The No. 23 Denver Gymnastics Wraps Up Season at NCAA Regionals with a display of resilience and individual brilliance, though the team fell just short of the regional final. Competing in the first session of the 2026 NCAA Second Round in Corvallis, Oregon, the University of Denver women’s gymnastics team finished in fourth place on Friday afternoon.
The Pioneers posted a total score of 195.950, fighting through a challenging lineup to ensure they did not count a fall on any event. While the effort was substantial, they were outpaced by No. 12 Utah, which led the session with a 197.500 and No. 5 Alabama, which followed with a 197.225. Both teams advanced to the regional final, while host and No. 25 Oregon State secured third place with a 196.375.
For the Pioneers, the meet served as a poignant farewell to several key seniors and a glimpse into the future of the program via a standout freshman performance. Despite the team’s exit, the individual scores suggest that Denver remains a formidable force in the all-around and event-specific categories.
Senior Farewells and Freshman Breakthroughs
The afternoon was highlighted by a stellar collegiate finale for senior Kiley Rorich. In her final appearance for the program, Rorich delivered matching 9.900s on both of her events. Her performance on the floor tied her career high, marking the second consecutive meet in which she reached that peak.
While Rorich provided the veteran stability, freshman Shyla Bhatia provided the spark. Competing in the all-around for only the second time in her career, Bhatia signaled her arrival on the national stage. She tied for the lead on vault during the first half of the two-session meet with a 9.900—a mark that stands as the sixth-highest vault score ever recorded by a Denver gymnast at the NCAA Regionals. Bhatia finished her day with a 39.250 in the all-around and secured a tie for third place in the combined vault results.
The depth of the roster was further evidenced by junior Maddison Reidenbach, who capped off a breakout season on the floor. Reidenbach finished the year without a single score below 9.850 on the event, posting a 9.875 in Corvallis to maintain her consistency.
Precision on the Floor and a Historic Vault Streak
Denver’s floor exercise rotation remained its most potent weapon. The team recorded a 49.300, their top rotation score of the day and the 10th time this season they have surpassed that mark. Every counted score in the rotation was at least a 9.800, led by Rorich and Bhatia’s 9.900s and a strong 9.825 from junior Amanda Hargraves.
On the vault, the Pioneers continued to build a legacy of reliability. The program set a novel record by completing its 127th consecutive meet without counting a fall on the event. This consistency was anchored by Sevana Kasparian and Mila Brusch, who both posted 9.825s, and Addie Hewitt, who earned a 9.800 to extend her personal streak of six consecutive 9.800+ scores over the last seven meets.
| Rank | Team | Total Score | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | No. 12 Utah | 197.500 | Advanced |
| 2 | No. 5 Alabama | 197.225 | Advanced |
| 3 | No. 25 Oregon State | 196.375 | Eliminated |
| 4 | No. 23 Denver | 195.950 | Eliminated |
Overcoming Adversity on Beam and Bars
The meet was not without its hurdles. On the beam, the Pioneers started strong with five hit routines, including a 9.825 from Ashley Gallen. Although, a fall in the fourth spot threatened the momentum. Junior Amanda Hargraves stepped up with a 9.800 to stabilize the rotation, maintaining a perfect nine-for-nine hit streak on the beam this season. Senior Cecilia Cooley anchored the event with another 9.800, allowing the team to drop the fall from the rotation.
The bars rotation provided the most dramatic moments of the day. Facing a shuffled lineup, the team fought to replace a low score after senior Mila Brusch suffered a hard fall on her dismount. Brusch was able to stand on her own after receiving assistance from the medical team. The Pioneers showed significant grit as Cecilia Cooley responded with a 9.850 and Maddison Reidenbach fought through a deep knee bend on her dismount to save the skill, ensuring the team could replace Brusch’s score and end the day on a competitive note.
The resilience shown on the bars rotation mirrored the team’s overall season trajectory, where they avoided counting a fall in 12 of their 13 meets.
Looking Toward the National Championships
Although the team competition has concluded for the Pioneers, the season is not officially over for every athlete. The program is now awaiting the final individual selections for the 2026 NCAA National Championships. These selections are determined by the combined results from both second-round sessions and the outcomes of the NCAA Regional Final on Sunday.
Given the high marks from Bhatia and Rorich, there is a strong possibility of individual representation for Denver on the national stage. Official selections and combined results can be tracked via the combined results documentation.
We invite you to share your thoughts on Denver’s season and congratulate the graduating seniors in the comments below.
