Missouri Gymnastics Shines: Coaching Staff and Hu Earn National Honors
The University of Missouri gymnastics program hit new heights in the 2025 season, grabbing national attention for its coaching staff and standout athletes. In a year that felt historic from the start, Mizzou not only earned its best-ever finish at the NCAA Championships, but also picked up a handful of awards from some of the sport’s biggest organizations.
Head coach Shannon Welker and his staff landed the College Gym News Coaching Staff of the Year honor. Redshirt senior Helen Hu wrapped up her comeback season with the Comeback Gymnast of the Year award. These wins highlight the Tigers’ rise as a powerhouse in college gymnastics.
They’ve really cemented their spot among the nation’s top programs. You can check out the full official release from the university here.
Mizzou’s Record-Breaking 2025 Gymnastics Season
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The 2025 season will be remembered as the best in Missouri gymnastics history. The Tigers finished third at the NCAA Championship Final—easily their highest placement ever on the national stage.
This wasn’t just a new high for the gymnastics program. It also marked the highest final ranking for any women’s sports team in Mizzou history.
The No. 3 national ranking shows how far they’ve come. Years of steady growth, smart recruiting, and relentless work from both athletes and coaches led to this moment.
Under Welker, the Tigers racked up nine WCGA All-America honors and six WCGA Regular Season All-America selections. Both of these are new program records.
The team’s depth and consistency really showed. They found ways to perform under pressure against the best teams in the country.
Historic NCAA Championship Performance
Missouri’s third-place finish wasn’t just about the number—it felt like a real breakthrough. The Tigers showed poise, precision, and serious competitive grit during the championship rounds.
They went toe-to-toe with the sport’s traditional powerhouses. That kind of performance has definitely raised the program’s national profile.
Shannon Welker: National Coach of the Year
Head coach Shannon Welker has made a huge impact on this program. In 2025, he became the first Mizzou coach to win a national coach of the year award since wrestling’s Brian Smith in 2017.
Welker’s accolades this season include:
- WCGA National Coach of the Year
- College Gym News Coaching Staff of the Year
- Southeastern Conference Coach of the Year (second time in his career)
- WCGA South Central Coach of the Year
These honors speak to his strategic vision and his ability to motivate. He’s turned the program from a competitive SEC squad into a top-three national contender.
Assistant Coaches Making a National Impact
Welker shares his success with his outstanding assistant coaches. Whitney Snowden, Lacey Rubin, and Jackie Terpak were all named National Assistant Coaches of the Year by the WCGA.
Each coach brought something special to the table:
- Whitney Snowden – Led the uneven bars, helping the Tigers nail consistency and high scores in one of the toughest events.
- Lacey Rubin – Took charge of the balance beam group, turning them into one of the nation’s most reliable units.
- Jackie Terpak – Ran the floor exercise squad, known for their dynamic routines and crowd-pleasing style.
This blend of leadership and event-specific expertise played a big part in Missouri’s rise.
Helen Hu’s Triumphant Comeback
No story from 2025 stands out quite like Helen Hu’s. After dealing with physical setbacks earlier in her career, the redshirt senior from Chicago put together a season for the ages.
Her crowning achievement? Becoming the program’s first-ever individual national champion by winning the balance beam title with a near-perfect 9.9875 in the NCAA Championship Semifinal.
Hu’s 2025 highlights include:
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- Comeback Gymnast of the Year (College Gym News)
- WCGA First-Team All-American
- WCGA Regular-Season First-Team All-American
- All-SEC Team Member
- SEC Specialist of the Year
- SEC Balance Beam Champion
- Five-time SEC Specialist of the Week—a program record
Balance Beam Mastery
The balance beam is notorious for being the most mentally demanding event in gymnastics. Hu’s dominance here says a lot about her focus and artistry.
Her 9.9875 at the NCAA Championship Semifinal was a masterclass—flawless execution, perfect form, and nerves of steel under the brightest lights.
Impact on the Future of Mizzou Gymnastics
The success of 2025 will stick with Missouri gymnastics for a long time. National recognition lifts the program’s profile and helps attract top talent from all over.
Future gymnasts will want to join a team that’s proven it can compete—and win—on the biggest stage.
The coaching staff has shown they can develop athletes into national champions and All-Americans. That sets a high bar for the next generation of Tigers.
With a culture built on discipline, creativity, and resilience, Mizzou looks ready to stay near the top of the NCAA for a while.
Building on Momentum
Looking ahead to 2026, the challenge is keeping this momentum going. With a strong core returning, an elite coaching staff, and the confidence from this historic run, Missouri won’t be the underdog anymore.
They’ll enter next season as a real contender for the national title. And honestly, who’d bet against them now?
Conclusion
The University of Missouri gymnastics program isn’t just another team—they’re making real waves as one of the nation’s best. Shannon Welker picked up national coaching honors, and Helen Hu’s comeback was nothing short of inspiring.
The 2025 season brought milestones fans will talk about for a long time. Individual brilliance and team unity both pushed Mizzou gymnastics to new heights.
If you’ve followed the Tigers for years, or you’re just tuning in now, you’ve probably noticed how they’ve grabbed the gymnastics world’s attention. The foundation is there, and honestly, it feels like the future could be even brighter for Missouri gymnastics.
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