“We just want accountability for the university to do what’s right for the student-athletes and the program…I think the silence is killing it, and I think that’s what’s scary.”
What you need to know about Iowa State gymnastics season cancellation
What you need to know about Iowa State gymnastics season cancellation
Iowa State gymnasts arrived at Beyer Hall, the team’s on-campus practice facility, at 1 p.m. on Feb. 8 in hopes of practicing. The Cyclones were scheduled to play a home game against Western Michigan on February 13th, so they needed to prepare.
Instead, they met with Iowa State senior associate athletic director Shamarie Brown. Brown informed the athletes that the remainder of the ISU gymnastics season is canceled.
“After a careful review of our program last week, it became clear that we did not have enough student-athletes to safely compete, so we made the difficult decision to cancel the remainder of the gymnastics season,” Brown said in a statement on Feb. 8. “The health, safety and overall well-being of our student-athletes is our top priority, and it is our responsibility to ensure they can train safely and compete at the highest level.”
The cancellation came three days after the Cyclones canceled their game against West Virginia. In a Feb. 5 statement, coach Ashley Miles Greig said the competition was canceled because “we do not have enough student-athletes to safely field a team at this time.”
Brown confirmed to USA TODAY Sports Network that he had individual meetings with gymnasts the week after the cancellation. Iowa state officials met with members of the gymnastics program, including assistant coaches, on Feb. 13.
School administrators have not released the reason for the cancellation. And fans and athletes alike are wondering what the canceled season means for gymnasts’ careers and whether programs will ever resume.
“The kids are scared,” said one parent of a current gymnast, speaking on condition of anonymity because she feared her child’s career would be damaged if she was identified. “What I worry about is that my daughter has no idea what her future holds. How many more years will she be able to continue doing gymnastics, which school will she go to, what will happen next?”
Former Iowa State gymnast Shea Mattingly (whose last name was Anderson when she graduated in 2012) is part of a group of more than 100 alumni who rallied in a group chat to draft a statement calling for transparency and post it online. They also emailed the statement to Iowa State administration officials, including Brown, Athletic Director Jamie Pollard and Interim University President David Spalding.
“As alumni, we just want accountability for the university to do what’s right for the student-athletes and the program,” Mattingly said. “Those are our biggest concerns, and I think the silence is killing it, and I think that’s what’s scary. I think you’ve seen all the rumors (spreading) on the internet, and I think the longer it goes on, the worse it gets. People are just speculating. We’re just trying to get answers out there.”
Iowa State Gymnastics alumni fear season canceled
In an email, alumni expressed their disappointment with the cancellation of the program and asked how the school supports current gymnasts.
Josie Te Sula, who competed in gymnastics at Iowa State University from 2022 to 2025, when her last name was Bergstrom, said she feels graduates are qualified to give answers to advocate for current gymnasts.
“I think any way that alumni and administration can support them, reach out and offer a word of encouragement will help champion them and the program,” Te Suraa said. “We set up different counseling and therapies, we have team meetings, we just talk about it in a way that can help the future of Iowa State Gymnastics. I think the girls need a lot of support emotionally and mentally.”
Mattingly said she and a handful of other alumni sent separate follow-up emails to administrators, reiterating their concerns.
“Obviously, our biggest concern is just the student-athletes and what their needs are right now, are they getting support, is there someone they can talk to right now,” Mattingly said. “Their season just ended. This is new territory for them. What’s going to happen next? I think they’re scared, they’re worried. And what we want to know is, is someone going to get them through this situation? Who are they going to talk to?” So that’s obviously our biggest concern as alumni, and then obviously our program as a whole. What are they doing to ensure that this program continues to be successful in the future?”
Te Suler said Iowa State’s response was unsatisfactory.
“It’s a very vague response, but in their shoes, a lot of people are reaching out and there are a lot of things that need to be resolved,” Te Sura said. “We’re very grateful that we got a response and that we’re being respected in that way. We’re very grateful that they were able to respond to us, maybe without answering specific questions or anything like that. … But obviously, yeah, we’re still looking for further clarification on things from the administration.”
Te Sura said her experience as a gymnast at Iowa State has been positive, adding that she cares deeply about the future of the program because of the relationships and lessons she learned during her time on the team.
“This program means a lot to me because of the lessons I learned as a gymnast,” she said. “You’re not just a gymnast who learns lessons, you’re a human being and a human being who learns lessons. I think there are a lot of life lessons that come from being a student-athlete. So I think the opportunity for club gymnasts to go to college and play the sport they love is very important to me, and it’s important that Iowa State still has a program that provides that for young gymnasts like me.”
Iowa State gymnasts still in limbo
Iowa State spokesperson Nick Joos told USA TODAY Sports Network on Feb. 9 that the school’s compliance department will work with the Big 12 Conference to request a waiver for the competitive season to allow the Cyclone gymnasts to retain their NCAA eligibility for one year.
Brown confirmed in an email to USA TODAY Sports Network on Feb. 16 that the waiver application process is ongoing and has no timeline for completion.
“While we are currently reviewing the various elements required for an NCAA waiver request, we cannot provide an indication of when the waiver request will be submitted,” Brown wrote. “The NCAA waiver process is complex and in some cases may require submission by another institution depending on the circumstances.”
Whether the gymnasts receive a waiver or not, it remains to be seen whether they will have the option to continue their careers at Iowa State.
When USA TODAY Sports Network asked directly whether there had been any discussions to eliminate the Iowa State gymnastics program, Brown responded, “Our priority remains to support our gymnasts following this decision, and we have not shifted our focus from ensuring they continue to receive the care and resources they need.”
Further complicating the situation for gymnastics is the financial situation of the program and Iowa State.
Iowa State’s fiscal year 2025 annual financial report filed with the NCAA revealed the gymnastics program lost more than $1.4 million. Gymnastics generated total operating revenue of $287,392 with expenses of $1.69 million.
According to Iowa State University’s most recent financial report, there are 14 scholarships allocated to athletics.
Overall, the athletic department’s total operating revenue last year was approximately $118 million, which exceeded expenses by $6,045. The only sports with no losses were soccer and men’s basketball.
In a presentation to the university’s Board of Regents last summer, the Iowa State Athletic Department reported a potential budget deficit of $147 million through 2031 as it adjusts to a new revenue-sharing era in college sports. This effectively amounts to a $25 million annual shortfall. under House vs NCAA The settlement allows the university to pay players for name, image and likeness rights. The maximum payout this year is $20.5 million, and is expected to increase over time.
If Iowa is unable to raise revenue or find other support, such as direct aid from the state, the financial situation will become increasingly difficult and it could be forced to make difficult choices, such as the future of some non-revenue sports.
Meanwhile, Brown told USA TODAY Sports Network in an email on Feb. 16 that Cyclone gymnasts were not allowed to use Iowa State’s gymnastics facilities “which raised concerns that ultimately led to the suspension of the season.”
Mr. Brown responded to a follow-up message asking him to clarify what the concerns were and who raised them. “I cannot share any further details,” he wrote.
According to NCAA policy, Iowa State gymnasts are only allowed to train in private gyms with no more than two people at a time.
Immediately after the season was canceled, at least half of the Cyclone gymnasts reactivated their old recruiting accounts on Instagram and began posting videos of their routines, which could be a sign of their intent to transfer.
The NCAA transfer portal window for women’s gymnastics opens on March 30th. NCAA policy provides that non-football players can initiate transfer requests at any time if competition is canceled or the head coach steps down. In the second scenario, the athlete has 30 days to enter the transfer portal.
Brown confirmed that Myles Greig and the rest of the coaching staff (assistants Jazmin Estrella, Mary Wise and Ragan Smith) remained employed as of February 16, writing: “The employment status of the coaching staff has not changed.”
Myles Greig’s third season at Iowa State will be her first college coaching job. She was a four-time NCAA champion gymnast at the University of Alabama and a member of the U.S. Women’s National Team from 2001 to 2003. Before Iowa State hired her in April 2023, Miles Greig worked in auto finance and served as a choreographer for option and elite-level gymnasts, according to her bio on the school’s athletics website. She also worked as a gymnastics analyst for ESPN network broadcasts.
The Cyclones have a 20-42 record in three seasons under coach Myles Greig, including 2-8 this season before it was cancelled. The Cyclones were ranked 59th nationally and the lowest-rated program in the power conference. It was second only to one school in Division II and slightly ahead of many programs in Division III.
Miles Greig’s contract expires on June 30, 2026, an athletic department spokesperson confirmed.
Miles Greig did not return calls for this article.
