When it comes to “Team 49” and the Iowa gymnastics 2026 season, many will note the newcomers and returning veterans that make up its roster. One of those returners is Gianna Masella, who has been a pivotal competitor for the program over the past three years. 

Hailing from Palm Harbor, Florida, Masella has competed in 40 of Iowa’s 42 meets over her collegiate career. Staring mainly at bars, vault, and floor, where she quickly made herself known, earning high scores and podium finishes at almost every meet she participated in.

Since her freshman year, Masella has learned, adapted, and grown in her training and preparation for events in both the practice gym and competitions, gaining skills like pointing her toes more on landings and thinking more highly of herself as a person and as a competitor. 

“I have definitely learned a lot mentally, like trusting the reps and my preparation,” Masella said. “I also have a much more positive outlook on things, rather than going to the negatives all the time, which helps make gymnastics more fun, and when it’s fun, it’s easy.”

One of the biggest changes not only Masella has been able to experience but also many of the returning Gymhawks have is the new coaching style that head coach Jen Llewellyn has brought to the program over the past two seasons. 

“I think everyone has been able to find that love for gymnastics again with the help of Jen,” Masella said. “In the past, the mindset was negative, and now we have a better understanding of why we are doing what we do and who we do it for.”

Now in her senior season, Masella has competed in all six meets, two of which she competed on both bars and vault, putting her on par to have only missed two meets in her collegiate career. 

“I think I am in a very relaxed mindset of enjoying every moment and not being too focused on every single score,” Masella said. “It has just been great to have so much fun with my teammates.”

Masella, over the years, has been a notable competitor on vault and floor in addition to her bars routine, but an early-season back injury sidelined her from those two events. 

“I was very focused on rehab and being the best teammate I could be, and when I was cleared to do those events again, I wanted to be ready for the team, especially when they needed me,” Masella said. 

And needing they did. Masella, just a few weeks ago in the meet against Nebraska, tied her collegiate career best score on vault with a 9.900 to help the team break their program team record the same night.

But competing has not just been the only thing Masella has done for the program. Over the years, she has been able to help many of her fellow Gymhawks by relaying some of her gymnastics knowledge and some skills she acquired over her career. 

“Sometimes after a meet, it is hard to come back to the gym and have the same energy, and she just reminds us by bringing that energy, silliness, and fun every single day throughout the season,” sophomore Aurélie Tran said. 

It has not only been her fellow Gymhawks who have noticed her impact but also her coaches. Many have noted how she leads the program and improves everyone alongside herself. 

“She has gone through a lot over her four years, and through those learning moments and life lessons, I think she has been able to shed light on and be an example to each and every freshmen in whatever they need her to be,” Llewellyn said. 

As her senior season nears its end, Masella looks to not only cherish the last remaining meets but also look forward to what life after college gymnastics may look like. 

“I am going to leave my ability to flip in the past, but I do still want to impact little girls in sports and continue push that route through social media and coaching in addition to my pursuit of becoming a dentist,” Masella said. 

Though Masella has accomplished a multitude of goals and aspirations over the years, she still says some have yet to be claimed and that she won’t stop trying to achieve them till after the last routine at the last meet. 

“I still want to break a 9.900 on bars, but again, going into senior year, I just want to have the most fun I have had in all my four years,” Masella said.