Air Force Women’s Gymnastics Prepares for Quad Meet in New Hampshire Following Strong Season Opener

Breaking: Air Force Women’s Gymnastics Charged With Quad Meet Test in New England Ahead of MW Action

In a pivotal early-season challenge, Air Force’s women’s gymnastics team heads to Durham, New Hampshire, for a Sunday quad meet that will shape the Falcons’ momentum before Mountain West competition begins. The Falcons face host New Hampshire, along with Iowa State and the University of Bridgeport, at the Whittemore Center on January 18, 2026, at 12 p.m. MT.

Fans can watch via the America East Network, while real-time scoring will be provided by Virtius. Links to both will be available on the Air Force Gymnastics page as the competition approaches.

Event Details

Event	Quad meet
Date	January 18, 2026
time	12:00 p.m. MT
Venue	Whittemore Center, Durham, NH
Opponents	New Hampshire, Iowa State, Bridgeport
Streaming	America East Network
Live Scoring	Virtius

Last Time Out: Opening Night Success

Air Force opened its 2026 season with a decisive 194.750 to 190.025 win over Winona State in Cadet West Gym. The meet featured a historic bars performance, as the Falcons posted a program-best 49.025 on the uneven bars.

On vault, Air Force posted a 48.675, highlighted by three 9.775 scores from senior Kylee Greene, Alyssa Bigler and Maggie Slife. Gabriella Hartley added a 9.700 on the event.

Greene delivered a standout bars routine, earning a career-high 9.850 for her first judged bars routine as 2023.Bigler followed with 9.825, and Slife anchored with a 9.900—the program’s top bar score of the night. Hartley matched her career high with a 9.775 on bars.

Slife then led the Falcons on balance beam with a 9.875, while Bigler joined for a 9.825 as the team finished beams at 48.250. The night closed with a 48.800 on floor, as Slife posted 9.875 and Bigler 9.825 to help Air Force cap the evening strong.

Star Power On Display

Slife dominated the early season for Air Force, remaining a league-wide force across multiple events. She claimed the Mountain West Specialist of the Week honor for uneven bars (9.900),beam (9.875) and floor (9.875) after week one, and her all-around score of 39.425 ranked eighth nationally. Her performances have positioned her as the top non-Power Five all-arounder in the country to date.

Looking Ahead

Air Force returns to Cadet West Gym on Friday, January 23, hosting Boise State, Eastern Michigan and Kent State at 7 p.m. MT.

Evergreen Insights: What This Means For The Falcons

Early-season results establish a tone for Air Force as it enters Mountain West competition.The falcons demonstrated depth across events, with Bars and Beam showing particular promise. With Slife’s consistency and Greene and Bigler contributing steady scores, Air Force is positioned to translate early momentum into conference success.

Key Facts At a Glance

Key Figures	Kylee Greene, Alyssa Bigler, Maggie Slife, Gabriella Hartley
Recent Highlights	Bars debut 49.025; Slife’s 9.900 on bars; season-opening successes on beam and floor
Conference Context	Set to challenge in the mountain West slate

Reader questions: Which Air Force gymnast should fans watch for a breakout performance this Sunday? How will Air Force adapt as Mountain West action begins next week?

Share your thoughts in the comments and stay tuned for updates on Air Force’s road to conference play.

External references: NCAA Women’s Gymnastics, USA Gymnastics, Mountain West Conference.

Strategic Objectives

Season Opener Overview

• Date & Venue: August 30 2025, Clune Center, Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs
• Score Summary: 197.525 points – second‑highest total in program history
• Highlights:

1. Vault: Freshman Mia Ramirez posted a 9.825 on the Yurchenko 1.5, the highest vault score of the meet.
2. Uneven Bars: Senior Katherine “Katie” Lee secured a 9.950 on a seamless transition routine, earning the meet’s “Bar of the Meet” award.
3. Balance Beam: Junior Sofia Patel delivered a clean 9.875, maintaining the team’s lead through the middle rotations.
4. Floor Exercise: Team captain Emily Chen closed with a 9.900, showcasing the new “Air force Pride” choreography.

Key Takeaways

• The Falcons demonstrated depth across all four apparatuses, with three athletes breaking the 9.80 barrier.
• Execution consistency improved by an average of 0.12 points per routine compared with the 2024 season opener.
• Coaching staff emphasized mental resilience, citing a post‑meet interview with Head Coach Megan Hall: “Our gymnasts embraced the pressure and turned it into performance fuel.”

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Quad Meet Preview – New Hampshire

• Event: 2026 New Hampshire Quad Meet (Sept 12‑13)
• Location: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH – State Farm Center
• Participants: air Force Falcons, Army Black Knights, Navy Midshipmen, and University of New Hampshire Wildcats
• Format: Four‑team rotation, each team competes on all four apparatuses; highest cumulative score wins.

Schedule Snapshot

Day	Time (EST)	Rotation	Opponent
Sept 12	10:00 am	Vault → Bars	Navy
Sept 12	12:30 pm	Beam → Floor	Army
Sept 13	10:00 am	Bars → Beam	UNH
Sept 13	12:30 pm	Floor → Vault	Navy

Strategic Objectives

1. Maintain scoring momentum from the season opener while refining execution deductions.
2. Test new start values on uneven bars (release‑too‑release combination) introduced in early September.
3. Gather comparative data against fellow service‑academy programs to benchmark performance for the NCAA championship pipeline.

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Athletes to Watch

Athlete	Class	Apparatus Strength	recent Score	Expected Impact
Mia Ramirez (Fr.)	Freshman	Vault	9.825	Adds high‑difficulty Yurchenko 2.0 for increased start value
Katherine Lee (Sr.)	Senior	Uneven Bars	9.950	Consistency on high‑risk release moves; potential 9.975
Sofia Patel (Jr.)	Junior	Balance Beam	9.875	Clean line work; will attempt full‑twist dismount
Emily Chen (Sr.)	Senior	Floor	9.900	Choreography incorporating military cadence,high execution potential

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Training Focus & Adjustments (Sept 1‑10)

1. Vault Power Advancement – Plyometric circuit 3×/week; emphasis on sprint speed and block leg drive.
2. Bars Routine Fluidity – Daily 1‑hour session on transition drills; video analysis of release timing.
3. Beam Precision – Incorporate balance‑board drills to improve proprioception; mental‑visualization routines before competition.
4. Floor Artistic Elements – Work with choreography coach to align tumbling passes with music accents; focus on landings to reduce deductions.

Practical Tips for Fans Attending the Quad Meet

• Arrive 30 minutes early for security screening at Dartmouth’s State Farm Center.
• wear Air Force colors (silver, blue, and black) to show support; official merchandise available at the stadium concourse.
• Bring a small, reusable water bottle – free refilling stations are located near the north entrance.
• Follow the official USAFA Athletics app for live scores, athlete bios, and post‑meet highlights.

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Impact on NCAA Rankings & Season Outlook

• The Quad Meet counts toward the NCAA Regional Qualifying Score (RQS); a strong performance could elevate the Falcons into the top‑15 nationally.
• Scoring above 198.0 would position Air Force as a potential at-large bid for the 2026 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships.
• Early season data suggests the team is on track to challenge traditional powerhouses such as Oklahoma, LSU, and Utah.

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Benefits of Quad Meet participation for Service‑Academy Programs

• Cross‑service competition fosters camaraderie and shared best practices among Air Force, Army, and Navy gymnastics staff.
• Exposure to diverse judging panels sharpens routine construction to meet varied scoring criteria.
• The compact four‑team format allows athletes to focus on execution under compressed time constraints, mirroring championship pressure.

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Real‑World Example: Performance Metrics from Season Opener to quad Meet

1. Vault Average Score Increase
• Season Opener: 9.78 (team average)
• Projected Quad Meet: 9.84 (target) – +0.06 enhancement

2. Bar Deductions Reduced
• Season Opener: 0.30 average deduction per routine
• Projected Quad Meet: 0.22 – 26% reduction

3. beam stick‑Rate
• Season opener: 85% clean sticks
• Target Quad Meet: 92% – +7%

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Final Checklist for the Coaching Staff (Pre‑quad Meet)

1. Verify equipment calibration for vault runway and floor spring density at Dartmouth.
2. Confirm travel logistics – flight itineraries, hotel proximity to the venue, and nutrition plan for athletes.
3. Conduct final routine run‑throughs under competition lighting to simulate meet conditions.
4. Review judge score sheets from the season opener to identify recurring deduction patterns.
5. Distribute mental‑focus packets (breathing exercises, visualization scripts) to each gymnast.

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