NORMAL, Ill. – Senior Taylor Ingle and Head Coach Ashley Lawson of Southeast Missouri Gymnastics took home 2026 Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) Postseason Awards, the league announced on Thursday night at the pre-championship banquet dinner. 
 
Ingle was named MIC Co-Athlete of the Year for the second-straight season after capturing the award in 2025. She has competed in 26-straight all-around competitions to conclude the season dating back to the 2025 campaign. 
 
Taylor has six all-around scores of 39.000 or higher, including a season-high 39.150 on February 6 at the SEMO Tri-Meet. She captured MIC 'Gymnast of the Week' six times this season including winning it four-straight weeks over the final three weeks of February and the first week of March. She has recorded a season-high 9.850 on vault, 9.875 on bars, 9.775 on beam, and a 9.875 on floor. She has contributed 350.55 points this season for the Gymhawks, including 88.2 on vault, 87.6 on bars, 86.35 on beam, and 88.4 on floor which is the most on the team in 2026 by nearly 100 points (98.15).
 
Ingle became the seventh Gymhawk, including herself, to capture the MIC's Athlete of the Year award and is the first ever back-to-back recipient of the award. The last Gymhawk prior to Ingle to win the award was Anna Kaziska following the 2020 season. 
 
Eighth year head coach Ashley Lawson was named the MIC's Coach of the Year for the third time in her career and the first time since the 2023 season. She is just the second coach in program history to win MIC Coach of the Year honors.
 
This season, the Gymhawks began the season with a 192.800 which was the highest team score to begin a season in 11 years. She then led the Gymhawks to their first victory over Illinois State in Normal, Illinois for the first time in 11 years, and are seeking their first MIC Championship in 11 years as well. SEMO Gymnastics has recorded a season-high 194.850 earlier this year and have scores of 194.000 or higher in five meets this year. The Gymhawks, who currently rank 49th in the country, are on track to finish with their highest rank on RTN since the 2021 season where they finished 47th. 
 
Taylor Ingle and Ashley Lawson become the second head coach/gymnast duo to win the respective awards in the same season since 2006. 
 
Looking Ahead
SEMO Gymnastics are set for the 2026 MIC Championship meet on Friday night. Competition is slated for 6 p.m. from the CEFCU Arena in Normal, Ill.