Dec. 14, 2011
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa women’s gymnasts Jessa Hansen and Jessica Morreale have been named to the 2012 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch list. Hansen and Morreale were two of 16 gymnasts to appear on the conference watch list.
Hansen, a senior from Clive, Iowa, was a first team All-Big Ten selection last season. She was also an Academic All-Big Ten pick and was the Iowa women’s gymnastics nominee for the Big Ten Sportsmanship award. She won six event titles, including four on floor exercise. Hansen set career bests on all four events, plus the all-around.
Morreale, a freshman from DeKalb, Ill., was a five-time J.O. National Qualifier. She claimed championships in the all-around, bars and floor exercise at the 2011 High School National competition. Morreale was the 2010 J.O. National beam champion and finished fourth on bars.
Head coach Larissa Libby and the Hawkeyes open the 2011 season Jan. 6 in Mexico at the Cancun Classic.