Iowa State University announced Tuesday that it is discontinuing its women’s gymnastics program. The decision comes weeks after the Cyclones’ gymnastics season was cancelled only halfway through the schedule.
The Iowa State athletic department says it will “replace [gymnastics] with another sport that provides equal or additional participation opportunities for women.” The school has not determined what sport will replace gymnastics and will take “the next several months” to decide.
Scholarships will be honored for any women’s gymnast who decides to remain at Iowa State to complete their degree. Gymnasts will also “continue to be afforded access to all departmental services available to Cyclone student-athletes through the duration of their undergraduate academic career.”
The gymnastics coaching staff consisting of Ashley Miles Greig, Jazmyn Estrella, Mary Wise, and Ragan Smith have been notified their employment agreements will not be renewed.
The release goes on to share an FAQ about the situation, with key points shared below.
- Why was ISU’s 2026 gymnastics season cancelled after four competitions?
- “The decision to suspend the season resulted from a series of complex internal conflicts between individual teammates, coaching staff members, and parents. These conflicts created unreconcilable differences that not only prevented our team from competing, but they also prevented team members from carrying on their daily activities, including practice. In the end, suspending the remainder of the season was the only viable alternative after in-depth conversations with the student-athletes, coaching and support staff members.”
- Gymnasts have the option to remain at Iowa State to complete their degrees, and their scholarships will be honored. Alternatively, gymnasts can transfer to other universities to continue to compete in gymnastics and will be “supported throughout this process.”
- Note, the release says the ISU athletic department will work with the NCAA on waivers so gymnasts can receive an additional year of competition “since ISU’s 2025-26 season was cancelled after four competitions.” This is incorrect. ISU competed in five meets before the season was cancelled.
- In NCAA Division I, student-athletes can compete in up to four regular-season meets (or 30% of contests) and still preserve their season of eligibility, effectively allowing a “redshirt” year to be used even if they play early. Once they surpass that threshold, they either burn that year of eligibility, or they will need the NCAA to grant them an additional year due to exceptional circumstances.
- Note, the release says the ISU athletic department will work with the NCAA on waivers so gymnasts can receive an additional year of competition “since ISU’s 2025-26 season was cancelled after four competitions.” This is incorrect. ISU competed in five meets before the season was cancelled.
- ISU gymnasts will continue to have access to all support services and benefits that were previously available to them, including:
- medical and athletic training
- mental health and counseling
- academic support
- student-athlete development
Iowa State has had a women’s gymnastics team since the 1973-74 academic year. The Cyclones won four conference championships, with the most recent one coming in 2006.
The last time Iowa State discontinued a sports program(s) was in 2001 (men’s baseball and men’s swimming & diving). Prior to that, in 1994, the Cyclones’ men’s gymnastics and men’s tennis teams were discontinued.
Gymnastics community reacts to Iowa State cutting program
Iowa State redshirt freshman Samantha Schneider posted on Instagram Stories shortly after the announcement saying, “Heart is broken. Forever love these girls and every memory that has been made and tear that has been put into this year. Terrible that this is the result of the lack of support from Iowa States Athletic Administration. For the last 5 months, we have come forward as a team regarding curtain situations and environment concerns and nothing has been done to protect us as athletes on this team. The gymnasts should NOT be blamed or be sharing any part of responsibility for this decision being made. Bigger and better things ahead for every girl in this program.”
This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
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