March 2, 2007
IOWA CITY – The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team defeated Southern Utah today, 193.875-192.55. Iowa had two event winners in the win.
On vault, Katie Burke, Jenifer Simbhudas, and Katie Turcotte all tied for first place with a 9.75. Kara Pinjuv tied for fourth with Elise Wheeler of Southern Utah, scoring 9.7. On bars, Wheeler won the event, while Simbhudas scored a personal best 9.775 to finish second in the event. Pinjuv scored a fourth-place 9.725.
“Tonight’s meet was our hardest. We came back on floor, but it was too late,” said Pinjuv. “We have some ground to make up on Sunday if we want to beat Minnesota and Iowa State.”
On beam, Danielle Legeai had the best placing for Iowa, scoring 9.725 to tie for second place with Southern Utah’s Elise Wheeler. Katie Burke placed fourth with a 9.7, and Nikki Page scored a sixth-place 9.6. On floor exercise, Iowa claimed the top three spots. Simbhudas placed first, scoring 9.875, while Burke placed second with a 9.825, and Ally Zipse scored a third-place 9.8.
“Today was a great learning experience. We were on a high after last week, and didn’t come with our best competitive spirit,” said Burke. “We need to come to every meet prepared to compete.”
In the all-around, Southern Utah claimed the top two spots. Burke placed third, scoring 38.9, while Turcotte finished fourth (38.6), and Simbhudas placed fifth (38.35).
“Today’s meet was a disappointment because we would rather have lost to Southern Utah and posted a higher score than winning with the score we did. I’m faithful and have every belief that on Sunday this team will show that they are much better than what they did tonight,” said Iowa Head Coach Larissa Libby.
Iowa will host Iowa State and Minnesota, Sunday at 2 p.m.
Team Results Vault Bars Beam Floor Total1. Iowa 48.475 48.425 48.150 48.825 193.8752. SUU 47.975 48.575 47.550 48.450 192.550
Individual ResultsVault (winner plus Iowa)1t. Katie Burke 9.7501t. Jenifer Simbhudas 9.7501t. Katie Turcotte 9.7504t. Kara Pinjuv 9.7008. Jenny Donar 9.5259t. Nikki Page 9.500
Uneven Bars (winner plus Iowa)1. Elise Wheeler (SUU) 9.8252. Jenifer Simbhudas 9.7754. Kara Pinjuv 9.7255t. Beth Dilick 9.7008. Katie Burke 9.6259. Katie Turcotte 9.60012. Ally Zipse 9.000
Balance Beam (winner plus Iowa)1. Leah Sakhitab (SUU) 9.8002t. Danielle Legeai 9.7254. Katie Burke 9.7006. Nikki Page 9.6007. Kara Pinjuv 9.5758. Katie Turcotte 9.55012. Jenifer Simbhudas 8.950
Floor Exercise (winner plus Iowa)1. Jenifer Simbhudas 9.8752. Katie Burke 9.8253. Ally Zipse 9.8005t. Katie Turcotte 9.7009t. Danielle Legeai 9.62511. Amanda Rudolph 9.550
All-Around (winner plus Iowa)1t. Leah Sakhitab (SUU) 38.9751t. Elise Wheeler (SUU) 38.9753. Katie Burke 38.9004. Katie Turcotte 38.6005. Jenifer Simbhudas 38.350
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