Feb. 14, 2012
Complete Release in PDF Format
This Week
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team returns to Carver-Hawkeye Arena to host Iowa State on Friday evening. In their second meeting of the season, the 24th-ranked GymHawks will take on the Cyclones beginning at 7 p.m. (CT).
Pink Meet
Free pink Iowa Gymnastics t-shirts will be given to the first 250 fans through the gates, along with a mini bottle of finger nail polish for the first 50 kids. Fans can also register to win gift certificates to La’James and tickets to the Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships. Come help celebrate Women’s Appreciation Day and cheer on the GymHawks.
Live Blog
Iowa team manager Nicole Pineau will offer interactive content live from Carver-Hawkeye Arena via the Official Iowa Gymnastics Blog. This feature gives Hawkeye fans the opportunity to voice their opinion by submitting questions and comments, while receiving up-to-the-minute play-by-play, notes and stats about the meet and the Hawkeyes. The live blog will begin at approximately 6:45 p.m. (CT) and run throughout the meet.
Last Time Out
Junior Emma Stevenson won the event title on bars as the GymHawks fell to Ohio State, 194.425-196.125, on Feb. 10. Stevenson won the event with a personal best of 9.875. Iowa was led on beam by senior Jessa Hansen. The Clive, Iowa, native finished second with a mark of 9.850. Iowa’s lone all-around competitor, freshman Emma Willis, scored a 38.525 to finish second.
Head Coach Larissa Libby
In her eighth season at Iowa, Libby has a career record of 65-72-2. The Hawkeyes are searching for their fifth consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, the sixth in Libby’s tenure. She coached the 2011 GymHawks to an 11-6 record and a sixth place finish at the Big Ten Championships, this coming after a third place finish in 2010, their best finish in six years. Libby coached three All-Big Ten selections in 2011 — Rebecca Simbhudas, Houry Gebeshian and Jessa Hansen. Libby was named North Central Region Coach of the Year in 2009 for her efforts after 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.
Quoting Coach Gaveika
“Our team has shown great talent all season, but this week is our opportunity to return home and turn a corner. This is the most talented team I’ve coached and this meet can give us the confidence boost needed to carry us to the Big Ten Championships.”