Feb. 17, 2012
IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team won all four events in a 194.150-192.750 victory over Iowa State Friday evening. The No. 24 GymHawks crowned three different individual champions in a decisive win over their instate rivals. Over 1,200 fans showed up to cheer on the GymHawks inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena, site of the 2012 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Championships.
“Tonight wasn’t the best meet we could have put together, but it was a huge step forward for our team,” said Head Coach Larissa Libby. “We showed poise, confidence and resiliency and took care of what needed to be done.”
The GymHawks began the meet on vault where they topped the Cyclones, 48.700-48.125. Iowa earned the top four scores in the event. Senior Rachel Corcoran won the event title with a mark of 9.825. Junior Maya Wickus and freshman Emma Willis finished second and third, respectively. Wickus posted a score of 9.800 while Willis earned a 9.725. Sophomore Tesla Cox finished tied for fourth with a score of 9.700.
Moving to bars, Iowa outscored Iowa State 48.225-48.125. Junior Emma Stevenson brought home the event title for the second consecutive week as she tied with Iowa State senior Celine Paulus. Both gymnasts scored a 9.825 apiece. Senior Jessa Hansen and junior Kaitlynn Urano each posted a 9.750 to tie for fourth.
Iowa competed on beam in the third rotation where it beat the Cyclones, 48.375-47.675. Hansen recorded a 9.850 to win the event title as freshman Sydney Hoerr tied for second with a 9.750. Willis (9.675) and senior Annie Szatkowski (9.600) finished sixth and seventh, respectively.
The GymHawks closed the meet on floor where they recorded a meet high of 48.850. Stevenson won her third event title in eight days with an impressive mark of 9.850. Hansen and Hoerr posted a 9.775 apiece to finished tied for fourth. Corcoran, along with freshman Miranda Meyer, earned a score of 9.725 and tied for seventh.
“Emma, like all of our girls, works so hard to do the best she can for her team,” said Libby. “She leads by example and the team is better off because of her. To see her hard work pay off and for her to get that recognition is the most you can ask for as a coach.”
In her first all-around outing since the first week of January, Hansen posted a mark of 39.025 to win the title. The Clive, Iowa, native was Iowa’s lone all-around competitor.
“Jessa is a trooper and showed us again tonight why we have all the confidence in the world in her,” said Libby. “We weren’t even sure if she would compete in the all-around until the last minute. She stepped in, told me not to worry and took care of her job.”
Friday’s meet was Iowa’s annual Pink Meet. In its ninth year, the Pink Meet is designed to raise awareness of breast cancer and honor those affected by it. Fans and gymnasts alike donned pink attire to support the cause.
“The importance of this meet goes beyond us all,” said Libby. “It touches close to home for our team, but the most important thing it does is raise awareness. If our efforts cause one person in the arena to take the time to get a check-up, it’s more than worth it and could possibly save a life.”
The GymHawks remain home for a meet against Minnesota on Feb. 24. Action is slated to begin at 7 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.