Feb. 23, 2009
Complete Release in PDF Format
This Week
With just three dual meets left in the regular season, No. 21 Iowa (8-4, 2-1 Big Ten) returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena Saturday, hosting Maryland. Meet time is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Simbhudas Earns Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week Honors
Sophomore Rebecca Simbhudas earned Big Ten co-Gymnast of the Week honors this week after capturing an all-around title against Iowa State and breaking a record against Southern Utah. She tallied a 39.250 in the all-around against Iowa State, earning first place on bars (9.825) and beam (9.850). It was her first all-around title.
Against Southern Utah, Simbhudas posted a 39.250 in the all-around, good enough for second place and also scored a 9.925 on balance beam, the highest mark any Iowa gymnast has received on that event since former Hawkeye Danielle Legeai posted the same mark March 17, 2006, against Iowa State. She shared the honor with Brandi Personett of Penn State. It is Rebecca’s first-ever weekly laurel.
Scouting Maryland
Maryland (10-5, 7-2 EAGL) is coming off a dual meet win against New Hampshire last Friday, in which it scored its highest team score since 2005 (195.1). They entered Troester’s Top 25 poll at No. 25, their first ranking since 2005.
Sophomore Abbey Adams won the all-around title (39.150), taking first place on uneven bars and floor exercise.
Maryland is coached by Bob Nelligan, who is in his 31st season as head coach of the Terrapins. Coming into the season, he owned a career record of 478-426-4.
GymHawks In The Rankings
The GymHawks are making noise in Troester’s rankings. As a team, Iowa ranks third in the North Central Region with a team regional qualifying score of 194.162, putting them ahead of 2009 opponents Iowa State, Southern Utah and Wisconsin-Whitewater. The GymHawks’ average on the season is 194.162 in eight meets, which is fifth-best in the North Central Region. On each event, Iowa ranks second on vault and floor exercise and fourth on uneven bars and balance beam.
Individually, senior Jenifer Simbhudas ranks fifth on floor and sixth on vault. R. Simbhudas is tied for fifth on balance beam. Sophomore Houry Gebeshian, who has won three individual all-around titles this season, is seventh-best on beam and tied for tenth on floor. Both Gebeshian and J. Simbhudas are ranked in the top ten as all-around competitors (Gebeshian — 5th; Simbhudas — 8th).
Last Time Out
Iowa dropped a dual meet to Southern Utah last Friday in Cedar City, UT, 195.675-194.275. Sophomore Arielle Sucich scored season highs on uneven bars (9.800) and vault (9.75), while junior Jenny Donar scored a season-high on floor (9.75).