Jan. 30, 2006
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Las Vegas–
THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will travel to Las Vegas to compete in the Winter Cup Challenge Thursday thru Saturday. Michael Reavis, Curtis Kleffman, Jacques Bouchard and Geoff Reins will be representing the Hawkeyes. The meet will include two individual event finals and all-around qualification sessions at noon and 5 p.m. Thursday; and the all-around finals at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.
THE WINTER CUP CHALLENGE — Fourteen spots on the 2006 Men’s U.S. Senior National Team will be up for grabs at the Winter Cup Challenge, as the nation’s top gymnasts are evaluated at the Las Vegas Sports Center Arena. The four Hawkeyes will be competing against 2004 Olympic silver-medalist Jason Gatson along with members of the Senior and Junior National Team.
LAST YEAR AT THE WINTER CUP — Reavis was the only Hawkeye to place in the individual event finals. He took fourth place on floor exercise (8.825), third on vault (9.125) and fourth on horizontal bar (8.725).
LAST TIME OUT — The Hawkeyes came in first against Illinois-Chicago, winning every event except still rings. Michael Reavis won the all-around (53.300) for the second time in two meets. Curtis Kleffman came in first on pommel horse with a score of 9.350 and finished second on parallel bars (8.450). Geoff Reins came in first on vault (9.550). Iowa finished with a team score 208.250.
Michael Reavis — Reavis has placed first in the all-around in both meets this season. He has earned the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week Award once this season and is ranked first nationally on the GymInfo individual rankings in the all-around.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES — Iowa has 12 lettermen from 2005 when it finished with a 12-8 record overall and a fifth place finish at the Big Ten Championships. All-American senior Reavis (Tallahassee, FL) will lead the Hawkeyes in 2006, along with senior captain, Jack Bouchard.
NATIONAL RANKINGS — The Iowa men’s gymnastics team is ranked fifth in the GymInfo national rankings.
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.
NEXT COMPETITION — The Hawkeyes host Oklahoma at their first home meet of the 2006 season February 10 in the UI Fieldhouse. Competition is set to begin at 7 p.m.