Sunday, February 9
USAFA, Colo.
1:00 PM MT
Air Force Academy
194.775
vs
195.975
Boise State
Photo by: @LAURADOMINGUE
Women’s Gymnastics Closes Senior Day with Second-Place, 194.775 Finish
2/9/2025 5:14:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo. – Air Force Women's Gymnastics honored its 2025 graduates on Sunday afternoon in Cadet West Gym for Senior Day, while also closing out the day with a second-place, 194.775.
Cadets First-Class Gabriella Meccia, Velandra Brochi, Ayla McKean and Alexa Cabat, along with the Falcons' two team managers (Cameryn Osborne, Tristen Bentley) were recognized for their substantial accomplishments as upcoming Academy graduates, each earning a commission into the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant serving the branch in various fields:
Brochi: Officer, Logistics Readiness
Kabat: Pilot
McKean: Aerospace Physiologist
Meccia: Officer, Airfield Operations
The four Falcon seniors, joined by family and friends, were honored and congratulated by Director of Athletics Nathan Pine for their achievements and future endeavors.
In competition, the Falcons closed the tri with Boise State and Greenville University in second place, scoring a 194.775. Boise State left West Gym with the win, finishing with a season-high 195.975 ,while Greenville finished with a 191.175.
Sophomore Maggie Slife earned the all-around title on Sunday finishing with a 39.225. The Falcons' anchor and reigning Mountain West Gymnast of the Week closed with a pair of podiums on bars and floor on the way to another top all-around finish.
Opening on vault, Air Force finished with a 48.400, led by Alyssa Bigler's 9.775 to close out in fourth place. Slife and senior Meccia, both scored a 9.675 for a share of fourth, with Meccia stepping up to compete in the event for just the second time this season.
On bars, Slife shined, leading all scores for the day, landing a 9.925 to match the second-highest bars finish in program history – a score last earned by Amber Boll in the 2023 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, and the Falcons' first 9.900 or better on the apparatus this season. McKean, in her final competition in West Gym, scored a season best, 9.775.
Air Force began hit its stride in the second half of Sunday's competition, scoring a 48.925 on balance beam to match its second-highest team finish this year. Freshman Allie Misenheimer, competing for the Falcons on beam for the first time, ended up earning Air Force's top score of the day while tying the program's best individual score of 2025, finishing with a fourth-place 9.850. Fellow newcomer Anna Bacott scored a 9.800 to earn her second 9.800-or-better in three meets to tie for fifth.
Air Force found another gear finishing on floor exercise, as an energized Falcon lineup closed with a season-high 49.150 to tie Boise State's finish in the event, as four Falcons scored a 9.825 or better; Junior Kylee Greene got Air Force started off right, scoring a 9.825 and tie her career benchmark. Meccia, a three-year floor specialist for the Falcons, earned a 9.850, scoring a season best and her highest score Feb. 24 of her freshman year. Junior Sarah Willis shined in her routine, tying her career high with a 9.850. Slife, showing as the final competitor of the day, put a stamp on the Falcons' season-best performance, scoring a 9.925 to earn another top four all-time finish on Sunday.
Head Coach Jennifer Green on her senior class:
"It's been amazing to see them grow into amazing young women. They've helped me appreciate all the demands of the academy and i continue to be in awe of all they can handle. They are willing to put their life on the line for all of us. That's enough to be amazed at. Add being Division I athletes and carrying the academic load they do. It's incredible.
"They have adjusted to all their different roles. All-rounders to one event, they make an impact no matter what is required of them. Selflessness. They have contributed gymnastics however their impact on our team culture has been huge! Game changers!"
"Senior nights are always emotional. Our seniors truly shined today! It was so fun to watch them own their events and how they have come out of their shells. This team is truly connected and wants the best for each other!"
Coach Green on Sunday's outcome:
"The team was so excited to perform today. They were so hyped up. We did fantastic vaults just couldn't hold onto the landings. We went to bars and they were super aggressive. I can't be mad at going big – Yes, we had mistakes, however it was because they were attacking the event. Going small doesn't win championships! I'll take that over just staying on.
"Its speaks volumes that we made mistakes and came back and owned the balance beam! Then finished with a bang or exclamation point. We have a weekend off to get some good training in."
Moving ahead:
"We need the time to make some adjustments and fine tune our routines. We will be on the road for the remainder of the season. We must figure out how to show up on the road with the same intensity we have at home! "
On Maggie Slife's continued dominance:
"Maggie has learned how to handle doing the all-around every week. That's a huge demand physically and mentally. She's so tough and can handle the pressure like a rockstar!
"She is helping everyone else own the stressors of competing every weekend at the highest level.
"I couldn't be more proud of this team. We have more to prove!"
Up Next:
Air Force Women's Gymnastics takes on San Jose State at Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m.
Cadets First-Class Gabriella Meccia, Velandra Brochi, Ayla McKean and Alexa Cabat, along with the Falcons' two team managers (Cameryn Osborne, Tristen Bentley) were recognized for their substantial accomplishments as upcoming Academy graduates, each earning a commission into the United States Air Force as a second lieutenant serving the branch in various fields:
Brochi: Officer, Logistics Readiness
Kabat: Pilot
McKean: Aerospace Physiologist
Meccia: Officer, Airfield Operations
The four Falcon seniors, joined by family and friends, were honored and congratulated by Director of Athletics Nathan Pine for their achievements and future endeavors.
In competition, the Falcons closed the tri with Boise State and Greenville University in second place, scoring a 194.775. Boise State left West Gym with the win, finishing with a season-high 195.975 ,while Greenville finished with a 191.175.
Sophomore Maggie Slife earned the all-around title on Sunday finishing with a 39.225. The Falcons' anchor and reigning Mountain West Gymnast of the Week closed with a pair of podiums on bars and floor on the way to another top all-around finish.
Opening on vault, Air Force finished with a 48.400, led by Alyssa Bigler's 9.775 to close out in fourth place. Slife and senior Meccia, both scored a 9.675 for a share of fourth, with Meccia stepping up to compete in the event for just the second time this season.
On bars, Slife shined, leading all scores for the day, landing a 9.925 to match the second-highest bars finish in program history – a score last earned by Amber Boll in the 2023 Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championship, and the Falcons' first 9.900 or better on the apparatus this season. McKean, in her final competition in West Gym, scored a season best, 9.775.
Air Force began hit its stride in the second half of Sunday's competition, scoring a 48.925 on balance beam to match its second-highest team finish this year. Freshman Allie Misenheimer, competing for the Falcons on beam for the first time, ended up earning Air Force's top score of the day while tying the program's best individual score of 2025, finishing with a fourth-place 9.850. Fellow newcomer Anna Bacott scored a 9.800 to earn her second 9.800-or-better in three meets to tie for fifth.
Air Force found another gear finishing on floor exercise, as an energized Falcon lineup closed with a season-high 49.150 to tie Boise State's finish in the event, as four Falcons scored a 9.825 or better; Junior Kylee Greene got Air Force started off right, scoring a 9.825 and tie her career benchmark. Meccia, a three-year floor specialist for the Falcons, earned a 9.850, scoring a season best and her highest score Feb. 24 of her freshman year. Junior Sarah Willis shined in her routine, tying her career high with a 9.850. Slife, showing as the final competitor of the day, put a stamp on the Falcons' season-best performance, scoring a 9.925 to earn another top four all-time finish on Sunday.
Head Coach Jennifer Green on her senior class:
"It's been amazing to see them grow into amazing young women. They've helped me appreciate all the demands of the academy and i continue to be in awe of all they can handle. They are willing to put their life on the line for all of us. That's enough to be amazed at. Add being Division I athletes and carrying the academic load they do. It's incredible.
"They have adjusted to all their different roles. All-rounders to one event, they make an impact no matter what is required of them. Selflessness. They have contributed gymnastics however their impact on our team culture has been huge! Game changers!"
"Senior nights are always emotional. Our seniors truly shined today! It was so fun to watch them own their events and how they have come out of their shells. This team is truly connected and wants the best for each other!"
Coach Green on Sunday's outcome:
"The team was so excited to perform today. They were so hyped up. We did fantastic vaults just couldn't hold onto the landings. We went to bars and they were super aggressive. I can't be mad at going big – Yes, we had mistakes, however it was because they were attacking the event. Going small doesn't win championships! I'll take that over just staying on.
"Its speaks volumes that we made mistakes and came back and owned the balance beam! Then finished with a bang or exclamation point. We have a weekend off to get some good training in."
Moving ahead:
"We need the time to make some adjustments and fine tune our routines. We will be on the road for the remainder of the season. We must figure out how to show up on the road with the same intensity we have at home! "
On Maggie Slife's continued dominance:
"Maggie has learned how to handle doing the all-around every week. That's a huge demand physically and mentally. She's so tough and can handle the pressure like a rockstar!
"She is helping everyone else own the stressors of competing every weekend at the highest level.
"I couldn't be more proud of this team. We have more to prove!"
Up Next:
Air Force Women's Gymnastics takes on San Jose State at Provident Credit Union Event Center in San Jose on Sunday, Feb. 23 at 3 p.m.
Players Mentioned
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
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AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
/ Women's Gymnastics
AA
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