Feb. 11, 2015
- Read the February issue of Hawk Talk Monthly
- 2014 Media Guide
- Download your Iowa Hawkeye iPad/iPhone app!
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly iOS app
- Download your Hawk Talk Monthly android app
- Big Ten Network: Free Hawkeye Video
- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
THIS WEEK:
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team returns home to host Illinois on Saturday at 3 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. The Hawkeyes will be celebrating Valentine’s Day at the dual and the event will serve as Iowa’s annual `Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness’ meet.
PROMOTIONS:
Friday will serve as the annual Think Pink: Breast Cancer Awareness meet to raise awareness for Breast Cancer. The first 500 fans will receive a free Herky bobblehead and the first 200 fans will receive a pink Iowa Gymnastics t-shirt.
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LAST TIME OUT:
The GymHawks fell to Nebraska on Feb. 7, 197.325-195.175 inside the Devaney Center. Iowa started the meet on bars posting a 48.925. Senior Johanny Sotillo paced the GymHawks, posting a score of 9.850 and placing second in the event. The GymHawks finished the night strong on beam, tallying a 49.100, replacing their previous season best on beam against Maryland (49.025). Hoerr, and Metcalf both competed for the all-around title for Iowa, posting scores of 38.650 and 38.900 respectively. Metcalf finished third behind Nebraska’s Hollie Blanske (39.500) and Jessie Deziel (39.550).
SCOUTING THE COMPETITION:
No. 15 Illinois defeated to No. 22 Minnesota, 195.775-195.375 on Feb. 7 in Champaign, Illinois inside Huff Hall. The win moved the Illini to 4-1 on the season and 3-0 at home. Illinois is currently ranked eighth nationally as a team on bars (49.155 average score), 13th on beam (48.875), 20th nationally on floor (48.885), and 25th nationally as a team on vault (48.885).
IN THE RANKINGS:
Iowa is currently ranked No. 28 nationally. The GymHawks rank 18th nationally as a team on the uneven bars (48.905 average score) and 12th on floor (49.005).
ROSTER BREAKDOWN:
The majority of GymHawks are underclassmen, with six freshmen, six sophomores, three juniors, and three seniors on the roster.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS:
This season, the Hawkeyes welcome six newcomers — Ashley Fischer, Lanie Snyder, Melissa Zurawski, Nikki Youd, Jori Robertson, and Megan Ruzicka — to the 2015 squad. Iowa also wel- comes new additions to the coaching staff. Assistant coach Jennifer Green comes to Iowa after serving as an assistant coach at the University of Missouri for two years and Caleb Phillips returns to Iowa, where he previously coached from 2008-13.
METCALF, HOERR NAMED TO BIG TEN WATCH LIST:
Angel Metcalf and Sydney Hoerr have been named to the 2015 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List. Metcalf, one of six sophomores to make the list, hails from Swansboro, North Carolina. She cap- tured her third all-around title last season season against No. 20 Ohio State on Feb. 14 in Iowa’s an- nual Pink Meet. Metcalf improved her all-around score to 39.325. She previously posted a season best at Georgia (39.100). Metcalf received a bid to NCAA Regionals with five of her teammates to compete in the all-around. She competed in 12 meets last season, nine of which she competed for the all-around title. Her season-best all-around score of 39.325 has been tallied twice; the most recent at the 2014 Big Ten Championships.
Hoerr, who was also featured on the 2014 Big Ten Watch List, is a senior from Bloomington, Il- linois. The 2014 second team All-Big Ten honoree registered Iowa’s individual season bests on the uneven bars (9.900 at Iowa State, March 7) and floor exercise (9.875 at Georgia, Jan. 20) last season. She competed in all 12 meets in addition to NCAA Regionals, while competing in the all-around in seven competitions. Hoerr led Iowa on the bars with a regional qualifying score of 9.855, tying for 54th nationally. Hoerr is also an Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
IOWA SELECTED TO HOST 2016 NCAA REGIONAL:
The University of Iowa and Carver-Hawkeye Arena have been selected to host a 2016 NCAA Re- gional (April 2, 2016) in women’s gymnastics. Iowa last hosted an NCAA Regional in 2009.
HEAD COACH Larissa Libby:
Larissa Libby enters her 11th year as head coach, and 15th year overall, at the University of Iowa in 2014-15. In 2014, six Hawkeyes were selected for NCAA Regional com- petition. Alie Glover, Angel Metcalf, and Sydney Hoerr were selected as all-around competitors, while Jordyn Doherty competed on vault and Mollie Drenth competed on floor. Maryah Huntley was selected as the alternate behind Drenth on floor. Libby coached Hoerr to second team All-Big Ten honors, while Hoerr, Caitlin Tanzer and Glover earned Academic All-Big Ten honors. Libby led Iowa to its sixth-consecutive NCAA postseason appearance, the seventh in her tenure, in 2013.
PRACTICE FACILITY RENOVATION:
The women’s gymnastics team is amidst a practice facility renovation. The gym — located in the UI Field House — is scheduled to be completed in April 2015. The renova- tion will include new equipment, more space to train, and enhanced safety and resources for Hawkeye student-athletes.
SEASON TICKETS:
Fans interested in attending 2015 home meets at Carver-Hawkeye Arena should visit hawkeyesports.com or contact the UI Athletics Ticket Office at 1-800 IA-HAWKS. Fans purchasing season tickets ($15) will gain admission to four home competitions at Carver-Hawkeye Arena, including three against league opponents (Michigan State/Ball State, Maryland, Illinois) and the home finale against in-state rival Iowa State. All youth, 18 and younger, and UI students are admitted free to all home events.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES:
A member of the Iowa gymnastics staff will offer interactive Twitter content live at every event this season via @iowagymnastics. This feature gives Hawkeye fans the opportunity to stay up to date on the latest news and scores during every meet.
Web Address: hawkeyesports.com (check the schedule page for live stats and live streams)
Facebook: facebook.com/iowagymnastics
Twitter: twitter.com/iowagymnastics
YouTube: youtube.com/iowagymnastics
UP NEXT:
Iowa will travel to Denver, Colorado on Saturday, Feb. 21, to take on the Denver Pioneers and BYU Cougars in a tri-meet. The meet is slated to begin at 7 p.m. (CT) inside Hamilton Gymnasium.
