Jan. 28, 2004
THIS WEEK — The fifth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will open its home schedule Saturday, hosting two-time defending national champion Oklahoma at 2 p.m. at the Iowa Field House. The meet is a coed event, with the Iowa women hosting North Carolina State. Admission is $3.
SCOUTING OKLAHOMA — The Sooners enter Saturday’s competition with a 1-0 dual record and a first place finish in the collegiate division at the Rocky Mountain Open. The Sooners cruised past Air Force (217.650- 195.275) last weekend. At the Rocky Mountain Open, the Sooners had a team score of 211.400. Oklahoma is led by senior co-captains Quinn Rowell and Heath Mueller.
LAST TIME OUT– The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes downed No. 11 Nebraska (217.75- 213.975) last Sunday in Lincoln, NE. The Hawkeyes won five event titles, crowned four individual champions, and broke six school records. Leading the Hawkeyes was sophomore Michael Reavis, who was crowned champion on vault (9.45) and placed second in the all-around (53.4). Junior Linas Gaveika also performed well for the Hawkeyes, taking first on horizontal bar (9.8) and third in the all-around (53.35).
HAWKS BREAK SIX RECORDS — As a team, the Hawkeyes broke four University of Iowa records against Nebraska. The overall team score of 217.75 broke the previous record (215.6) set in 2003. Iowa also set new team records on floor exercise (37.0), rings (36.775), and vault (37.075). Individually, sophomore Michael McNamara set a new school record with a 9.5 on floor exercise. He set the previous mark in 2003 (9.4). On rings, senior Matt Metzger broke the record set earlier this season with his second-place score of 9.425.
IN THE RANKINGS — The Hawkeyes are ranked fifth in the GymInfo National Rankings. Iowa is also nationally-ranked in all six individual events. The Hawkeyes are the top-ranked team on vault, and are ranked third on rings, floor exercise and pommel horse. The Hawkeyes are also ranked 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 sixth on vault, eighth on floor exercise, 14th on parallel bars and 12th in the all-around. Linas Gaveika is nationally-ranked on horizontal bar (fourth), pommel horse (sixth) and in the all-around (10th). On the still rings, the Hawkeyes have three individuals in the top 20. Junior Kenny Lin is ranked 10th, senior Matt Metzger is 17th and sophomore Jacques Bouchard is 20th. Senior Eric Block is ranked ninth on parallel bars and senior Mike Kelly is ranked 20th on floor exercise.
NEXT COMPETITION — Iowa will travel to Las Vegas, NV to compete in the U.S.A.G Winter Cup February 6-7.