Kocan recognized as WCGA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – Kelsea Kocan was named WCGA Division III West Region Assistant Coach of the Year following a 2026 season in which she helped guide Simpson's bars and floor lineups to multiple program records and team milestones.
Under her direction, the bars lineup broke the program record three consecutive weeks, peaking at 47.300 at the SEMO Quadrangular on Feb. 6. The floor team also set a new program standard on the same day with a 48.625, contributing to Simpson's all-time high team score of 190.625. Across the season, eight bars scores and six floor totals entered the program's all-time top 10.
"Kelsea always brings the energy to our practices and competitions," said head coach Emily Barrett Payne. "Kelsea took on a new challenge this year, leading Simpson through the last three meets of our season as the acting head coach while I was out with my pregnancy. She believes the best of each person on our team and is always looking for ways to get better as a coach and as a human."
Kocan coached a bars lineup that produced eight of the top 10 individual scores in school history during the season. Liz Sisler tied the school record on Feb. 1, followed by Alexa Denton breaking the mark on Feb. 6 before it was immediately surpassed by Evalyn Resnick with a 9.800 on the same day. The Storm improved their season average from 45.072 in 2025 to 46.306 in 2026, ranking ninth in Division III.
On floor, Simpson recorded five of the top 10 individual scores in program history, highlighted by a season-best 9.800 from Kaelyn Tally on Feb. 15. The floor lineup also set a new program record with a season average of 47.983 that finished year ranked seven in Division III and third in the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.
Simpson earned regular season wins over Hamline, Fisk, Wis.-Stout, and Gustavus Adolphus, and finished sixth at the WIAC Championships, an improvement from eighth the year prior. The Storm qualified five routines for nationals, including Tally's All-American vault.
View all WCGA Division III Regional Awards by clicking here.
