The University of Minnesota women’s gymnastics program will begin their 2025 campaign ranked fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches’ Poll, the conference announced Tuesday. Seniors Mya Hooten and Lauren Pearl were named Big Ten ‘Gymnasts to Watch’. Each is coming off All-Big Ten honors in 2024.
The Gophers, who finished second in the conference by just one tenth of a point in 2024, were picked to finish fifth last year. They were ranked fourth prior to 2023 and No. 2 in both 2021 and 2022.
Michigan State was chosen to win the 2025 Big Ten Conference women’s gymnastics championships. The Spartans are coming off a successful 2024 season after claiming the Big Ten regular season crown and winning the Big Ten Championships, their first conference title in school history. UCLA was picked to finish second in its inaugural season in the Big Ten, followed by Michigan at third in this year’s preseason poll.
All 12 Big Ten programs were ranked or receiving votes in the preseason Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) poll, led by No. 10 UCLA. Michigan State was close behind at 11th, followed by No. 13 Michigan, No. 16 Ohio State, No. 18 Minnesota, No. 21 Penn State, No. 22 Illinois, No. 23 Nebraska, No. 24 Maryland, No. 26 Washington and No. 29 Iowa. Rutgers received votes.
For the third straight year, redshirt senior Mya Hooten was named a Big Ten Women’s Gymnast to Watch. Senior Lauren Pearl, who earned Second Team All-Big Ten honors last year, received her first preseason all-league honor.
Hooten was named a WCGA First Team All-American on both floor and vault for the first time in her career in 2024. She was named First Team All-Big Ten and Big Ten All-Championships Team, taking home three individual titles at the Big Ten Championships. She also won an NCAA Regional Title on vault and advanced to nationals as an individual.
Pearl had a huge junior season that saw her post averages of 9.889 on floor, 9.823 on beam and 9.793 on vault. Pearl was named Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week on March 12, the first Big Ten weekly honor of her career, after posting a 9.950 on the floor and 9.875s on vault and beam on March 8 at Alabama. She ranked in the top-20 in the Big Ten on both beam (18) and floor (9).
The Gophers, who were ranked No. 18 in the preseason WCGA Poll, open their 2025 season at home against the Central Michigan Chippewas at 4 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 4 at Maturi Pavilion.
2024-25 BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON POLL
1. Michigan State
2. UCLA
3. Michigan
4. Ohio State
5. Minnesota
6. Penn State
7. Nebraska
8. Illinois
9. Maryland
10. Iowa
11. Washington
12. Rutgers
2024-25 BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS – GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Chloe Cho, Fr., Illinois
Arielle Ward, Jr., Illinois
Adeline Kenlin, 5th-Yr., Iowa
Karina Muñoz, Jr., Iowa
Natalie Martin, So., Maryland
Alexa Rothenbuescher, Gr., Maryland
Sophia Diaz, Fr., Michigan
Jahzara Ranger, Fr., Michigan
Skyla Schulte, Sr., Michigan State
Nikki Smith, Jr., Michigan State
Mya Hooten, Gr., Minnesota
Lauren Pearl, Sr., Minnesota
Sophia McClelland, Sr., Nebraska
Whitney Jencks, So., Nebraska
Tory Vetter, R-Jr., Ohio State
Payton Harris, Jr., Ohio State
Kalea McElligott, So., Penn State
Elizabeth Leary, Fr., Penn State
Gabrielle Dildy, Jr., Rutgers
Delaney Adrian, Fr., Rutgers
Jordan Chiles, Jr., UCLA
Emma Malabuyo, Sr., UCLA
Lana Navarro, Sr., Washington
Emily Innes, Jr., Washington
(info and stock photo courtesy of Gopher Sports)
