Hawkeyes Open 2008 Season At Windy City Invite

Jan. 9, 2008

IOWA CITY – THIS WEEK
The Iowa men’s gymnastics team open the 2008 season at the Windy City Invitational Saturday in Chicago. The meet is hosted by the University of Illinois-Chicago. Competition will begin at 7 p.m. in the UIC Physical Education Building.

SEASON PREVIEW
The Hawkeyes begin the season as the ninth-ranked team in the country. Iowa finished sixth at the 2007 Big Ten Championships.

LAST YEAR AT THE WINDY CITY INVITE
Iowa finished sixth (six teams) scoring 198.4. Hawkeye Geoff Reins tied for third on the floor exercise with a 9.2 and Curtis Kleffman placed fourth (49.5) in the all-around competition.

SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES
Iowa returns nine letterwinners from 2007 when it finished with a 3-10 overall record and a sixth-place finish at the Big Ten Championships. All-Americans Geoff Reins (vault) and Jacob Becker (pommel horse) will lead the Hawkeyes. Ben Ketelsen, Michael Jiang, and John Haines are all newcomers to the 2008 roster. Team captains for the 2008 squad are yet to be determined.

HEAD COACH Tom Dunn
In his 29th year at Iowa, Head Coach Tom Dunn, has recorded a 210-107-2 record at Iowa. In 1998 and 2006, Dunn was named Big Ten Coach of the Year and College Gymnastics 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 18 of the past 23 seasons. Dunn has also coached 33 individuals to earn 66 all-America honors and 21 gymnasts to 34 Big Ten titles.

HAWKEYES RANKED IN PRESEASON POLLS
The Iowa men’s gymnastics team is ranked ninth in the NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Pre-Season Coaches Poll.

QUOTING HEAD COACH Tom Dunn
“It is always fun to go into Chicago and see how the team measures up. Unfortunately, we will be a little short handed this weekend, but plan to return to full strength in the next two or three weeks. It is a very long competitive season, with the NCAA’s in mid-April, and we will use each week to make ourselves more competitive.”

NEXT COMPETITION
The Hawkeyes will compete against Illinois-Chicago January 26th in Iowa City. Competition begins at 5 p.m.

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