Sunday Sit-down with Mizzou gymnastics coach Shannon Welker

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

ABC 17 Sports Director Nathalie Jones sat down Mizzou gymnastics coach Shannon Welker in this week's edition of Sunday Sit-down.

The two previewed the upcoming 2026 campaign, as the Tigers will look to follow up the best finish in program history, in 2025. Mizzou ended up in third place in the NCAA Championship Final, last season, and has goals of making it to that stage again

"Certainly, we're looking for a return trip to NCAA Championships and being competitive in our conference. I've been more impressed, as time has gone on, with this team. I think at the beginning of the year I didn't really know what we, what our abilities were and every time we go out for an exhibition or an intrasquad, I'm like alright we're pretty good, we're pretty good. We're getting better and I think the ability of this team, I'm not quite sure yet because I think I know it's good I'm just not sure what it is yet. So, I think we're gonna learn more as the season goes on, but I'm really excited to see the growth and the progress."

You can watch Welker's full appearance on Sunday Sit-down on SportsZone at 10:30 on KMIZ.

You can find a full transcript of the interview below.

Nathalie: Welcome back everyone. As you can tell, it is a special edition of Sunday sit down, joined by Mizzou gymnastics coach, Shannon. Welcome Shannon. We're in the new home. Does it feel different to be you know, in a new space, in a new competition space?

Shannon: Yeah, it's exciting. I was chatting with our sports information director Ryan, and I said, Ryan, where are we meeting? He goes in your new home. And I said, Awesome. We'll see you down there. So, so excited to be here this morning, and then obviously excited to be competing here this year.

Nathalie: Yeah, I mean, we got to see a glimpse of what it's going to look like. Obviously, the black and gold intrasquads always a fun event. But what was it like to kind of see the girls, see all the equipment in here, and kind of get your first glimpse what it's going to be like? 

Shannon: Yeah, it was great. I was a little anxious on how everything was going to set up and how things were going to go, but I'm pleased, man, it looked awesome in here. Our team did great, and we're excited to get this season going. 

Nathalie: Yeah I mean, what do you gain as a head coach from an exhibition like that? Obviously, you had a lot of great individual performances come up on Friday night.

Shannon: Well, we lost some great Tigers last year. I mean, we graduated out some pretty big routines, some all SEC, all Americans. And so we were a little curious on who was going to step up and fill some of those big, big roles. And boy, we had a lot of them on Friday night here, and we're excited about it. You know, we had a lot of sophomores and freshmen step up and really show what they were capable of.

Nathalie: Kennedy Griffin, Hannah Horton, I mean, you have so many great returners. Olivia, you know, what do you want to see from those returners this season in the face of losing some of those big names like

you mentioned from last year? 

Shannon: Yeah, absolutely. You know, some of it's not just the competitive piece, but it's, it's a little bit of the swagger and bringing some of that energy and just ownership to that competition, because that helps lead your team and give them confidence too. So I think we're looking to fill some of those roles in addition? 

Nathalie: Yeah. I mean, I was talking to you just recently here about, obviously, you know where you feel like your team is best right now? Would you feel like you learned a little bit on Friday night of where your strong suits are, maybe where you want to grow a little bit for the season?

Shannon: Yeah, absolutely. I really felt like we were pretty balanced on Friday. I thought we across the board, we had a lot of opportunity to do really well this season. But there's also small areas in each event that we need to get a little bit better in. I'd like to get a little stronger on vault, although we - it went well Friday, we need a little more depth there. You know, just cleaning up some landings and sticking those dismounts, but otherwise, really pleased and excited for them. Nathalie: Yeah I mean, what do you like about the new additions you were able to bring, obviously, some transfers, some standout freshmen coming in. What do you like about the new pieces to your

team this year? 

Shannon: Yeah, I think we try to be really strategic on who we bring in and how they're going to positively impact our team and so especially in the transfer realm, I think you got to know what role they're going to fill, and make sure that you put them in positions to succeed as well, but really excited about some of our freshmen as well. Kamara Eccles looked fantastic, right, in addition to the other young ladies that had events out there, they did well. So just a good group of young women, they work hard. They you know, they trust each other, and it should be a great season.

Nathalie: It's been cool to watch what Kaya Tanskanen has been doing in the offseason, obviously. She competed at Worlds, that she's right back here competing for you guys. I mean, how crazy has that been to watch? I mean, obviously the preparation of getting ready for Worlds, then now she's ramping back up for this season, right?

Shannon: Right, right. Well, we really only had about two weeks of training before this exhibition, just - just because of her cycle, we had to kind of just bring her numbers down a little bit. So she's ready for season. You know, you just can't maintain all the way up here all the time. And so it was really cool to see her be successful on the world stage, 15th in the world. I mean, that's impressive. And I think she's going to have a great year in the NCAA as well. Now that she's going into year two. 

Nathalie: I'm curious the culture and the identity of this team. How do you feel like it's kind of evolved over the years? What do you feel like the culture is of this group carrying into this year? 

Shannon: Boy, it's - it's good. I really feel like last year not only kind of opened the door a little wider than it had been in years past, but also it is up the level of expectation in our training, in just how we function and communicate as - as a team, as - as an organization, and so I really am excited about our team and the culture that we've not only built, but then are able to sustain as well.

Nathalie: Yeah. I mean, you guys are on the national stage, obviously every year. I mean, last year best finish in program history. How do you balance kind of the being really happy with all the progress you've made and the hey, we want to even take the next step, right? 

Shannon: You do have to, like, it's a little bit, it's, it's just some checks and balances there, right? You have to be appreciative of the opportunities you have and where you're at. But then you also have to say, hey, how do I get to the next step? And I think that's the balance right there, and we have to internally as coaches, we have to find some joy in what we're currently doing and what's happening. But also, hey, how do we get to that little, that next level? There's always that next level in there, and I think just - just good communication with our players and our coaching staff, and that really keeps us, everything, in check.

Nathalie: I mean, last time we chatted, you told us it's one thing to get there, it's another to stay there. What's the challenge of staying at that level? You know, with how good college gymnastics is right now? 

Shannon: Yeah, no, I think you look for all those little ways. But I think the biggest thing that I've learned is that you have to go back and make sure that you focus on those things that got you to this position in the first place. What were those basics? What were those root things that you do day in and day out that got you here and that those will keep you here too.

Nathalie: You talked about consistency last time we talked. You know that being the next biggest step. How do you kind of get that consistency? As you're looking, we're in the home stretch right here before the season. How do you kind of achieve that consistency you're looking for to get those nine, nine routines you're talking about and replacing that production from last year?

Shannon: Yeah, it's coming in with the right mindset. Every day. I feel like it starts with me kind of top down, like I got to come in, be organized, be excited about what we're doing. Get people excited about those the little things, right? What they see on Friday nights is that that's hours and hours of work right there, you know, and to get people excited about those little ordinary things that are really extraordinary, that is challenging. That's where the challenge lies, right there is that repetition, and that's why we're so consistent, is because we do such a good job with that piece of it.

Nathalie: SEC gymnastics. I mean, you guys gotta get a gauntlet ahead this year again. I mean, how much has this league just changed over the years and gotten I mean, it seems like it's such a stout league to

compete in. 

Shannon: It's - it's crazy. I was just talking to this with somebody the other - the other night, and I'm like, man, the whole SEC is awesome. I mean, we're probably going to be ranked in the top 20, maybe the top 15, this year, nine teams, right? So how do you even, you know, that's a tough balance and competing right there and so, but it's a great it's a great opportunity too, because if you can be competitive in the SEC, we can be competitive to go to NCAA championships year in, year out. And I think that's what's exciting about it. 

Nathalie: This season. What do you feel like, you know, your bar is for this team? The barometer of like, this is where I want this team to get.

Shannon: Yeah, you know, certainly we're looking for a return trip to NCAA championships and being competitive in our in our conference right there. I'm been more impressed as time has gone on with this team. I think at the beginning of the year, I didn't really know what we - what our abilities were. And every time we go out for an exhibition or an interest squad, I'm like, all right, we're pretty good. We're pretty good. We're getting better. And I think, I think the ability of this team, I'm not quite sure yet, because I think I know it's good. I'm just not sure what it is yet. So I think we are going to learn more as the season goes on. But, but I'm really excited to see the growth and the progress. I think that's something that our fans are going to notice, like, how, how much better they've gotten throughout the year. 

Nathalie: What do you want to see in these next, you know, few weeks here in the home stretch for the season? What's the biggest thing you're looking for in these, in these final I guess, practices, before everything really gets

going, right? 

Shannon: Yeah, well, we got to do a good job on finals week, which is this week right here, and finish out the semester in the classroom well, but I think really, just keep, keep going on what we've been doing. You know, we need to keep people healthy, right? That's going to be a big, big plus for us this year on that end. And really just continue to attack those landings. It really is coming down to the little stuff right now, and the more dismounts we can stick, obviously, the better that's going to do for our team and our success right there.

Nathalie: What do you feel like this group can kind of gain from watching what Amari and Jocelyn, of course, Helen, was able to do last year, and kind of just seeing that success, seeing what it looks like. What can this team gain from what they looked like?

Shannon: Last year's opportunities or, last year's success, I should say, are this year's opportunities so when they see their teammates succeed at that level, national champions all SEC, you know, third in the country as a team, that really gives them confidence. So you know, the legacy that Amari and Jocelyn and Helen, who they left, was giving their team confidence and giving them that, that belief in themselves that, hey, we can do this at University of Missouri, just like they can do anywhere else. 

Nathalie: Well, it's gymnasts like that that help pack out the Hearns.

I mean, now we're at Mizzou arena. How awesome would it be to see this bowl get filled up? And got to get that energy for sec meets as well.

Shannon: Yeah, we've got some attendance goals this year, just like we have some competitive goals right there. But, man, this, this place is so great, right? It's, it's a premier venue for a premier team, right? And this, you know, great, great gymnasts, they want to compete on great teams in great venues with great coaches. And this definitely checks the box on that great venue piece. 

Nathalie: Well, Shannon, I appreciate you making time. We're looking forward to the season. 

Shannon: Awesome. Thanks for having me. 

Nathalie: Yeah, for the rest of you guys, we'll be right back after the break.