The Iowa State Cyclones women's gymnastics team represented Iowa State University (ISU) and competed in the Big 12 Conference of NCAA Division I. The women's gymnastics program was discontinued in 2026.
History
Iowa State first put together a women's gymnastic team in time for the 1973-1974 season, Char Christiansen lead that squad. Christiansen led the Cyclones to their first Big Eight Conference title in 1975. The Cyclones had limited success through most of the late 1970s and 1980s.
The rebuilding process of the Cyclone program began with the hiring of Head Coach Amy Pyle in 1994. In 2000, her final season, the team won their first Big 12 championship and placed 8th overall at the NCAA Tournament, the highest finish in program history at that point.
After Pyle's retirement, Iowa State hired former letter winner and assistant coach K. J. Kindler, she would go on to be the most successful coach in program history. The highlights of her tenure were making back-to-back NCAA Finals in 2005-2006 and Janet Anson's individual career. In 2006 they won their second Big 12 Championship and made the first and only Super Six in school history. During her collegiate career, Anson was a four-time First Team All-American in vault (twice), floor, and all-around. At the conclusion of the season she left for Oklahoma.
Head Coach Jay Ronayne has continued where Kindler left off. Under his leadership the Cyclones have qualified for NCAA Regionals every year and have had ten Big 12 Champions.
On March 3, 2026, it was announced that the ISU women's gymnastics program would be discontinued.
Individual Accomplishments
All-Americans
First Team All-AmericansYearPlayerEvent 2000 Kelli MoreBetsy Hamm Balance BeamBalance Beam 2004 Janet Anson Vault 2005 Laura-Kay PowellJanet Anson FloorVault 2006 Laura-Kay PowellErin DethloffJanet AnsonJanet AnsonJanet Anson FloorAll-AroundFloorAll-AroundVault 2013 Michelle Shealy Balance Beam 2014 Camille Santerre-Gervais Uneven Bars 2020 Andrea Maldonado Floor
Second Team All-AmericansYearPlayerEvent 2000 Betsy HammBetsy Hamm BarsAll-Around 2003 Erin Dethloff All-Around 2004 Erin DethloffJanet AnsonJanet Anson BeamAll-AroundFloor 2005 Erin DethloffLaura-Kay Powell All-AroundVault 2006 Erin DethloffErin Dethloff FloorUneven Bars 2007 Janet Anson Beam 2015 Caitlin Brown Beam 2021 Addy De JesusAddy De Jesus VaultAll-Around 2022 Makayla Maxwell Vault
Conference Individual Champions
Big 12 Individual ChampionsYearPlayerEvent 1996 Libby Bell Floor 1997 Kim Mazza Floor 1998 Kelli More Beam 1999 Kelli MoreSissy Huey BeamBars 2000 Betsy HammBetsy HammSissy HueyBetsy Hamm BeamBarsBarsAll-Around 2001 Sissy HueyStephanie SweitzerShelly KringenShelly Kringen FloorBeamVaultAll-Around 2002 Sissy HueyStephanie SweitzerSissy Huey BarsBarsAll-Around 2003 Abigail Richey Vault 2004 Erin Dethloff Bars 2005 Janet Anson Floor 2006 Erin DethloffJanet AnsonJanet Anson BarsVaultFloor 2007 Janet Anson Bars 2009 Jasmine ThompsonCecilia MaccaniMegan Barnes BeamBarsVault 2012 Celine Paulus Vault 2014 Camille Saterre-Gervais Bars 2015 Caitlin BrownHaylee Young BarsAll-Around 2018 Haylee Young Floor 2022 Maddie Diab Floor 2023 Maddie Diab Floor
Facilities
The team practices at the Amy and Dennis Pyle Family Gymnastics Facility that was renovated in 2002. The facility includes an 80-foot divider wall, matting in all uneven bar and balance beam areas, a balance beam dismount pit, cardiovascular elliptical trainers and treadmills, and an open pit vaulting station.
Past Olympians Ariana Orrego (2016; 2020) Marina González (2020)
References
External links