Feb. 25, 2008
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- gohawks.com
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
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This Week
The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team will host 27th-ranked Minnesota Friday. Competition will take place at the UI Field House at 7 p.m. Admission is $3, $2 for groups of 15 or more, and there is no admission fee for UI students or anyone under the age of 18. The theme of this week’s competition is Be Bold, Wear Gold. All fans attending are encouraged to wear gold to cheer on the Hawkeyes.
Last Week
Iowa traveled to Iowa State, Friday. The Hawkeyes lost to the Cyclones, 195.125-193.800. Iowa then returned home hosting Michigan State and Illinois, Sunday. The Hawkeyes dominated the competition, winning with a score of 195.575 while Michigan State scored 194.875 and Illinois finished with a 194.150. Jenifer Simbhudas finished first in the all-around with a 39.275. She also won on floor with a career-best 9.925. Simbhudas tied for second on bars with a 9.8 and tied for fourth on vault (9.725) and beam (9.825).
Other top scores for Iowa included freshman Houry Gebeshian on beam, earning a 9.875 to tie for first. She tied for third on floor with Katie Burke (9.825) and finished third in the all-around with a 39.1.
The Hawkeyes
Iowa is ranked 23rd nationally with a 6-4-1 record, while Simbhudas is second in the Big Ten all-around rankings with an average 39.025 and season-high 39.3. Burke is sixth in Big Ten all-around rankings with an average 38.541and season-high 39.075.
The Competition
Minnesota is ranked 27th nationally and seventh in the Big Ten with a 193.439 average. The Gophers’ Carmelina Carabajal is ranked fourth in conference beam rankings and third in the all-around with a 39.064 average. Iowa and Minnesota competed twice in 2007, each winning one competition.
Head Coach Larissa Libby
In four years as Iowa Head Coach, Larissa Libby has recorded a 26-46-1 record. Before becoming head coach, Libby was Iowa’s associate head coach for one year and an assistant coach the previous three seasons. While associate head coach, Libby helped lead the GymHawks to a school record 49.425 beam performance in 2004. In addition to the record breaking performance, the 2004 GymHawks recorded a 49.0 or higher seven times on beam under Libby’s guidance.
Next Competition
The Hawkeyes will travel to Texas Woman’s University March 2. Competition will take place at Pioneer Hall in Denton, TX at 2 p.m.
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