Iowa State University has announced the cancellation of the remainder of its 2026 gymnastics season, prioritizing the health and safety of its student-athletes. This decision comes just days after the university had to cancel its scheduled meet against West Virginia on February 6 due to an insufficient number of gymnasts available to compete safely.
Shamaree Brown, Senior Associate Athletics Director for Student Services, expressed the university’s commitment to athlete welfare, stating, “after a careful and thoughtful review of the program over the last week, it became apparent that we do not have enough student-athletes available to safely compete, and thus have made the painful decision to cancel the remainder of our gymnastics season.” The statement reaffirmed that the health and safety of the athletes remains the top priority, which ultimately guided this tough decision.
Following the cancellation of the West Virginia meet, which came unexpectedly, the Mountaineers opted to participate in a tri-meet at Northern Illinois with Western Michigan instead. Iowa State initially approached the season with optimism, planning to take part in numerous competitions, including the dual with West Virginia and various Big 12 contests. Regrettably, all subsequent events have now been called off.
Before the cancellation, Iowa State held a record of 2-8, concluding a challenging season that kicked off with a score of 191.325, marking the program’s first performance above 191 since 2013. The team had shown potential, consistently hovering around the 192 mark in recent meets, even achieving a season-high score of 193.425.
Ashley Miles Greig currently heads the gymnastics program, with assistance from Jazmyn Estrella, Mary Wise, and Ragan Smith. It remains uncertain whether this recent development will prompt changes in the program’s leadership.
This evolving situation highlights the university’s responsibility toward its athletes, a value that resonates throughout the sports community. As updates become available, the university remains committed to the best interests of its gymnastics team.