Jan. 11, 2011
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Iowa and the Big Ten Network
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
Complete Release in PDF Format
THIS WEEK: Iowa will begin its 2011 season this weekend with the Windy City Invitational this Saturday in Chicago. Start time is set for 7:00 p.m. The Hawkeyes placed fourth at this tournament, hosted by the University of Illinois-Chicago, to begin last season.
A NEW ERA: The Hawkeyes will have a new man at the helm this season, as JD Reive was announced to fill the head coaching vacancy left by the retirement of Tom Dunn after his 30th season. Reive is the seventh men’s gymnastics coach in program history. Reive comes from Stanford, where he served as an assistant coach for seven seasons and helped the Cardinal reach four top-three finishes at the NCAA Championships. He was also honored as the Collegiate Gymnastics Association Assistant Coach of the Year on three occasions. Reive also coached the U.S. National Team at the 2009 Toyota Cup in Japan. Reive graduated from the University of Nebraska in 2000. Assisting Reive will be Dmitri Trouch and Brad Virkler.
YEAR IN REVIEW: The Hawkeyes finished with a 6-11 overall record last season, and a 1-6 slate in Big Ten action. Iowa defeated Illinois-Chicago on the road, and came away with fourth place finishes in the Windy City Invitational and in the Pacific Coast Classic. At the NCAA Qualifier in West Point, New York, the Hawkeyes had four gymnasts qualify for the NCAA Championships. Matt McGrath qualified on vault, Jonathan Buese on horizontal bars, Mike Jiang on pommel horse, and Zach Cazabon on parallel bars. After the season, Buese and Adam Wilson were named to the academic All-Big Ten, and Buese was given the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award and the N.R. Holzaepfel MVP award.
Mr. ALL-AMERICAN: Iowa’s Mike Jiang walked away from the 2010 season with All-American honors, placing seventh at the NCAA Championships on pommel horse. Jiang scored a 14.550 and a 14.000 to place among the best in the nation. Jiang scored a 13.500 at the NCAA Qualifier to reach the NCAA Championships. Jiang will be back this season as one of three seniors on the roster.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMMERS: There will be an abundance of youth this season for Iowa, with underclassmen out-numbering upperclassmen by a 12-5 margin. The Hawkeyes will also have six newcommers in the gym this season. Iowa City’s own Lance Alberhasky will compete for the Hawks after being named Iowa Gymnast of the Year. Angelo Bronzino of Aurora (IL), David Dyckman of Foster City (CA), Brandon Hill of Sparks (NV), and Samuel Wright of Lafayette (CO) round out the freshmen. Javier Balboa will also be in his first year at Iowa, transferring as a junior from Mexico’s Instituto Technologico y de Estudious Superiores.
2011 BIG TEN GYMNASTS TO WATCH: Iowa garnered some preseason recognition with the release of the 2011 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch list, which featured Iowa’s own Lance Alberhasky and Javiery Balboa. Alberhasky won state titles in five events his senior year, and also placed third on high bar at the Junior Olympic Nationals on top of being a three-time academic All-American. Balboa will be in his first year at Iowa after transferring from Monterrey, Mexico. Balboa placed first on the parallel bars at the 2010 Mexico Nationals. Balboa also placed second in all-around at the 2010 Central American Trials. Balboa is a junior this season.