Jan. 5, 2008
CANCUN, MEXICO – Iowa kicked off the 2008 season in Cancun, Friday, placing second with a team total 192.875. Oklahoma won the event (195.175), while West Virginia placed third (192.125) and UW-Whitewater finished fourth with a score of 181.550.
Iowa competed on floor for the first rotation scoring 48.775 overall. Senior Katie Burke and junior Kara Pinjuv tied at 9.825 for the Hawkeyes’ highest score in the event. Jenny Donar scored a 9.75 while Brandi Loffer earned a 9.725 and Nikki Page followed with a 9.65.
Iowa then moved on to vault, scoring a collective 48.050. Jenifer Simbhudas earned the team high with a 9.75. Pinjuv came in second for Iowa, scoring 9.7, while Page earned a 9.575. In addition, Houry Gebeshian scored a 9.55 in her first collegiate vault competition.
Next competing on bars, Iowa had a consistent performance and earned a team total 48.250. In her first showing for the Hawkeyes, freshman Arielle Sucich had a strong bars performance, scoring 9.7 for Iowa’s best score in the event. Ally Zipse and Loffer tied for the next highest score with a 9.675. Gebeshian earned a 9.625 while Burke scored 9.575 in the event.
Wrapping up competition on beam, the Hawkeyes scored 47.800. Gebeshian claimed Iowa’s best score in the event posting a 9.775 while Simbhudas and Burke tied for the Hawkeyes second best score at 9.65.
In the afternoon collegiate session, L.S.U. took first with a meet-record 195.725 points. The Tigers were followed by Denver at 193.200, Minnesota at 192.272 and Texas Woman’s University at 190.900.
The Hawkeyes next competition will be at L.S.U., Friday, January 11, at 7 p.m.
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