March 3, 2012
DENTON, Texas — The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team posted a season high team score and reeled in three individual event titles on the way to a first place finish over Texas Women’s University, Brigham Young and Southeast Missouri State. Iowa chalked up an impressive 195.875. TWU (195.125) finished second, ahead of BYU (194.900) and SEMO (188.925). The competition was hosted by TWU inside Kitty Magee Arena in Denton, Texas.
“We looked like a different team out there tonight,” said Head Coach Larissa Libby. “We still made some mistakes but we had a confidence tonight that was great to see. We’re continuing to improve, but we need to peak when it counts.”
Iowa opened the meet on bars with a meet-leading 49.175 and sported scores of 9.750 or better. Sophomore Tesla Cox posted a career high of 9.900 to bring home the event title. Senior Jordan Eszlinger tied for second place with a mark of 9.875 and senior Jessa Hansen (9.825) tied for fifth. Junior Emma Stevenson tallied a 9.800 to tie for 10th and junior Kaitlynn Urano tied for 13th with a score of 9.775. Additionally, freshman Emma Willis finished 18th with a 9.750.
The GymHawks also posted the best score of the meet on beam (49.050). Hansen won the event title with a mark of 9.875. Cox tied for fourth with a 9.825 as Willis and senior Annie Szatkowski tied for seventh with a 9.800 apiece. Senior Rachel Corcoran posted a 9.750 and tied for 13th.
Iowa moved to floor in the third rotation where it earned a score of 48.700. Freshman Miranda Meyer tied for second with a score of 9.825 while freshman Sydney Hoerr tied for fourth with a 9.800. Corcoran (9.725) finished 11th and Hansen tied for 12th with a 9.700.
The GymHawks competed on vault in the fourth rotation and earned a mark of 48.950. Hansen posted a 9.825 to tie for second and junior Maya Wickus (9.800) tied for fourth. Corcoran, Cox and Hoerr all tallied scores of 9.775 to tie for sixth. Hansen was Iowa’s top all-around competitor once again. The Clive, Iowa, native won the competition with an impressive mark of 39.225. Willis finished third with a score of 38.925.
“As impressive as Jessa was tonight, we know that she has more to show,” added Libby. “She hasn’t been in the all-around line up as much this year, but she delivers every time we ask her to. She continues to improve with each meet.”
The GymHawks return home on March 9 for their final home meet of the season before they host the Big Ten Championships on March 24. Iowa will host Libby’s alma mater, Louisiana State, beginning at 7 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.