Feb. 28, 2012
IOWA CITY, Iowa — This Week
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team travels to Denton, Texas for a four-team meet hosted by the Texas Woman’s University on March 3. Along with TWU, the GymHawks will compete alongside Brigham Young University and Southeast Missouri State. Action is set to begin at 7 p.m. (CT) inside Kitty Magee Arena.
Live Blog
Iowa team manager Nicole Pineau will offer interactive content live from Kitty Magee 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 her third-consecutive title on beam with a career mark of 9.900 against Minnesota on Feb. 24. Iowa fell to the 22nd-ranked Golden Gophers 196.250-194.100. Senior Jessa Hansen also posted a career score as she tied for first on beam (9.875). The GymHawks collected season high scores on vault (49.075) and bars (49.200).
In the Rankings
According to troester.com, the GymHawks are ranked fourth in the North Central region and 13th nationally on bars. Junior Emma Stevenson is second in the region and tied for 33rd nationally in the event. Iowa is also ranked fifth in the North Central region and 27th nationally on vault. Maya Wickus is seventh in the region on vault.
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.
Up Next
The GymHawks will return to Iowa City for their final home meet before they host the 2012 Big Ten Championships. Iowa hosts Louisiana State inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 9. Competition will begin at 7 p.m. (CT).