Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2016-17 | Hawk Talk Monthly — January | Iowa Vs. UIC Results
IOWA, CITY, Iowa — The No. 15 University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team defeated No. 18 UIC, 404.100-374.300, in their first home meet of the season at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Sunday afternoon.
“I’m pretty happy,” said UI head coach JD Reive. “Our energy from the first event to the sixth event got better. They got into the meet and they started doing the gymnastics they train for and not overthinking. It was much more indicative of what we practice. “
The Hawkeyes’ overall score of 404.100 marked a season best for the team. Twelve gymnasts earned a total of 29 season bests, while the team won every event to highlight the competition.
Seniors Andrew Botto, Cory Paterson and Mark Springett, juniors Dylan Ellsworth, Austin Hodges, and Elijah Parsells, sophomores Jake Brodarzon and Rogelio Vazquez and freshmen Andrew Herrador, Mitchell Mandozzi, Nicholas Merryman and Joshua Zeal all earned season bests.
Ellsworth scored a season best 80.300 on all around to take home the title. Botto came in second with a score of 77.050.
Iowa recorded the highest team score of the night on vault with a 71.000 and registered four season bests in the event. Dylan Ellsworth posted his season best and took home his second event title with a 14.650.
“It always feels good to win everything, especially at the season opener,” says Ellsworth. “Hopefully we can keep it up. It’s always nice to win at home. Coming out here and doing better than we did last weekend was just icing on the cake.”
Iowa tallied a 68.150 on parallel bars. The Hawkeyes dominated the event, landing all top six spots. Ellsworth took the title with a season best 13.850. Brodarzon (13.800) and Merryman (13.550) recorded season best scores. Botto tied his season best with a score of 13.500, while Hodges (13.450) and Mandozzi (13.300) also tallied season bests.
Iowa scored a 67.650 on floor. Springett etched a season-best 14.300 to take home the event title.
The Hawkeyes notched a 67.550 on rings. Iowa swept the field, registering the top-seven scores. Ellsworth took the title – his fourth on the afternoon — with a season best score of 13.700. Brodarzon (13.600), Botto (13.600), Springett (13.500), Vazquez (13.150), and Merryman (13.000) all reported season bests.
Iowa registered a 66.200 on high bar. Hodges took home the high bar title with a season best 13.850. Herrador (13.600), Ellsworth (13.550), Paterson (13.250) and Merryman (13.100) rounded out the top five with season-best scores.
Iowa’s pommel horse score was a 63.550. Hodges took home his second title of the night with a season best score of 14.000. Merryman and Parsells recorded season best scores of 12.850 and 12.800 respectively to finish second and third.
The Hawkeyes hit the road when they travel to Berkeley, California to compete against the University of Californinia on Feb. 6. The meet will take place at Hass Pavilion with competition scheduled to start at 5 p.m. (CT).
