March 12, 2011
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Cedar City, UT – The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team improved to a record of 11-6 with a tri-meet victory over Southern Utah and Utah State. The 17th-ranked Hawkeyes posted a season high of 196.450 while Southern Utah (195.400) placed second and Utah State (193.150) finished third. A GymHawk won, or at least tied for first, in every event as four student athletes posted career marks. Competition was held in Southern Utah’s Centrum Arena in Cedar City, UT.
Senior Rebecca Simbhudas won the all-around with a score of 39.375. Simbhudas, who is ranked as the eighth-best all-around competitor in the country, has won seven-consecutive all-around titles and nine this season. Senior Houry Gebeshian placed second with a season high of 39.300 and junior Jessa Hansen finished seventh with a 38.725.
The GymHawks began the meet on beam where they finished first with a 48.925. Southern Utah (48.650) finished second and Utah State (47.500) placed third. Simbhudas led the charge with a score of 9.875, earning her a share of first place. Hansen finished third with a 9.850 while Gebeshian and freshman Tesla Cox tied for fifth with scores of 9.775.
Iowa moved to floor where they posted an impressive 49.025. Southern Utah came in second with a 49.000 and Utah State finished third with a 48.575. Hansen won the title with a 9.875 while junior Annie Szatkowski tied for third with a 9.825. Gebeshian posted a 9.800 to tie for fifth and Simbhudas tied for seventh with a 9.775.
The Hawkeyes posted a season high of 49.325 on vault as Southern Utah (48.925) and Utah State (48.600) placed second and third, respectively. Freshman Maya Wickus took the title on vault with a career mark of 9.925. Simbhudas (9.875) tied for second as Gebeshian and Szatkowski tied for fifth with scores of 9.850. Szatkowski’s performance tied her career-best. Additionally Hansen and senior Arielle Sucich tied for seventh with scores of 9.825. Sucich’s mark set a new season high for the Ft. Salonga, NY, native.
Iowa finished the meet with a win on bars, posting a 49.175. Southern Utah finished second with a 48.825 while Utah State placed third with a 48.475. Gebeshian won the title with a career performance of 9.875. Simbhudas, along with sophomore Emma Stevenson, posted a 9.850 and tied for second. Stevenson’s mark was also a career high. Sucich recorded a 9.825 to finish tied for fourth and Cox finished tied for seventh with a 9.775.
The GymHawks will begin their post season at the Big Ten Championships March 19. The conference action will be hosted by the University of Minnesota and is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. (CT) inside the Sports Pavilion.