The final weeks of the 2025-26 season are coming quickly, as the last eight teams standing are gearing up to head to nationals. With the end of the season, the awards are starting to roll in, with the WCGA regional award winners have been announced.
The WCGA awards six Division I regions, a Division II, and Division III (East and West) award to the staff and athletes within its respective regions who “[honor] excellence across collegiate gymnastics…recognize outstanding achievement and leadership in coaching, athletic performance, and administration across the sport.”
**Division III voting will take place separately with results announced at a later date, and award recipients will be honored at the annual WCGA meeting later in the year.
The following honors were awarded across each region:
WCGA Regional Head Coach of the Year: Celebrating head and co-head coaches who have demonstrated exceptional leadership, mentorship, and competitive success. Honorees were selected by a vote of their peers within each NCAA region.
WCGA Regional Assistant Coach of the Year: Recognizing assistant and associate head coaches whose contributions to their teams have been outstanding. Head coaches nominate candidates, and vote to determine the winners. Coaching staffs may be recognized collectively.
WCGA Regional Administrator of the Year: Honoring athletics administrators who have made a significant impact on their gymnastics programs and institutions. Selected by regional head coach vote, these individuals exemplify the spirit of support and excellence in collegiate athletics.
WCGA Regional Gymnast of the Year: Celebrating individual gymnasts who have achieved remarkable success and demonstrated leadership throughout the season. Voted on by head coaches within each region, these athletes represent the highest level of competitive excellence and sportsmanship.
Region 1 (Central)
Head Coach of the Year: Ashley Johnston (Alabama)
Assistant Coaches of the Year: Justin Spring, Amelia Hundley & Ross Thompson (Alabama)
Nicole Jones & Devin Wright (Michigan State)
Administrator of the Year: Julie Cromer (LSU)
Gymnast of the Year: Kailin Chio (LSU)
Region 2 (North Central)
Head Coach of the Year: Jen Llewellyn (Iowa)
Assistant Coaches of the Year: Sam Scherwinski, Kiki Parenteau & Mya Hooten (Minnesota)
Administrator of the Year: Liz Darger (BYU)
Gymnast of the Year: Avery Neff (Utah)
Region 3 (Northeast)
Co-Head Coaches of the Year: Kirstin Becker (Pennsylvania), Anastasia Candia (Rutgers)
Assistant Coaches of the Year: Scott Sherman, Cali Hager & Quest Hayden (Michigan)
Co-Administrators of the Year: Lisa Savoury (Michigan), Sarah Higgins (Penn State), Monique Brown (Rutgers)
Gymnast of the Year: Carly Bauman (Michigan)
Region 4 (South Central)
Head Coach of the Year: Shannon Welker (Missouri)
Assistant Coaches of the Year: Jackie Terpak (Missouri), Lou Ball, Tom Haley & Ashley Kerr (Oklahoma)
Administrator of the Year: Katherine Devenport (Arkansas)
Gymnast of the Year: Addison Fatta (Oklahoma)
Region 5 (Southeast)
Co-Head Coaches of the Year: Justin Howell & Elisabeth Crandall-Howell (Clemson)
Assistant Coaches of the Year: Erinn Dooley, JJ Ferreira & Morgan Epps (Maryland)
Administrator of the Year: Natalie Honnen (Clemson)
Gymnast of the Year: Selena Harris-Miranda (Florida)
Region 6 (West)
Co-Head Coaches of the Year: Tabitha Yim (Stanford), Janelle McDonald (UCLA)
Assistant Coach of the Year: Vince Smurro (Stanford)
Administrator of the Year: Josh Hummel (California)
Gymnast of the Year: Jordan Chiles (UCLA)
Division II
Co-Head Coaches of the Year: Lorraine Galow (Bridgeport), Lisa Bowerman (Texas Woman’s)
Assistant Coach of the Year: Zan Jones (Texas Woman’s)
Administrator of the Year: Deirdre Bertotti (West Chester)
Gymnast of the Year: Abigail Kenney (Bridgeport)
Division III
Division III (East)
Head Coach of the Year: Sulekha Modi (Cortland State)
Assistant Coach of the Yeah: Jenna Zakala (Utica)
Administrators of the Year: Jaclyn Lawrence & Courtney Wormuth (Cortland State)
Gymnast of the Year: Grace Murray (Ithaca)
Division III (West)
Head Coach of the Year: Lauren Karnitz (UW-Oshkosh)
Assistant Coach of the Yeah: Kelsea Kocan (Simpson)
Administrator of the Year: Jennifer Flowers (Winona State)
Gymnast of the Year: Reanna McGibboney (UW-Oshkosh)
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Article by Julianna Roland
