Mullin, McMullen, Mowers, Reade, Harvey, Before Earn Top Honors
DURHAM, N.H. – The UNH gymnastics team held its annual team celebration Sunday in the Service Credit Union Victory Club to announce its major award winners, headlined by junior Serena Mullin (Hamden, Conn.) being named Team MVP.
Mullin, who was the team's 2024 Most Improved Gymnast, garnered the team's highest honor after a season in which she was named All-EAGL First Team on balance beam and all-around and All-EAGL Second Team on floor exercise. The Hamden, Conn., native tied for No. 5 in EAGL on beam (9.830 National Qualifying Score), was ranked third in all-around (38.915 NQS) and tied for No. 11 on floor (9.830). Mullin, a two-time EAGL Gymnast of the Week (Jan. 29, Feb. 19), won six all-around titles this season, including four in a row from Feb. 2-23. She capped the season with a personal-best 39.250 at the EAGL Championship, hosted by Temple on March 22. Mullin garnered EAGL All-Tournament First Team on beam, floor and all-around and All-Tournament Second Team on vault and uneven bars.
Assistant Coach Jazmyn Estrella and Team MVP Serena Mullin
"Serena has become a staple in our beam lineup and has continued to prove to everyone why she is our anchor on that event," said assistant coach Jazmyn Estrella, who presented the award. "Not only is she a star on beam, but she also has contributed on the other three events. Putting together a bar routine just weeks before the first meet, she has shown that she truly will do whatever it takes to make this team better. I admire her desire to grow and continue to learn and I know this will take her so far."
One year after winning the Rookie of the Year award, sophomore McCall McMullen (Athens, Ga.) earned the team's Most Improved Gymnast award, which was presented by head coach Lindsey Bruck Ayotte. McMullen was tabbed to the All-EAGL Second Team on vault (9.790 NQS) and equaled her career high for the fourth time, including back-to-back meets, with a 9.825 at EAGLs to notch a berth on the All-Tournament First Team (seventh place).
Head Coach Lindsey Bruck Ayotte and Most Improved Gymnast McCall McMullen
"Her drive and work ethic not only elevated her own performance but also inspired everyone around her to be better," Bruck Ayotte said. "This season, she became a consistent contributor on three events and quickly proved to be someone we could always count on. What's even more impressive is that she celebrated every success with joy and gratitude, while always striving for more. Her growth, consistency, and positive energy have been incredible to watch, and we're beyond excited knowing we still have two more years with her."
Senior Gracy Mowers (Middleton, Mass.) won the team's Most Inspirational Award. Mowers, the 2022 UNH Rookie of the Year, fought her way back after missing last season due to injury to become a two-event (vault, floor) stalwart in the Wildcats' lineup. Mowers earned All-EAGL second team on vault by virtue of her 9.780 NQS (T-No. 13). The senior, who was the EAGL co-Specialist of the Week on Jan. 22, twice hit for a season-high 9.800 on vault, and boasted a season-high 9.850 on floor (March 8).
Head Coach Lindsey Bruck Ayotte and Most Inspirational Gymnast Gracy Mowers
"Gracy has truly inspired us all this year. Her journey hasn't been easy, but she never let that stop her from chasing her goals and making meaningful contributions to the team," Bruck Ayotte said. "Not only did she fight her way back from challenging injuries, but she also stepped up as a leader—guiding, motivating, and supporting her teammates every step of the way. Her strength, perseverance, and dedication have made a lasting impact on everyone around her. She is a constant source of encouragement, positivity, and grit; an inspiration to her teammates, her coaches, and to all of us."
Associate head coach Steve Avgerinos presented the Rookie of the Year award to freshman Aine Reade (Merrimac, Mass.), who was tabbed EAGL Rookie of the Week eight times in the 11-week regular season and competed as a floor specialist at the NCAA Alabama Regional Championship (April 4). Reade earned All-EAGL First Team on floor and all-around and Second Team on vault and bars. At EAGLs, Reade tied for runner-up on vault (PB-tying 9.850), took third on bars (PB 9.850), tied for third on floor (PB-tying 9.900) and earned All-Tournament First Team in all three events to go along with All-Tournament First Team in all-around (38.925, fifth place).The native of Merrimac, Mass., tied for No. 3 in EAGL with a floor NQS of 9.875. She set her career high with a 9.900 on Feb. 9 and then equaled that mark in the two biggest events of the season: EAGLs and NCAA Regionals.
Associate Head Coach Steve Avgerinos and Rookie of the Year Aine Reade
"It is a hard thing to be a rookie in NCAA gymnastics. Leaving the comfort zone of club and high school can be a daunting task to anyone, much less someone also trying to achieve high accolades as a gymnast," Avgerinos said. "Aine has certainly met the challenge. The numbers speak for themselves, but we cannot ignore how tough of a competitor she is, as well as a great teammate, and a joy to be with in and out of the gym."
Freshman Mady Harvey (Freeland, Mich.) was presented the Unsung Hero award by assistant coach Alyssa Worthington. Harvey won the inaugural EAGL Rookie Specialist of the Week on Jan. 8 after scoring a career-high 9.285 on beam in her collegiate debut. She amassed a 9.795 beam NQS to tie for No. 13 in the conference and All-EAGL Second Team recognition. Harvey registered a 9.800 at EAGLs to tie for eighth place and a berth on the All-Tournament First Team.
Unsung Hero Mady Harvey and Assistant Coach Alyssa Worthington
"As a freshman, Mady came in and immediately exceeded every expectation we had," Worthington said. "Not only did she step up physically in our lineups—constantly asking how she could grow and contribute more—but she also brought an unmatched energy to our team: loud, joyful, and always uplifting those around her. Her 9.800 score at her very first EAGL Championship, as the leadoff competitor, set the tone not only for our team but for the entire meet! It was a defining moment that captured everything she brings to this program: confidence, composure, and heart."
The Katie Baldwin Academic Achievement Award for top scholar-athlete was presented by Avgerinos to senior Julia Before (Sutton, Vt.).
Associate Head Coach and Katie Baldwin Academic Achievement recipient Julia Before
"Julia has certainly fought for and earned all the successes she has attained. With an unmatched work ethic, passion for the sport and her team, and never-ending desire to improve in all aspects of her life, it has been a joy to watch her compete and evolve as an athlete, student, and as a person," Avgerinos said. "With a 4.0. GPA in the fall, and a cumulative of 3.97, her academics are above reproach. A steady competitor on uneven bars as well, she has been a stalwart bar worker for us. Her ability to seek out and meet new expectations and success has served her well as a Wildcat and will absolutely serve her well in all aspects of her life."
Robert E. Houston, Sr. "Pop" introduced the 9.5 Club in 1989 as a threefold award presented as an acknowledgment of dedication, an appreciation of physical effort and a token of a high degree of proficiency attained. Each gymnast who scored a 9.500 or higher during the season was recognized:
About UNH Gymnastics
The UNH gymnastics team placed 51st nationally with a 195.005 NQS. The Wildcats closed the season with their three highest scores of the season in their final three meets: 195.525 at Nebraska (March 8), 195.750 versus Rutgers (March 16), and a 195.700 at the EAGL Championship (March 22), which was just 0.25 points away from winning the league crown.
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