Mizzou rides ‘undeniable’ mindset to program’s first NCAA Championship Final

FORT WORTH, Texas (KMIZ)

"We are undeniable."

No. 7 Mizzou Gymnastics has embodied that message throughout a record-breaking season.

The Tigers have shattered numerous program-bests across its 15 competitions this year, including team score, individual event scores, and now, its first-ever NCAA Championship Final appearance.

MU earned the right to compete for a national title on Thursday night, finishing in the top two of its NCAA Championship Semifinal session with a 197.3000 overall score. The team finished behind No. 2 Oklahoma (197.5500) but defeated No. 3 Florida (197.2000) and No. 12 Alabama (196.8250) to advance to the final meet of the NCAA gymnastics season.

Mizzou trailed Florida with two rotations left in the competition but overtook the Gators for the No. 2 spot in the meet with an excellent effort on bars, and the Tigers never lost their grip on that coveted position. MU's performance in Thursday's NCAA Championship Semifinal was a perfect example of the mindset that the team has embraced.

"You've got to beat them, and you gotta beat them again, and you gotta beat them again, so you get the benefit of the doubt. I think that's the mentality. We have to be undeniable in our performance, so there's zero questions, right?" Welker said. "You have to be able to weather those storms, and again, be undeniable. I think we just kind of latched on to that motto and um and just kind of ran with it."

You can watch the full press conference with Coach Welker and Mizzou gymnast Helen Hu in the slideshow above.

With Thursday's performance, Mizzou has recorded a 197.3000+ team score in each of its last eight meets. However, it's not just the scores that have been consistent. MU has put every attribute it takes to become a successful team on display from start-to-finish this season.

"This is the most consistent team that we've had like we've earned the right to be here by what has happened from August 28th to to this point. That daily commitment level has been the highest I've ever seen," Welker said. "The level and consistency with which they've put in the work, the buy-in, the communication and everything it takes to get to this point has been at the highest level I've ever seen."

The team's hard work and performance has guided them to honoring three Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) First-Team All-Americans and six Second-Team All-Americans, per an announcement from the organization on Friday afternoon. You can find a full list of MU's WCGA All-American selections below:

• First-Team Honorees:
  • Elise Tisler (Vault)
  • Mara Titarsolej (Uneven Bars)
  • Helen Hu (Balance Beam)
• Second-Team Honorees:
  • Amari Celestine (All-Around)
  • Jocelyn Moore (Vault)
  • Hannah Horton (Uneven Bars)
  • Olivia Kelly (Uneven Bars & Balance Beam)
  • Addison Lawrence (Balance Beam)

Additionally, the Tigers crowned their first national champion in program history. Helen Hu won an NCAA Gymnastics National Championship on balance beam with a 9.9875 routine in the NCAA Championship Semifinal, one season after stepping away from the sport for an entire year. After backpacking around the world in 2024, Hu reached the summit of the college gymnastics mountain in 2025.

"I like jogged up to the podium because I still can't believe I won the national title. I think that's so crazy," Hu said. "I didn't even know if I'd ever get a 10, and so, to come here having gotten three 10's, to be at nationals and there's just so many things that have exceeded my expectations. Honestly, I think I was up on that podium just like giggling inside. There were no words or coherent thoughts."

Mizzou will carry its 'undeniable' mindset into Saturday's NCAA Championship Final in Fort Worth, Texas. The Tigers will perform alongside No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 4 Utah and No. 5 UCLA for a national title on April 19 at 3 p.m.