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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The No. 9 University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team (435.400) recorded six career-highs and set a new season high for team score as the Hawkeyes came from behind to defeat No. 10 Minnesota (433.600) and No. 11 Nebraska (420.250) on Valentine’s Day.
“We came into the gym this week with a clear mission that we are here to compete and win, not just to play,” head coach JD Reive said. “We showed up and competed tonight, but still not 100%. Some of our best, highest contributors did not count tonight. The nice thing was that the depth showed up.”
Heading into the fourth rotation, Iowa was trailing Minnesota. Vault brought Iowa back on top with an overall score of 72.000 on the event. William Albert finished with a 14.700, clinching third place. Dylan Ellsworth tied for fourth with a 14.550 effort and Brandon Field placed sixth following a score of 14.500.
Three of Iowa’s six career-high scores were set on the next rotation, parallel bars. Matt Loochtan started off the Hawkeyes’ fifth rotation scoring a 14.800, tying him for second overall and setting a career-high. Jack Boyle followed him up with a 14.800 of his own. Ellsworth set a career-high with a score of 14.500, good enough to tie for sixth and Cory Paterson set a career-high with a 14.400 effort. Their overall score of 72.800 set a new season high.
Iowa’s highest scoring event was rings with a 73.700. Andrew Botto started the event and set a new career-high, tying for second place with a 15.050. Boyle won the event with a score of 15.200 and Loochtan finished seventh with a score of 14.850.
Floor routine saw Iowa tie two career-highs and set a new season high for overall score (73.500). Lance Alberhasky (14.650) and Cory Paterson (14.300) both matched their best scores of their career and placed 11th and 15th, respectively.
For the first time in two weeks, Iowa’s Doug Sullivan was dethroned on the pommel horse. Despite his 15.150, Minnesota’s Ellis Mannon took the event title with a 15.200. Elijah Parsells finished third with the best score of his career (14.750). Austin Hodges scored a 14.300, clinching fifth place. The Hawkeyes set another season high with a 71.450 on the event.
Heading into the last event of the night, Iowa had Minnesota on their tail. Paterson set a new career-high on high bar, scoring a 14.900 and tying for first place on the event with Minnesota’s Steve Jaciuk. Boyle followed in third with a 14.550 and Alberhasky tied for fifth (14.400). It wasn’t until Cyrus Dobre-Mofid (13.000) clinched the victory for the Hawkeyes on the second to last routine. The score set a new season high (71.950).
Three Hawkeyes travel to the Winter Cup in Las Vegas, NV next weekend. Matt Loochtan, Austin Hodges and Jack Boyle will represent the Black and Gold to compete in the annual event.
