Feb. 28, 2009
IOWA CITY, IA – On “Senior Night” inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena Saturday, the 21st-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team dominated No. 25 Maryland, 194.875-192.175. Sophomore Houry Gebeshian won her fourth all-around title of the season with a 39.300, leading Iowa to team victories in all four events. With the win, Iowa improves its record to 9-4 (2-1 Big Ten) and 6-2 against ranked opponents.
“It was great to see us get back on track, especially at home,” said head coach Larissa Libby. “We had some great performances tonight and put in some fantastic efforts on all events, but a return to normalcy was what we wanted to have tonight and I think we got it.”
Iowa started the dual meet on vault, recording a 49.225, their highest team mark of the season on that event. The GymHawks took home the first four places and five GymHawks recorded season-highs, including senior Jenifer Simbhudas (9.900), Gebeshian (9.850) and fellow sophomores Rebecca Simbhudas (9.875), and Arielle Sucich (9.775), as well as freshman Rachel Corcoran (9.750). Freshman Annie Szatkowski scored a 9.825 and placed fourth, a quarter-point shy of her career-high.
“I told them in the locker room before the meet that I wanted them to start happy,” said Libby. “We’ve been worried about the little things the last couple of weeks, so to start like we did with that worry-free mentality was important for us.”
The GymHawks maintained their advantage through the second rotation on uneven bars. Gebeshian tied a season-high with a 9.800, with R. Simbhudas also receiving the same score. Sucich scored a 9.775 and J. Simbhudas scored a 9.750.
Maryland closed the Hawkeye advantage during the third rotation, but Iowa still maintained grip of the lead after performing on balance beam. J. Simbhudas scored a 9.825 on the event, while Gebeshian finished close behind with a 9.8. Freshman Jessa Hansen bounced back after a slip-up on uneven bars to score a 9.775 and finish in fourth place. And competing as an exhibition performer, Szatkowski scored a 9.650 in her first action on beam this season.
Iowa separated themselves from Maryland in the final rotation, finishing 1-2-3 on floor while the Terrapins struggled on balance beam, essentially sealing another victory for the Hawkeyes. Hansen led the GymHawks on floor, scoring a 9.875 and finishing first. Gebeshian capped off her impressive night with a 9.850, good enough for second place while J. Simbhudas scored a 9.800. Also, Sucich and R. Simbhudas received matching scores of 9.725.
Iowa closes out its home slate next Friday when it hosts Kentucky. The dual meet is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
Final Team ScoresPlace Team Vault Bars Beam Floor Total1. Iowa 49.225 48.300 48.375 48.975 194.8752. Maryland 48.700 47.675 47.025 48.775 192.175
Individual Results (Winner plus Iowa)Vault1. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.9002. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8753. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.8504. Annie Szatkowski (Iowa) 9.8257. Arielle Sucich (Iowa) 9.7759. Rachel Corcoran (Iowa) 9.750="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
Uneven BarsT1. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.800T1. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8004. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.750T5. Arielle Sucich (Iowa) 9.6759. Jennie Schurman (Iowa) 9.27512. Jessa Hansen (Iowa) 9.025="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
Balance BeamT1. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.8253. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.8004. Jessa Hansen (Iowa) 9.7755. Andrea Hurlburt (Iowa) 9.7257. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.25011. Brandi Loffer (Iowa) 8.900="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
Floor Exercise1. Jessa Hansen (Iowa) 9.8752. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 9.8503. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.800T7. Arielle Sucich (Iowa) 9.725T7. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 9.72512. Jenny Donar (Iowa) 9.525="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>
All-Around1. Houry Gebeshian (Iowa) 39.3002. Jenifer Simbhudas (Iowa) 39.2754. Rebecca Simbhudas (Iowa) 38.650="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/ahref="http:>="https://hawkeyesports.com/http:%3E%3C/strong%3E%3C/pre%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cbr%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3C/p%3E%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%3Cp%3E%3Cimg%20src="/images/2016/6/1//thhh.jpg" width="180" height="62" class="imported">