Mizzou gymnastics prepares for Lexington Regional

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

With the conference championships behind them, Mizzou gymnastics is now into the final stage of its season.

Head coach Shannon Welker and his team are now into the conclusion of the 2025-26 campaign, with just the national competition remaining. The Tigers are set to take on No. 9 Arkansas, Maryland, and NC State in the first round of the regional competition.

"We've got a little bit of preparation still to do, as we've got a couple more days," said coach Welker. "With this bye week, we just got to use it correctly and make sure we're prepping and figuring out kind of, where do we get those last little, half tenths from, and how do we build confidence as well with our young ladies."

You can watch the full press conference with coach Welker as well as Mizzou gymnast Hannah Horton in the video player above.

This team is starting to peak at the right stages. After placing sixth at the conference meet, Mizzou managed to pick up a conference-record 10 all-SEC award recipients.

"Those awards are great, but we don't focus on those things. We focus on, preparing well, going out, training and competing at a high level every weekend. Those are just those things will naturally come," said Welker.

In addition to earning two all-conference honors, junior Hannah Horton was also named SEC Specialist of the Year.

"My goal for myself this season was to get specials of the week, and of course, I was like, 'okay, that didn't happen, I can do it next season,'" said Horton. "But knowing that I got specialist of the year is an even bigger and better award. That's a little insane because I did not expect it at all. So it's just amazing."

Horton joins the prestigious list of gymnasts from the University to have won this award, becoming the third Mizzou gymnast in a row to receive the honor, and the fourth in the past five years.

"We're just building on excellence and I find that like very rewarding and amazing because we're a great program," said Horton.

"I think that honestly says a lot about number one, our culture. But I think a lot about our coaches too. And I'm not just trying to pat myself on the back," said coach Welker "We have other a lot of great coaches that help develop those young ladies and those young ladies like Hannah have worked really hard, so that was a that was a well-deserved accolade."

Up Next - Mizzou will compete in the first round of the regional championships on Friday, April 3. First touch is scheduled for noon.