July 19, 2013
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa men’s gymnasts Lance Alberhasky, Jack Boyle, Matt Loochtan and Matt McGrath competed in the 2013 National Qualifier’s Senior Division at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Co., July 13-14, for a spot at the P&G Championships.
A total of 71 athletes contended for positions on the 14-man squad. Hawkeyes Loochtan and McGrath were two of the five Big Ten members to make the cut and will compete in the championships held in Hartford, Conn., Aug. 15-18, at the XL Center.
“Having successful representation at this meet not only shows how much the program has matured in the last year, it showcases a new level of intrinsic motivation within this current Hawkeye team,” head coach JD Reive said. “This is pinnacle of U.S. Olympic gymnastics and having two student-athletes qualify to the U.S. Championships speaks volumes about the program’s direction.”
Loochtan placed within the top-20 in each qualifier event he competed. He finished fourth in still rings (14.500), tied for 12th in floor (14.300), 16th in vault (14.400) and 19th in high bar. McGrath tied for fifth in floor (14.750), 10th in still rings (14.150), 13th in vault (14.500) and 42nd in parallel bars. Final results for the meet are available at USAGym.org .
Incoming UI freshman, Andrew Botto, also qualified to compete in the P&G Championships’ Junior Division.
The Hawkeyes, who also had three gymnasts, Javier Balboa, Brandon Field and Cory Paterson, compete in the World University Games in Kazano, Russia this summer, see these competitions as a way to continue improve and achieve success. In 2013, UI posted a fifth place national ranking and finished fifth at the NCAA Championships.