GymHawks Fight Back at Regionals

April 6, 2013

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Complete Results

NORMAN, Okla. — The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team scored 194.475 for sixth place at its sixth consecutive NCAA postseason appearance. No. 2 Oklahoma won the meet, totaling 197.375. No. 11 Stanford earned second (196.800) followed by No. 22 Washington (195.925), No. 14 Penn State (195.875) and Southern Utah (194.850).

Freshman Kyra Trowbridge, Iowa’s top scorer on floor and vault, tied for third place on vault, with a career-best 9.900.

The top two teams, Oklahoma and Stanford, will continue on to the NCAA national championships in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 19-21, hosted by UCLA. Additionally, Penn State senior Sharaya Musser and Washington senior Lauren Rodgers tied for second in the all-around (39.375) to qualify to the national championships.

“We did not anticipate having such a slow start on bars,” said head coach Larissa Libby. “It’s been our strongest event the entire season. The last three events were really strong, but it’s going to take four. As we’re moving forward, hopefully the girls will take a look and realize what it’s going to take to get to the top, and that starts today.”

Iowa started on bars, tallying 48.250. The GymHawks, usually rock solid on the event, counted a fall for the first time this season. Senior Emma Stevenson paced Iowa with 9.825, and freshman Adara Griffin posted a career-best 9.800. Sophomore Sydney Hoerr earned 9.750, and senior Maya Wickus scored 9.725. Sophomore Emma Willis and freshman Alie Glover scored 9.150 and 9.050 with an uncharacteristic falls on their release moves.

The Hawkeyes moved to beam and totaled 48.275. Willis led the way with 9.800, and Hoerr followed with 9.775. Glover earned 9.725, Trowbridge scored 9.625, and sophomore Caitlin Tanzer contributed 9.350. Freshman Maryah Huntley made her collegiate debut on beam, scoring 8.950.

After a bye, Iowa took the floor, posting 49.000. Trowbridge was the Hawkeyes’ top scorer, earning 9.850. Willis scored 9.825, Hoerr posted 9.800, and Stevenson added 9.775. Iowa also counted a 9.775 from Huntley.

Iowa closed the competition on vault, tallying 48.950. Trowbridge led Iowa with a stuck landing, earning a career-high 9.900. Wickus scored 9.850, Glover posted 9.750, and Griffin and Willis added a pair of 9.725s.

“Obviously the goal was to make nationals, and we fell short of that tonight,” said Stevenson. “This team has been through so much, and it’s really been a testament to our character. I’ve had a lot of highs, and I couldn’t have asked for a better season, a better career and a greater experience.”