April 1, 2015
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- 24 Hawkeyes to Watch
AUBURN REGIONAL:
The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team is set for NCAA Regional competition in Auburn, Alabama this Saturday, April 4. The GymHawks were one of just 36 teams to qualify for regional competition at one of six different sites. Iowa will join No. 5 Alabama, No. 8 Auburn, No. 17 Minnesota, Maryland and George Washington at the Auburn regional. The competition will begin at 6 p.m. (CT) inside the Auburn Arena.
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NCAA REGIONAL FORMAT:
Six teams, five all-around competitors (who are not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event — who has a minimum Regional Qualifying Score (RQS) of 9.4 — were named to each predetermined host site.
The top 18-teams are seeded nationally, based on RQS, and placed into the bracket. Teams 19-36 are organized into three pods (19-24, 25-30 and 31-36) and placed geographically at one of the six sites, beginning with teams 19-24 followed by teams 25-30 and then finally teams 31-36. Seeding determined at the time of regional selections will be maintained throughout the championships. All-around competitors and event specialists are assigned to their respective geographic region.
IOWA’S NCAA POSTSEASON HISTORY:
Iowa has had representation at every NCAA Regionals since 2005 — with three seasons of individual representation and eight team appearances. Libby has led Iowa to eight NCAA postseason appearances in 11 seasons. Last time the GymHawks saw postseason action in 2013 at the Norman, Oklahoma, Regional, they tallied a 194.475 and finished sixth overall. The Hawkeyes have advanced to the NCAA National Champion- ships twice as a team (2003 and 2004), while five student-athletes have advanced individually. Most recently, Rebecca Simbhudas and Houry Gebeshian advanced as all-around competitors in 2011. Simbhudas also qualified in 2010, earning All-America honors on beam. She is one of three GymHawks to be honored as an All-American.
DRENTH NAMED BIG TEN SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK:
Sophomore Mollie Drenth earned the first Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week accolade of her career after capturing event titles with career high scores on bars (9.925) and beam (9.900) at the Big Five Meet on March 14. In addition, Drenth finished eighth on floor with a score of 9.800. The Riverview, Florida, native helped Iowa post its season high team performance (196.425) and finish fourth in the team standings. Drenth is the first to earn a weekly conference honor since Feb. 11, 2013, when Alie Glover was named Freshman of the Week.
HOLDING STEADY IN THE RANKINGS:
Iowa is ranked in the top 25 for the sixth consecutive week. The GymHawks are currently ranked No. 23 nationally, marking the program’s first Top 25 ranking since 2012. There are 80 women’s gymnastics teams in the nation. The GymHawks also rank 16th as a team on the uneven bars (49.175 average score) and 21st on beam (49.010).
SCOUTING SESSION I COMPETITION:
No. 5 Alabama won the Southeastern Conference Championships after posting a 197.525 to edge No. 4 LSU by less than a tenth of a point in Duluth, Georgia, on March 21. The win marks the first time in school history that the gymnastics program won back-to-back championships. The Crimson Tide is currently ranked fourth nationally on floor (49.465 average score) and fifth on vault (49.460), bars (49.390) and beam (49.335).
No. 8 Auburn posted a program high score of 196.925 to finish fourth at the SEC Championship in Duluth, Georgia, on March 21. The score marked the highest for the team since 1993. The Tigers are currently ranked eighth on vault (49.325) and beam (49.315), 11th on floor (49.315), and 12th on bars (49.265).
No. 17 Minnesota tallied a 196.450 to collect a sixth place finish at the Big Ten Championships in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on March 21. The Golden Gophers are currently ranked 18th nationally on floor (49.200 average score), 19th on vault (49.255) and beam (49.045), and 23rd on bars (48.980).
Maryland posted a season-high team total of 196.075 to earn a seventh place finish at the Big Ten Championships. The Terps finished second in the morning session and seventh overall at their first Big Ten Championship appearance. The Terps are currently ranked 20th nationally on vault (49.065).
George Washington tallied a 195.85 to win its first-ever East Atlantic Gymnastics League Championship on March 22 at SECU Arena. The title marks the team’s sixth overall conference title. The Colonials are currently ranked 10th nationally on vault (49.315).
LAST TIME OUT:
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team posted a season high score of 196.500 at the Big Ten Championships on March 21. The Gymhawks finished first in the morning session and fifth overall — the team’s best championship team result since 2010. Iowa’s performance marks the highest team score for the program at the Big Ten Championships since March 20, 2004. Despite the tough competition, five GymHawks tallied a total of 10 season best scores. Hoerr and Drenth led the GymHawks, each collecting a trio of season bests on vault, beam, and in the all-around. Glover earned a pair of season bests on vault and floor, while sophomore Caroline McCrady tallied a season high on vault and Metcalf collected a season best on floor.
Seven GymHawks placed in the top 26 during the competition. Glover lead the GymHawks with a second place finish on vault (9.925) and a fourth place finish on floor (9.900). Metcalf tied her teammate for fourth on floor (9.900), placed 19th in the all-around (38.575), and earned a 26th place finish on bars (9.825). Hoerr collected 10th place finish in the all- around (39.350), 12th place overall on bars (9.875), and 17th on beam (9.825). Drenth earned second place on beam (9.900) and took 17th for her first time the in all-around (39.175). Senior Johanny Sotillo took ninth place on beam (9.850) and collected a 12th place finish on bars (9.875). Rounding out the awards for the GymHawks is freshman Melissa Zurawski, who placed 26th on bars (9.825).
FIVE GYMHAWKS NAMED TO ALL-CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM:
In addition to Iowa’s top team performance, five GymHawks received individual conference awards. Sophomore Mollie Drenth, junior Alie Glover, senior Sydney Hoerr, and sophomore Angel Metcalf were all named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team, while junior Opua Calucag collected the Sportsmanship Award. Iowa has only had one other gymnast named to the All-Championship Team (Emma Stevenson, 2012).
NCAA NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP:
The top two teams and the top two all-around competitors (who are not on an advancing team) from each regional will receive an automatic berth to the NCAA National Championship in Fort Worth, Texas, on April 17-19, hosted by Texas Woman’s University and the Knight Eady Sports Group. The top two teams from the Norman, Auburn and Ames regionals will compete in one of the semifinals, and the top two teams from the Morgantown, Columbus and Berkeley regionals will compete in the other semifinal.
DRENTH NAMED BIG TEN SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK:
Sophomore Mollie Drenth earned the first Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week accolade of her career after capturing event titles with career high scores on bars (9.925) and beam (9.900) at the Big Five Meet on March 14. In addition, Drenth finished eighth on floor with a score of 9.800. The Riverview, Florida, native helped Iowa post its season high team performance (196.425) and finish fourth in the team standings. Drenth is the first to earn a weekly conference honor since Feb. 11, 2013, when Alie Glover was named Freshman of the Week.
HOERR TABBED SECOND TEAM ALL-BIG TEN:
Senior Sydney Hoerr of the University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team was named Second Team All-Big Ten for the second year in a row, the conference office announced March 17. Twenty-three gymnasts were honored — 12 to the conference’s first team and 11 to the second team. All-Big Ten selections are determined by regional qualifying scores. Hoerr has reg- istered the top score for Iowa on floor this year with a 9.925 against Iowa State on March 6. She has competed in all 10 meets, appearing in the all-around nine times. Hoerr is nationally ranked in three events to lead Iowa, including 26th on floor (9.895), 46th in the all-around (39.075), and 65th on bars (9.845). The Bloomington, Illinois, native appeared on the Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List in preseason and 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 Regional (April 2, 2016) in women’s gymnastics. Iowa last hosted an NCAA Regional in 2009.
PRACTICE FACILITY RENOVATION:
The women’s gymnastics team is amidst a practice facility renovation. The gym — located inside the UI Field House — is scheduled to be completed in April 2015. The renovation will include new equipment, more space to train, and enhanced safety and resources for Hawkeye student-athletes.
HEAD COACH Larissa Libby:
Larissa Libby is in 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 competition. 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 and the seventh in her tenure in 2013.
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
Live Stats: hawkeyesports.com
REGIONAL GROUPINGS:
Auburn Regional (Auburn, host) – 6 p.m. CT
1. Alabama
2. *Auburn
3. Minnesota
4. Iowa
5. Maryland
6. George Washington
Ames Regional (Iowa State, host) – 4 p.m. CT
1. LSU
2. Nebraska
3. Denver
4. Washington
5. Michigan State
6. *Iowa State
Berkeley Regional (California, host) – 8 p.m. CT
1. Utah
2. Georgia
3. Boise State
4. *California
5. Utah State
6. BYU
Columbus Regional (Ohio State, host) – 5 p.m. CT
1. Michigan
2. UCLA
3. Arizona
4. Central Michigan
5. Kentucky
6. *Ohio State
Morgantown Regional (West Virginia, host) – 3 p.m. CT
1. Florida
2. Stanford
3. Illinois
4. Arkansas
5. New Hampshire
6. *West Virginia
Norman Regional (Oklahoma, host) – 4 p.m. CT
1. *Oklahoma
2. Oregon State
3. Penn State
4. Southern Utah
5. Missouri
6. NC State
