GymHawks Prepare For A Pair Of Home Meets

Feb. 8, 2011

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This Week
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team will return home to host a pair of meets this weekend. The 23rd-ranked Hawkeyes will host No. 20 Denver Feb. 11, followed by Wisconsin-Stout Feb. 13. The Denver meet is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (CT) while the Wisconsin-Stout match-up will begin at 2 p.m. Both meets will be held in the UI Field House. Fans can follow both meets live from the Official Iowa Gymnastics Blog at hawkeyesports.com.

Scouting Denver
The University of Denver is currently 6-4 on the season. In their most recent outing, the Pioneers upset No. 15 Ohio State 196.375-195.575. They have a season team average of 194.629.

Scouting Wisconsin-Stout
Through four competitions, the Blue Devils are 5-4 (0-1). They will host the John Zuerlein Invitational Feb. 11 before traveling to Iowa City for Sunday’s meet. UW-Stout is led by senior Naomi DeLara who was recently named the Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference gymnastics specialist of the week.

Last Time Out
The Hawkeyes swept the all-around competition in a 194.375-194.850 loss at NC State Feb. 6. Senior Rebecca Simbhudas (39.325) won the all-around while junior Jessa Hansen (39.250) place second and senior Houry Gebeshian (39.150) finished third. With nine season bests set in the meet, the GymHawks set season team marks on vault (48.975) and bars (49.100).

Head Coach Larissa Libby
In her seventh season at Iowa, Larissa Libby has a career record of 55-64-1. Libby coached the 2010 GymHawks to a third place finish at the Big Ten Championships, their best finish in six years, as well as their fourth regional appearance in six seasons. She was named North Central Region Coach of the Year in 2009 for her efforts in guiding the GymHawks to a 10-5 record and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Regionals. She was also named co-Big Ten Coach of the Year in 2008. Libby served as associate head coach in 2004 and assistant coach from 2001-03 at Iowa before being named head coach in 2005.

Next Competition
After a busy weekend at home, the Hawkeyes will travel to Ames, IA, Feb. 18. The Cyclones are currently ranked 25th in the nation and will host Iowa inside Hilton Coliseum. Competition is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. (CT).