The Midwest Independent Conference (MIC) held its annual banquet on Thursday night, and announced its 2018 award winners. The banquet is always held the night before the MIC Championships, which will be on Friday evening at 6 p.m. in Hyland Arena in St. Charles, Mo.
 
The MIC Newcomer of the Year is Kayla Baddeley from UIC. The MIC co-Senior Athletes of the Year are Texas Woman's Schyler Jones and Lindenwood's Kierstin Sokolowski. The MIC Gymnast of the Year is Illinois State's Gabrielle Cooke. Lindenwood's Jen Llewellyn earned the MIC Head Coach of the Year honor, and Lindenwood's Jeffrey Langenstein and Ashley Lawson were the MIC Assistant Coaches of the Year.
 
Baddeley has been one of the strongest performers for the Flames on the vault, beam, and floor. She has two first-place finishes on the vault, with a season-high of 9.825, and a first-place beam performance with a season-best mark of 9.825. In 32 routines, she scored a 9.625 or higher in 28 of those routines.  Among MIC freshmen, she ranks first on the vault, beam, and floor, and she ranks in the top-11 overall in the conference in all three events.
 
Jones is one of the top all-around performers in the MIC this season. She has a 38.905 RQS, and her season-high of 39.400 was the highest all-around mark in the conference. Jones won 13 first-place finishes, and earned four MIC weekly awards. She enters the MIC meet ranked second in the conference on the vault, and third on the beam, floor, and all-around. Jones has 22 routines that scored a 9.800 or higher, including two floor events in which she scored a 9.900.
 
Sokolowski is the top gymnast in Lindenwood history, and this season has been the team's anchor on the vault, bars, and beam. Sokolowski has won nine events this season, with four on the vault and beam, and one on the bars. She is currently ranked first in the MIC on the vault and beam, and is 12th on the bars. Sokolowski has recorded a 9.725 or higher in 24 of 26 events this year, including 15 scores of 9.800 or higher, and two beam routines over 9.900.
 
Cooke has been one of the top all-around gymnast in the MIC this season. She has recorded five scores of 38.850, and has scored over 39.000 in three meets. Her season-high all-around score of 39.250 tied for second in the conference this year, and she is currently ranked second in the MIC with a 38.955 RQS. Cooke is ranked second in the MIC on the floor, and her season-high mark of 9.900 tied for the highest in the league. She is also ranked seventh on the vault, 12th on the beam, and 17th on the bars.
 
Llewellyn earned her four MIC coaching award, including her third MIC Head Coach of the Year honor. She led Lindenwood to its best regular season in program history, as the Lady Lions set program records with a 15-6 record, and a 195.030 RQS score, the highest in the MIC this season. She led Lindenwood to these records despite having a roster that had 67 percent of its routines performer by freshmen or sophomores.
 
Langenstein and Lawson were also keys to Lindenwood's success this year. Langenstein was in charge of the team's floor and vault routines. Lindenwood had the highest floor score in the MIC with a 48.800 RQS. The Lady Lions ranked second in the conference with a 48.790 vault RQS, despite having half of its lineup being freshmen. Lawson was in charge of the team's beam routines, and the Lady Lions had a MIC-best 48.870 RQS.­­
 
Also at the banquet, the seniors for each team were recognized for their careers, and the winners of the MIC Scholar-Athlete Awards were announced. The winners of the MIC Scholar-Athlete Awards, which goes to each gymnast with a 3.25 GPA or higher for the Fall 2017 semester:
 
Centenary: Delia Ardoin, Cami Bea Austin, Jenny Jackson, Navia Jordan, Dorothy Mims, Kaitlyn Mussio, Mackenzie Packer, Sierra Ponder, Elizabeth Sander, Natalie Scates, Tavia Smith, Ashley White
 
Illinois State: Mary Kate Bihary, Alyssa Bossle, Gabrielle Cooke, Megan Knoernschild, Meredith LaRoche, Kennadi LeDoux, Katherine Locher, Kylie Meyer, Marissa Piper, Sarah Pollman, Marie Priest, Savannah Remkus, Jessica Rothman, Cameron Topp, Alyssa Wiggle
 
Lindenwood: Katie Bailey, Kyndall Baze, Claire Bonacorsi, Jordan Boogerd, Samantha Borges, Mackenzy Chavez, Taylor Colwell, Maya Davis, Breanna Franklin, Georgina Harris, Ryan Henry, Aleah Leman, Kayla McMullan, Emily Milliet, Courtney Mitchell, Kristin Morgan, Kyleigh Romero, Kierstin Sokolowski, Aleah Turon
 
Southeast Missouri: Gabrielle Adams, Lindsey Bates, Allyson Bell, Kendra Benak, Alexis Brawner, Megan Dennis, Alana Fischer, Samantha Gallet, McKinzie Jones, Michael Sanders, Kenna Skepnek, Mackenzie Slee, McKenna Stanley
 
Texas Woman's: Erin Alderman, Jenna Cashmore, Morgan Colee, Madison Dickson, Megan Gentry, Kaitlyn Holley, Schyler Jones, Alyssa Kelly, Brandi Lazarus, Bria Northrop, Hope Parkin, Bridgette Peterson, Paige Stuyniski, Abigail Versemann, Hunter Vincent, Taylor Vincent
 
UIC: Toni Alicke, Alli Broad, Riley Cholod, Abby Hasanov, Kat Jakalski, Dani Maciel, Riley Mahoney, Miki Northern, Maddie Nowak, Amelia Rafferty, Katie Snyder, Jenna Squillo