Feb. 4, 2004
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THIS WEEK — The sixth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will travel to Las Vegas, NV, Friday and Saturday to compete in the USAG Winter Cup Challenge.
2004 WINTER CUP– The U.S.A.G Winter Cup is a U.S Championship competition with the purpose of allowing gymnasts from across the country the opportunity to qualify for the U.S. National Team. There are six positions available for the Senior National Team. If chosen, the gymnasts will be have the opportunity to compete internationally against top competition.
COMPETING FOR THE HAWKEYES…– Junior Kenny Lin and sophomores Michael Reavis and Michael McNamara will represent the Hawkeyes at the Winter Cup. Lin will be competing on the still rings. He is ranked 16th nationally on rings. Reavis and McNamara will both be competing in the all-around competition.
LAST TIME OUT– The fifth-ranked Hawkeyes fell to No. 4 Oklahoma last Saturday (217.5-214.55) in Iowa City. The Hawkeyes won two event titles, crowned four event champions and set two University of Iowa records. Leading the Hawkeyes was junior Linas Gaveika, who was crowned champion on pommel horse (9.275), horizontal bar (9.65) and the all-around (53.925). Sophomore Michael Reavis took second in the all-around (52.8) and was crowned champion on floor exercise (9.55) and vault (9.4).
GAVEIKA AND REAVIS SET RECORDS — Gaveika set a new University of Iowa record against Oklahoma with his first-place all-around score of 53.925. The record, that he tied earlier this year, was 53.5. Reavis also set a record with his first-place score of 9.55 on floor exercise, breaking the record (9.5) set earlier this season by sophomore Michael McNamara.
IN THE RANKINGS — The Hawkeyes fell from fifth to sixth in the GymInfo National Rankings. Iowa is also nationally-ranked in all six individual events. The Hawkeyes are the second-ranked team on vault, and are ranked third on floor exercise, and fourth on rings. The Hawkeyes are also ranked sixth on pommel horse and parallel bars and seventh on horizontal bar.
NATIONALLY-RANKED INDIVIDUALS — Hawkeye junior Linas Gaveika and sophomore Michael Reavis lead the Hawkeyes in the rankings. Both are nationally-ranked in two events and the all-around. Gaveika is third on horizontal bar, ninth on pommel horse and sixth in the all-around. Reavis is seventh on both floor exercise and vault, and 11th in the all-around. On the still rings, the Hawkeyes have two individuals in the top 20. Junior Kenny Lin is ranked 16th and senior Matt Metzger is 18th. Senior Eric Block is 10th on parallel bars.
NEXT COMPETITION — Iowa will take a week off before hosting No. 3 Illinois Feb. 21 at the Field House in Iowa City.