October 15, 2014
- Read the October issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- 2014 Media Guide
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPhone app!
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
Editor’s Note: The following first appeared in the University of Iowa’s Hawk Talk Daily, an e-newsletter that offers a daily look at the Iowa Hawkeyes, delivered free each morning to thousands of fans of the Hawkeyes worldwide. To receive daily news from the Iowa Hawkeyes, sign up HERE.
BY JACK ROSSI
IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa men’s gymnast Caleb Fischle-Faulk has been patiently awaiting his return to competition.
Fischle-Faulk, a redshirt sophomore from Escondido, California, is ready to make his collegiate debut this winter after taking a year off from school to refine his gymnastics.
“I had to make up fundamentals and specific training with another coach,” Fischle-Faulk said. “(My former coach) was not emphasizing basics and led me to believe that I was at a place I was not.
“When I got a new coach, he told me this is where you are, this is what I can do for you, and this is where your potential can take you.”
Before joining the Hawkeyes, Fischle-Faulk was a two-time Southern California State Championship qualifier, and he competed at a national event. After sitting out a year following high school, an NCAA rule prohibited him from competing in 2014.
“There is an NCAA rule that states if you graduate from high school, don’t attend college the next fall, and if a full year elapses and you compete after that, then that athlete has to take a year off,” said UI head coach JD Reive. “Caleb fell into that category.”
Fischle-Faulk landed in Iowa City after seeing from afar the program Reive was installing and building at the UI. He was accepted to several Big Ten schools, but came to Iowa after seeing how Reive took a very calculated approach to improving his team.
Fischle-Faulk contacted the Hawkeye coaches and pled his case.
“He was a lucky get for us,” Reive said. “He found us and was interested in Iowa. He gave us his academics, which were stellar, so we were excited to have him in the program.”
Fischle-Faulk came in as an honors student and brought a good attitude to the team. Now after a year of sitting back quietly, Fischle-Faulk and the coaches are looking to plug him into the lineup to contribute.
“The big event is going to be high bar,” Reive said. “Caleb has no fear, and he will do anything. High bar is a high flying event, and he does a lot of good things on there.”
Fischle-Faulk will compete internationally this November at the Central American and Pan American Games in Veracruz, Mexico, for Jamaica. He will compete along with senior Will Albert.
“It has been a long journey,” said Fischle-Faulk. “I can’t wait to see how all this coaching will help me in competition internationally and this season in the NCAA.”
The Hawkeyes open the 2014-15 season by hosting the Black & Gold Intrasquad meet Dec. 6. The first regular season event is Jan. 17 at the Windy City Invitational in Chicago.