Lubbock gymnasts to compete on national stage

LUBBOCK, Texas (KCBD) – A Lubbock men’s gymnastics team has done it again.

For the second year in a row, all of TEGA’s level 10 gymnasts have qualified for the Men’s Development Program National Championships.

Those gymnasts are Paxton Daniel, Will Brackeen, Wyatt Woodson, and Greighson Fankhauser.

They will compete in Salt Lake City, Utah from May 5-11.

While qualifying for the national stage is a familiar feat, witnessing the fruits of their labor never loses its charm.

“I’m excited, I’m just glad I made it,” Brackeen said.

“It feels pretty good, I mean it’s the end of an era, I’m a senior so graduating year,” said Woodson.

The road to nationals is a hard one, and for many, it started at a young age.

Sophomore Paxton Daniel believes you have to train like a champion to be champion.

“My entire life I have trained four hours a day for almost every day of the week, so it’s a nonstop grind,” Daniel said.

Now that these athletes know what to expect, their focus shifts to ways they can improve upon last year.

Senior Will Brackeen say he plans on taking better care of his body.

“Of course, it is about having fun this year, but I am going to try to go to sleep earlier, make sure my muscles are all prepped and ice if I need to,” Brackeen said.

There was a common theme when these young athletes were asked about their goals. They plan to put it all on the line in Salt Lake City.

“I really want to just hit all of my routines in all of my events and hopefully don’t fall on anything and just really leave it all out there and do everything to the best of my ability,” Woodson said.

For Paxton, he is one step closer to achieving his dreams.

“The path that I want to be on is going to college, going to a D1 college and doing gymnastics,” Daniel said.

Meanwhile, for seniors like Will and Wyatt, it’s a bittersweet moment as they prepare to say farewell to the sport they love.

“This is going to be my final ride into the sunset. I’m really just trying to focus on my form and do the best I can for me and my team,” Brackeen said.

“I’ve learned strength, discipline, respect, loving being here with all of my teammates, it is really a family,” Woodson said.

TEGA also has three young men who qualified for the Western National Championships.

Those athletes are Andrew Ferris, Hudson Hoelscher, and Thomas Hillis.

They will compete in Reno, Nevada April 25-27.

Copyright 2025 KCBD. All rights reserved.