for their teams.

After battling injuries for much of her collegiate career, Sydney Barros made a powerful return in 2026, becoming a consistent contributor for UCLA across multiple events. Competing regularly on bars, beam, and floor, she posted career highs and delivered clutch postseason routines, including standout 9.900 performances at regionals. Her resilience and ability to perform on the biggest stages made her comeback one of the most inspiring stories of the season.

Most Valuable Gymnast

Winner: Maggie Slife (Air Force)

Nominees: Kailin Chio (LSU), Chloe Cho (Illinois), Alex Irvine (Auburn), Niya Randolph (Southern Utah), Delaynee Rodriguez (Kentucky), MaKayla Tucker (Michigan State)

Criteria: Nominees’ teams wouldn’t have had the success they did this season without them. They were lifted up by not only their scores but also their leadership and attitude. Think of gymnasts on teams with lots of injuries, gymnasts who always seemed to hit after falls, or gymnasts not on teams with lots of other star power.

Maggie Slife was the definition of value for Air Force, leading the program to its first regional appearance since 2002 and then making history as the school’s first-ever NCAA nationals qualifier. A consistent top scorer across all four events, Slife delivered standout performances all season, highlighted by near-10-level scores and a 39.675 all-around high. As a junior, her leadership and reliability have already cemented her as one of the most impactful gymnasts in program history.

Sports Information Director of the Year

Winner: Ryan Cullinane (Missouri)

Nominees: Michelle Bodkin (Utah), Liza David (UCLA), Brittany Evans (Denver), Maddie Gotreaux (Stanford), Kimberlie Haner (Arizona State), Regan Hunsaker (Southern Utah), Morgan Lair (Texas Woman’s), Jen Smith (Alabama)

Criteria: Nominees are individuals who can be described as responsive, attentive to the media’s needs, maintain the team website (are always timely when adding coverage links), and even go above and beyond their job description when setting up interviews or providing necessary information, for example.

Ryan Cullinane has elevated Missouri’s media presence right alongside the program’s rise in the rankings. His commitment to access is unmatched—whether it’s detailed press releases for every milestone, consistent media availability, or creating opportunities for coverage at open practices and intrasquads, Cullinane makes it incredibly easy to cover Missouri from anywhere. That accessibility has played a huge role in expanding coverage of the Tigers.

There’s a reason Cullinane stands out as SID of the Year. He understands that access drives coverage and consistently goes above and beyond to provide it, making Missouri one of the most media-friendly programs in the country.

While Cullinane has been named CGN’s SID of the Year, we would be remiss not to recognize all of the other fantastic nominees for 2026 as well:

“Despite working on a smaller staff, Brittany Evans makes covering Denver feel effortless. She handles so much behind the scenes but never lets it show, ensuring media members have everything they need and more. Her proactive communication and willingness to go the extra mile make every interaction a positive one.”

“Information is never in short supply when it comes to Regan Hunsaker. His press releases are consistently thorough and insightful, and his preseason event previews are invaluable resources that make planning coverage, especially preseason content, significantly easier.”

“If you want to cover Alabama, Jen Smith is going to make sure you can. She is incredibly intentional about creating access, and her efforts—especially at regionals—made a huge difference in securing the interviews and insight needed for in-depth coverage. Going above and beyond is the norm for Jen. While others may make media availability a challenge, she actively facilitates it, ensuring coverage opportunities are there and making the entire process smooth and productive.”

“Kimberlie Haner was very responsive and organized when it came to putting together the Arizona State regional. It was very easy to connect with her to get credentials, schedule interviews, and make sure everyone knew what press conferences would be happening.”

“Michelle Bodkin at Utah was wonderful to work with and made the meet day press experience seamless! Everything ran smoothly, and I greatly appreciated Michelle’s clear communication before and during the meet, her welcoming spirit, and her attention to detail.”

“Consistently one of the best in the business, Liza David excelling at her job is a major reason why UCLA women’s gymnastics is one of the most popular women’s sports teams in the country, not just in gymnastics. Liza is great at providing access to UCLA athletes and coaching staff, creating opportunities to expand our coverage of the team. UCLA’s media availability calls are always well-run, organized, and professional.”

“Morgan Lair from TWU is wonderful. She has always been very helpful and communicative, and you can tell she cares about the athletes and staff she works with.”

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Article by Elizabeth Grimsley