March 24, 2014
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Six University of Iowa women’s gymnasts have been selected to compete at NCAA Regional competition. Junior All-Big Ten honoree Sydney Hoerr (all-around), sophomores Alie Glover (all-around) and Maryah Huntley (alternate on floor), and freshmen Angel Metcalf (all-around), Jordyn Doherty (vault) and Mollie Drenth (floor) will compete at the Minneapolis Regional at 6 p.m. (CT) on April 5. Competition will be held at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis.
Six teams, five all-around competitions (not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event – who has a minimum Regional Qualifying Score of 9.4 — were named to each of the six predetermined host sites. All-around competitions and event specialists are assigned to their respective geographic region.
The top two teams and top two all-around competitors (not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the national championships in Birmingham, Ala., April 18-10. The event winners at each regional site will advance to the national championships (in that event only) if they are not part of a qualifying team or an all-around qualifier.
“To have six gymnasts qualify for the first round of the national tournament out of nine open slots is pretty incredible,” said Iowa’s head coach Larissa Libby. “Having over 50% of those going as individuals from our region be from Iowa is quite a feat.”
Glover, a native from Destin, Fla., was named to the 2014 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List in December. Her career best all-around score of 39.125 was achieved this season at Illinois on Jan. 31. Glover has competed in all 11 of the regular season competitions as well as the Big Ten Championships that took place on March 22. Of those 12 meets, Glover competed in the all-around nine times. Glover has tallied one first place finish in the all-around (at Michigan State, 2/7), two second place finishes (at Illinois, 1/31, and against UIC, 2/23), and two third place finishes (at Boise State, 2/28, and at Iowa State, 3/7).
Metcalf, from Swansboro, N.C., holds the individual season bests on floor (9.925 at Big Ten Championships, 3/22), beam (9.875 against UIC, 2/23), and all-around (39.325 at Big Ten Championships) for the Hawkeyes. She has posted her best all-around score two times this season, first against Ohio State on Feb. 14 in the annual Pink Meet, and the most recent time at the Big Ten Championships on March 22. Metcalf has competed in all 11 of the regular season meets as well as B1G Championships. Of the 12 meets, Metcalf has competed for nine all-around titles. She has collected three first place finishes (against Utah State 1/11, at Ball State 1/17, and against Ohio State 2/14), one second place finish (at Georgia 1/20), and one third place finish (against UIC 2/23).
Hoerr, a junior from Bloomington, Ill., was recently named second team All-Big Ten. She was also named to the 2014 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List in December along with Glover. Hoerr currently holds the individual season-best on bars with a 9.900 that was tallied at Iowa State on March 7. Her career best all-around score stands at 39.400, which she collected against Iowa State on March 8, 2013. Her season-best all-around score is 39.250 (at Boise State, 2/28). Hoerr has competed in all 11 regular season meets as well as the Big Ten Championships. Of those 12 competitions, Hoerr has competed for six all-around titles. She has collected two second place finishes (at Ball State, 1/17 and at Boise State, 2/28) and one fourth place finish (at Iowa State, 3/7).
Doherty is from Kansas City and currently holds the individual season best on vault with a 9.875 (at Boise State, 2/28) for the GymHawks. She has competed in 10 regular season meets and at the Big Ten Championships. Of those 11 meets, Doherty competed on the vault 10 times.
Drenth is from Riverview, Fla. and tallied her season-best score of 9.850 on floor twice this season, most recently at the Big Ten Championships on March 22. Drenth has competed in all 11 regular season meets and the Big Ten Championships in University Park, Pa. Of those 12 competitions, Drenth has competed on the floor 10 times. She is one of seven freshmen on the Iowa women’s gymnastics team and one of three selected to compete at Regionals.
Huntley is from Van Meter, Iowa, and has competed in all 11 of the regular season meetings as well as the Big Ten Championships. Her season best on floor (9.850) came against Ohio State during Iowa’s annual Pink Meet on Feb. 14.
“I think they have a good shot moving onto the national competition,” said Libby. “We are going to do everything in our power to help get them there and support them.”