The Denver Pioneers aren’t afraid to admit it: 2025 didn’t start the way they were used to. Head coach Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart knew the eyes of the gymnastics world were on her team after a string of consistency issues early in the season.
“Traditionally, we’re a pretty consistent team,” she noted.
Denver only added one freshman to its roster in 2025 but retained four seniors for a COVID year, alongside two true seniors. Many expected the Pioneers to contend for another nationals appearance, but a rocky start dampened those hopes. In five meets during January, the team recorded three scores below 49.000 on beam, including a 47.975 in the season opener.
“It was definitely a rocky start—we’re not afraid to say it,” fifth-year senior Rylie Mundell recalled. “There were a lot of moments where we were asked, ‘What do we need?’ and we experimented with a lot of things. It was about finding that balance.”
To address the beam struggles, Denver tried several different lineup configurations. While mainstays like Momoko Iwai and Bella Mabanta remained consistent, others got their shot. Cecilia Cooley, returning from an ACL injury, became a reliable leadoff. Sophomore Ashley Gallen made her NCAA debut in mid-February, eventually scoring a 9.925 in the Utah…
