March 10, 2004
THIS WEEK — The fifth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will travel to Chicago, IL, Saturday to take on No. 10 University of Illinois-Chicago. The meet will be held at the UIC Physical Education Building and is set to begin at 2 p.m.
SCOUTING ILLINOIS-CHICAGO — The Flames are 6-9 this season with victories over Air Force, William & Mary, Navy, and James Madison, and losses to Illinois, Temple, Minnesota and Ohio State. The team also recorded a fifth-place finish at the Windy City Invitational, behind Ohio State, Illinois, Michigan and Iowa. Illinois-Chicago is led by junior all-arounder Neil Faustino, who is nationally ranked on both vault and rings. The Flames are coached by CJ Johnson.
LAST TIME OUT — In the senior’s last performance at the Iowa Field House Saturday evening, the sixth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team took first place in a Big Ten triangular. The Hawkeyes posted a team score of 217.925. Michigan was second (213.55), while Wisconsin’s club team finished third (152.1). The Hawkeyes won five event titles, crowned five individual event champions, and set or tied a total of nine 2004 season bests. Sophomore Michael Reavis won the all-around competition (53.925), while fellow sophomore Michael McNamara took third (50.875). Junior Linas Gaveika won the horizontal bar competition with a score of 9.8.
SENIORS SHINE — In their last performance at the Iowa Field House, the seniors bid farewell to the Hawkeye faithful in an impressive fashion. Eric Block was crowned event champion on parallel bars, matching a personal and season-best score of 9.05 set earlier this season vs. Oklahoma. He also recorded a third place finish on pommel horse (9.3). Mike Kelly was crowned event champioin on pommel horse with a season-best score of 9.55, tying Gaveika’s mark set earlier this season. Matt Metzger took second on rings (9.2) and placed fifth on horizontal bar (8.8). Paul Summers was unable to compete due to injury.
IN THE RANKINGS — The Hawkeyes jumped from sixth to fifth in the GymInfo National Rankings. Iowa is also nationally-ranked in all six individual events. The Hawkeyes are the second-ranked team on floor exercise, are fifth on vault and sixth on pommel horse and horizontal bar. The Hawkeyes are also ranked seventh on parallel bars and eighth on rings.
NATIONALLY-RANKED INDIVIDUALS — Hawkeye sophomore Michael Reavis leads the Hawkeyes in the rankings. Reavis is seventh on floor exercise and vault and ninth in the all-around. Sophomore Michael McNamara is sixth on floor exercise and 16th in the all-around. Junior Linas Gaveika is first on horizontal bar and 11th in the all-around. Senior Eric Block is ranked 11th on pommel horse and 17th on parallel bars. On the still rings, junior Kenny Lin is 17th, while senior Mike Kelly is 17th on floor exercise and 19th on pommel horse.
NEXT COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes will travel to Champaign, IL, March 19- 20, to compete in the Big Ten Championships.