When the Cal women’s gymnastics team couldn’t qualify for the NCAA Championships, senior Mya Lauzon secured her place in individual events on April 07 in Fort Worth, Texas. That’s how Lauzon’s performance turned heads on the gymnastics mat. The 2024 season was one of the best seasons of Lauzon’s career. How, you may ask? Well, she was named College Gym News Breakout Performer of the Year, and this was just one, but she earned four times WCGA All-American honors, three NCAA All-American honors, and such a long list. This year?
Well, this year, too, Lauzon has been named ACC Gymnast of the Year 2025. But has she achieved all this on her own? Of course not; there is a strong pillar behind Lauzan, and that is her coach. Or should we say coaches? Let’s find out in detail who Mya Lauzon’s coaches, Elisabeth Crandall-Howell and Justin Howell, are.
Who is Elisabeth Crandall-Howell?
In September 2012, Elisabeth Crandall-Howell—who is an accomplished gymnast, a distinguished international brevet-level judge, and a collegiate All-American—became an assistant coach for the Cal family. She was promoted to associate head coach in July 2014 and to co-head coach in October 2018. And Beats performed their best under Elisabeth’s guidance; the team ranked 7th in 2016 and 2023. Sure, not in the top three, but before she joined as a coach, the team finished 49th nationally.
The journey from 59th rank to 7th in just a few years is quite an achievement as a coach. Crandall-Howell is involved in various facets of the Cal women’s gymnastics program, encompassing fitness and nutrition, academic assistance, and character development both within and outside the gym. As an international brevet judge, Crandall-Howell also offers her expertise to help improve Cal’s routines.
In 2019, the Golden Bears further established themselves as a perennial powerhouse by achieving a flawless home record and qualifying once again for the NCAA Regional competition. There, they set a program record with a team total of 197.675 in the NCAA Athens Regional final—this score was the fourth-highest in any regional final meet across the nation. That’s how the California gymnastics team was on the rise. The 2022 season was also a big hit. How, you may ask.
It was the first time ever that the Bears reached the Pac-12 title in school history and became regular season co-champions. In the 2023 season, the Bears achieved new heights, coming close to rewriting the entire record book and making it late into the postseason once again. Cal secured the Pac-12 regular season co-championship for the second consecutive year and reached an NCAA Regional for the 11th consecutive year. Though the list of Elisabeth Crandall-Howell’s achievements is very long, moving forward to the NCAA Gymnastics Championship 2025 is something she must be looking for.
Who is Justin Howell?
Justin Howell, the Elisabeth Crandall-Howell co-coach at the University of California, joined the Bears in 2012 alongside his wife. As a coach, he has helped Cal set national records, with four Bears appearing on the NCAA all-time top-25 single-season scoring list in 2024.
Though both Elisabeth and Justin worked together to bring the magic on the gymnastics mat, many of the achievements must be common. But before joining Cal, Justin Howell had already built a name for himself in the gymnastics world, with over 15 years of coaching experience under his belt. Justin was the head coach and team director at Airborne Gymnastics in 1997, and there he coached more than 40 gymnasts to NCAA scholarships at around 19 different universities. And how did they perform?
Well, pretty good. Brought 30 state championship titles, and if that wasn’t enough. He even coached two Junior Olympics national all-around champions, four JO National Team members, and two athletes who made the U.S. National Team. Coaching career? Well, his coaching accolades include being named the 2004 Northern California Coach of the Year and 2008 Region I Coach of the Year.
Later for 2008 and 2010, Mya Lauzon’s coach, Justin, was appointed as a Visa Championships coach. Though, Justin is good at what he does, coaching gymnasts. However, he channels his passion for music also. Yep, you read it correctly. Justin Howell founds his Rhythm Attic Dance Studio, a Zumba fitness hub in Santa Clara.
What are Mya Lauzon’s notable achievements under coaches Elisabeth Crandall-Howell and Justin Howell?
Mya Lauzon has played a pivotal role in the University of California, Berkeley women’s gymnastics team’s ascent under the guidance of co-head coaches Elisabeth Crandall-Howell and Justin Howell. Out of many of Lauson’s achievements, the most recent one was the ACC Gymnast of the Year 2025, and it was not just her who won this honor; she also became the first gymnast in California University history to earn such a prestigious honor.
It highlights her resilience, hard work, and dedication toward her gymnastics career. Along with being the gymnast of the year, Mya Lauzon secured titles in all-around, balance beam, floor exercise, and also on balance beam. And the scores? Well, near perfect in balance beam—9.90 and floor exercise—9.95, with a total of 39.625 all around. With the NCAA gymnastics championship set to happen from April 17-19, Mya Lauzon is all geared up to showcase her moves on the gymnastics mat.
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