Jan. 9, 2006
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THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will open the season at the Windy City Invite in Chicago at 7 p.m. Saturday.
THE COMPETITION — The Windy City meet will feature Ohio State, Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois-Chicago, Illinois and Michigan.
SEASON OUTLOOK — The Hawkeyes are coming off a fifth-place finish at the 2005 Big Ten Championships and one individual champ at the NCAA meet. The Hawkeyes will host the 2006 Big Ten Championships in March for the 10th time. In 1937, 1967 and 1974 Iowa won Big Ten titles in Iowa City. In 1958, 1990 and 1999 it finished second as host. In 1983 the Hawkeyes missed the championship by 0.15 in Carver-Hawkeye Arena, finishing third. This season, a new international scoring system will be in use.
LAST TIME AT THE WINDY CITY INVITE — Last winter, Iowa finshed fourth at the Windy City Invite. Michael Reavis finished sixth (52.75) and Curtis Kleffman eighth (52.45) in the all-around. Reavis also tied for third (9.5) on floor excersice and Kleffman placed fourth (9.3) on pommel horse.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES — Iowa returns 11 lettermen from 2005 when it finished with a 12-8 record overall and a fifth finish at the Big Ten Championships. All-American senior Michael Reavis (Tallahassee, FL) will lead the Hawkeyes in 2006, as well as team senior captain, Jack Bouchard.
HEAD COACH Tom Dunn — Head Coach Tom Dunn is in his 27th year at Iowa. He has compiled a 199-87-2 record. In 1998, Dunn was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and College Gymnast Association Central Region Coach of the Year. He has led the Hawkeyes to 17 top-10 finishes at the NCAA Championships. Iowa has competed at the NCAA meet 17 of the past 22 seasons. Dunn has also coached 30 individuals to 62 all-America honors and 20 gymnasts to 32 Big Ten titles.
QUOTING HEAD COACH Tom Dunn — “We are never ready for the Windy City Invitational, but at the same time we are always anxious to start the season. This week is the first check point in a ten week season that culminates with the Big Ten meet on March 24th. I look forward to seeing how our new athletes respond under fire and how our upperclassmen will handle the challenges of our new scoring rules. A picture of the 2006 Hawkeyes will come into focus this weekend.”
NEXT COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes will travel to Chicago again next week to compete against Illinois-Chicago on January 21. The meet will begin at 7 p.m.