Hawkeyes Host Oklahoma, Travel To Nebraska

Feb. 7, 2006

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Iowa City, IA —

THIS WEEK — The University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team will host its first home meet of the season against second-ranked Oklahoma Friday. Competition is set to begin at 7 p.m. in the UI Fieldhouse. The GymHawks travel to Nebraska to compete against the 14th-ranked Cornhuskers Sunday.

LAST YEAR AGAINST OKLAHOMA — Iowa matched a school record 219.025 against the Sooners, but still lost (223.575). Michael Reavis set a new school record on the all-around scoring 54.850. Oklahoma finished its season as NCAA champions.

LAST YEAR AGAINST NEBRASKA — Reavis came in fourth in the all-around (52.7) as the Hawkeyes fell to the Cornhuskers, 215.325-214.15.

LAST TIME OUT — Last week, three GymHawks traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Winter Cup Challenge. Reavis was one of 14 competitors to make the U.S. national team. It was the first time since 1996 that a Hawkeye has made the team. Curtis Kleffman came in second on pommel horse (29.100) and 18th in the all-around 165.4.

REAVIS FARES WELL — Reavis won the National Event Championship on floor exercise with a combined two-day score of 30.2 at the Winter Cup Challenge. He was the only Big Ten gymnast to finish in the top eight places in the all-around. He finished sixth in the all-around to earn a place on the 2006 U.S. National Team. Reavis is ranked second in the all-around in the GymInfo national rankings.

NATIONAL RANKINGS — The Hawkeyes are 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 202-90-2 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 — “Our first home meet may be our biggest challenge of the season. Oklahoma is the defending NCAA Champions and they are presently ranked second in the nation to Ohio State. Their team score of 216.2 is the highest in the nation at this point. The number one Sooner athlete is Jonathan Horton. He finished second in the Winter Cup National Championships this past weekend and is ranked as the number one NCAA All-around gymnast. Hawkeye Michael Reavis is the number two NCAA All-around gymnast. Both Reavis and Horton excel on floor exercise, but Reavis had the edge last weekend and was crowned US Champion on that event. Horton finished third.”

NEXT COMPETITION — On February 18 the Hawkeyes return home to host Michigan in the UI Fieldhouse. Competition is set to begin at 7 p.m.