Dec. 14, 2011
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- =”” li=”” br=”” a=”” video=”” hawkeye=”” free=”” network:=”” ten=”” big=””>24 Hawkeyes to Watch
IOWA CITY, Iowa – University of Iowa men’s gymnasts Javier Balboa and Matt McGrath have been named to the 2012 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List. A total of 12 of the Big Ten’s top gymnasts were selected for the list.
McGrath is a returning NCAA All-American on vault, hailing from Wheaton, Ill. The junior placed fifth at the NCAA Championships on vault last season. He also was ranked nationally on floor exercise throughout the regular season and set the school record on the event with a 15.500. McGrath had 13 top-three finishes last season. It is the second year in a row Balboa has been named to the annual watch list.
Balboa made his debut with Iowa last season after transferring from Instituto Technologico y de Estudios Superiores in Mexico. The Monterrey, Mexico, native reached the NCAA Championships on parallel bars, placing 48th in the field after finishing 13th at the NCAA Qualifier on the event. Balboa was the lone Hawkeye to compete on all-around last season. The Hawkeyes will get the season started on Jan. 14th at the Windy City Invitational in Chicago.
2012 BIG TEN GYMNASTS TO WATCH
C.J. Maestas, Fr., Illinois
Tyler Mizoguchi, Sr., Illinois
Javier Balboa, Jr., Iowa
Matt McGrath, Jr., Iowa
Adrian de los Angeles, Fr., Michigan
Sam Mikulak, So., Michigan
Russell Dabritz, Sr., Minnesota
DJ Repp, Sr., Minnesota
Wyatt Aycock, So., Nebraska
Andreas Hofer, Sr., Nebraska
Kris Done, So., Ohio State
Misha Koudinov, So., Ohio State
Felix Aronovich, Jr., Penn State
Craig Hernandez, Fr., Penn State