GymHawks Top Cyclones In Home Finale

March 6, 2015

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IOWA CITY, Iowa — The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team defeated Iowa State on Friday night, 195.775-195.175, inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena. It is the first time the Hawkeyes have topped the Cyclones since March 8, 2013.

The Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series stands at 13-11 favoring Iowa State after the win.

“Picking up a win against Iowa State is always big. The crowd and the noise in here were unbelievable,” said head coach Larissa Libby. “That is what we wanted for them was to have the support to know that they drove the crowd here.”

Three senior GymHawks ended their careers on a high note, earning a total of five career bests to highlight the competition. Leading the pack was Senior Sydney Hoerr with a pair of bests on vault (9.800) and floor (9.925). Hoerr’s performances earned her a first place title on floor, a fourth place overall on vault, and a fourth place result in the all-around.

“I instructed our team to cool it because we have so many seniors competing,” said Libby. “Girls tend to be emotional. That on top of this being Iowa State, the last home meet, and senior night, it can get to be too much. We had our fun at the beginning and after that we shut it down because really we were just getting started.”

The GymHawks moved to bars where senior Johanny Sotillo led the GymHawks, posting a career best score of 9.900. Sotillo’s performance was enough to earn her a first place title in the event. Hoerr followed closely behind her teammate, tallying a score of 9.825 and finishing third overall in the event.

Iowa continued to possess a lead going into the third rotation 48.925 to Iowa State’s 97.700. Sotillo lead the charge on beam posting a season best score of 9.850 and taking second place overall. Sophomore Angel Metcalf and junior Alie Glover earned third and fourth place finishes with scores of 9.825 and 9.800, respectively.

The GymHawks closed the night on floor with a score of 49.000, giving them a final team score of 195.775. Hoerr earned her second career best of the night, posting a score of 9.925. Senior Caitlin Tanzer tallied the last season best of the night, tallying a 9.725.

“I’ve spent a lot of time with these kids. We’ve been through a lot of ups and downs together and it is certainly a class that has touched my heart in a way that not many others have,” said Libby. “All classes touch my heart, but they all do in a different way. From their freshman year to now has been amazing. We have ridden this terrible rollercoaster of injury and its not been good. To have it end like this for them, that is all you can ask.”

Iowa will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to take on Michigan, Minnesota, Penn State, and Rutgers in the Big Five Meet on Saturday, March 14. The meet is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m. (CT) inside the Sports Pavilion.