Bio

When looking through the list of accolades for the UW-Oshkosh women’s gymnastics program the redundancy of Mary (Leivian) Taylor's name is astonishing.

Leivian’s catalog of mentions starts with 14 WIAC titles, builds with 14 NAIA All-America performances, increases with nine NAIA championships and closes with two NCAA Division II titles. She is also identified as a member on UW-Oshkosh women’s gymnastics teams that captured three WIAC crowns, one NAIA championship and one NCGA title.

Leivian competed for the Titans from 1986-89 and is still recognized as UW-Oshkosh’s finest female gymnast. The Oshkosh North High School graduate is also considered to be one of the top female gymnasts in the history of both the WIAC and the NAIA.

Leivian made an immediate contribution to the UW-Oshkosh women’s gymnastics program. In 1986, she captured four event titles to lead the Titans to the WIAC championship. Later that season, Leivian compiled winning scores in the all-around competition, uneven bars and vault to guide the Titans to the NAIA championship. Following first-place scores of 36.65 in the all-around and 9.30 on the uneven bars at the NCAA Division II Championship, Leivian’s inaugural collegiate season ended with an appearance in the all-around competition at the NCAA Division I Championship in Gainesville, Fla.

Leivian’s 1987 season was also impressive. She led UW-Oshkosh to the WIAC title by winning event championships in the all-around competition, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault. Competing at the NAIA Championship, Leivian helped the Titans to a third-place finish by winning all five event titles for the second consecutive year.

In 1988, UW-Oshkosh finished second at the WIAC and fifth at the NAIA championships. Leivian was stellar at both meets as she won all five events at the WIAC Championship and the all-around, floor exercise, uneven bars and vault titles at the NAIA Championship. Following first-place efforts in the all-around competition and balance beam at the USGF Division II-III Championship, Leivian concluded her junior season with an appearance at the NCAA Division I Central Regional in Baton Rouge, La.

Leivian’s 1989 campaign featured another collection of event titles. At the WIAC Championship, Leivian captured her fourth straight all-around title to lead the Titans to their 10th team crown in 11 years. The following weekend, she posted winning scores in the all-around competition, floor exercise and vault to spirit the Titans to the NCGA Championship.

Following graduation from UW-Oshkosh in 1990, Leivian served as the head girls gymnastics at Oshkosh North High School for 10 years. Today, Leivian lives in Oshkosh with her husband, Steve, and one son. She is employed as the technology coordinator at the Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh.