Jan. 12, 2010
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch (2009-10 season)
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
THIS WEEK This week the University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team opens the 2010 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. Competing teams for the invite include UIC, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Ohio State.
SEASON PREVIEW The Hawkeyes begin the season as the 10th ranked team in the country. Iowa finished sixth at the 2009 Big Ten Championships.
LAST YEAR AT THE WINDY CITY INVITE Iowa placed sixth with a 325.900 score, while Big Ten foe Michigan won the meet with 346.100 total team points. Freshman Zach Cazabon had an outstanding collegiate debut, placing fifth in the all-around competition with an 80.85, also leading the Hawkeyes on pommel horse and parallel bars scoring 13.10 and 14.00 respectively. Sophomore Ben Ketelsen placed 10th on vault with a 15.10 while junior Reid Urbain finished 11th on rings with a 14.20.
SCOUTING THE HAWKEYES The Black and Gold return 11 letterwinners, including Iowa’s “one-two punch” of senior Jon Buese and junior Ben Ketelson. The Iowa roster is made up of 11 underclassmen on the 18-man roster with newcomers: Todd Becker, Anton Gryshayev, Timm Krueger, Jack McClay, Matt McGrath and Broderick Shemansky.
HEAD COACH Tom Dunn In his 29-year career as Iowa’s head gymnastics coach, Dunn has elevated the program’s status to one of a perennial national contender. With an Iowa record of 215-129-2, Dunn has led the Hawkeyes to 23 top-ten finishes in the NCAA Championships, and has competed in the national meet 24 of the past 29 seasons. Dunn has helped 33 individuals to earn 67 all-America honors and 22 gymnasts win 35 Big Ten titles. There have been 122 academic all-Big Ten selections and 78 all-America scholar athletes in his 29 seasons as Iowa’s head coach.
QUOTING HEAD COACH Tom Dunn “The first meet of the year is always exciting, especially when several freshmen will be involved. The team has worked hard this fall and we are all anxious to see how much we have closed the gap on the competition. The Windy City Invitational is always a good barometer of the strength in the Big Ten.”