Jan. 31, 2005
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This Week
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team travels to Illinois Saturday. Competition will take place at Huff Hall beginning at 7 p.m.
The Fighting Illini
The Fighting Illini return 12 letterwinners from last season and add three newcomers. Illinois is ranked 17th in the nation on beam (48.25 average) and bars (48.387 average). Additionally, sophomore Cara Pomeroy is ranked 18th on bars.
The Fighting Illini have only lost to No. 12 Denver and No. 14 Penn State this season. They have notched wins against Illinois State (twice), Pittsburgh, No. 20 Central Michigan, Ball State, Western Michigan and Wisconsin-Eau Claire.
Fighting Illini to watch are Cara Pomeroy and Lauren Newcomb. Pomeroy’s best events are bars, beam and vault. Newcomb is the top Illinois all-arounder, having won three titles this season.
Last Season Against Illinois
Last season, the GymHawks competed against Illinois at the Big Ten Championships. Iowa finished third, while the Fighting Illini placed sixth.
Iowa’s Series Against Illinois
The GymHawks’ record against Illinois is 21-29. Iowa has won the last three dual meets against Illinois.
Noteworthy At Iowa State Quadrangular
The GymHawks scored a season-high 192.4 at Iowa State, defeating Hamline and Gustavus Adolphus. Kortny Williamson was the top GymHawk on vault, beam and floor. Annie Rue finished fourth on bars with a season-high 9.8. In the all-around, Liz Grajewski was the top GymHawk, placing fifth with a score of 38.525.
Head Coach Larissa Libby
Larissa Libby is in her first season as head coach of the GymHawks. Last season, Libby served as associate head coach after three years as an assistant. Libby has already made a lasting impact on the GymHawks as the team’s choreographer and beam coach. The top 10 school beam performances have all been under her guidance, including the school record of 49.425. Libby coached four gymnasts to score a 9.9 or higher on beam in 2004. She also guided sophomore Danielle Legeai to tie for second on beam at NCAA regionals last season.