Jan. 21, 2004
THIS WEEK — The fifth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will travel to Lincoln, NE to take on No. 11 Nebraska Sunday. The meet will be held at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and will begin at 1 p.m.
SCOUTING NO. 11 NEBRASKA — The Huskers opened their 2004 season last weekend at the Rocky Mountain Open, where they finished third (204.825). Nebraska is led by senior captain Josh Rasile and junior Mace Patterson. The Huskers are coached by Francis Allen.
HAWKEYES PLACE SECOND AT ROCKY MOUNTAIN OPEN — The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes were runners-up in the collegiate division at the Rocky Mountain Open last weekend with a score of 211.3. Iowa recorded three team season-bests and broke two University of Iowa records during Friday night’s competition. The Hawkeyes posted a team score of 36.1 on rings, breaking the previous school record of 36.0. Iowa also posted season-bests on horizontal bar (35.25) and vault (36.45).
GAVEIKA SETS RECORD — Hawkeye junior Linas Gaveika once again put himself into the University of Iowa record books by breaking his own school record of 9.725 with a score of 9.8 on horizontal bar at the Rocky Mountain Open. Gaveika also placed eighth in the all-around with a score of 52.225.
IN THE RANKINGS — The Hawkeyes jumped from sixth to fifth in the GymInfo National Rankings after a solid performance at the Rocky Mountain Open. Iowa is also nationally-ranked in all six individual events. The Hawkeyes are third on rings and vault, fourth on pommel horse, fifth on floor exercise and sixth on parallel bars and horizontal bar.
NATIONALLY-RANKED INDIVIDUALS — Hawkeye sophomore Michael Reavis leads the Hawkeyes in the rankings. He is nationally-ranked in three events and the all-around. He is ranked seventh on vault, 15th on parallel bars, 18th on floor exercise and ninth in the all-around. Linas Gaveika is nationally-ranked on horizontal bar (fifth), pommel horse (10th), and in the all-around (eighth). On the still rings, the Hawkeyes have three individuals in the top 20. Junior Kenny Lin is ranked 12th, senior Matt Metzger is 16th, and sophomore Jacques Bouchard is 19th. Senior Eric Block is ranked 10th on parallel bars.
QUOTING DUNN — “I was very impressed with the difficult skills the Nebraska gymnasts used at the Rocky Mountain Open. They made a lot of execution errors in their first meet, but I anticipate they will make improvements this week. Historically, it has been very hard to win in Lincoln, but the Hawkeyes are making great progress and I expect a victory.”
NEXT COMPETITION — Iowa will host the two-time defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners January 31. The coed meet will begin at 2 p.m. at the Field House.