Jan. 23, 2016
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IOWA CITY, Iowa — Fifteen season bests and a season high team score in every event helped the University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team upset 25th-ranked Ohio State, 196.375-195.025, Saturday night. The win marks the first time the Hawkeyes have topped Ohio State since February 6, 2010.
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“I am so excited it is hard to contain,” said UI head coach Larissa Libby. “Ohio State is a phenomenal team with excellent athletes and an incredible coaching staff. We knew that coming in. A Big Ten win is always an impressive win. Coming off the week we have had, I could not be more proud of our athletes. They totally bought into all of the lineup changes we had because they knew it was the right thing for the team.”
The Hawkeyes’ overall score is a season best for the team, replacing their previous high of 194.900 at Michigan State on Jan. 15. Ten GymHawks earned a total of 15 season bests, while the team earned season high scores on vault (49.000), bars (49.175), beam (49.000) and floor (49.200) to highlight the competition. Senior Alie Glover paced the GymHawks with a trio of bests on vault (9.800), beam (9.825) and floor (9.900).
Junior Angel Metcalf registered her own trio of bests on vault (9.775), beam (9.875) and floor (9.825). Rounding out the season best list were juniors Mollie Drenth, Ashleigh Edlin, and Lexi Mura, sophomores Lanie Snyder and Melissa Zurawski, and freshmen Misty-Jade Carlson, Maria Ortiz and Rose Piorkowski.
Iowa started the night on vault, which resulted in five season bests and a season high team score of 49.000. Ortiz and Piorkowski led the GymHawks, each posting a 9.850 and tying for first place overall. The GymHawks then moved to bars where sophomore Zurawski led with a 9.875 for first place overall. Ohio State posted a 48.875 on vault, bringing its team total to 97.700 at the midway point.
After posting a 49.000 on beam, the Hawkeyes moved to floor where they earned a season-high team score of 49.200. Glover led the charge on floor, recording a career high 9.900 to secure first place overall. Snyder earned a season-high of her own, posting a 9.850 and tying for second overall.
“The details finally clicked,” said Libby. “We worked hard this week and we were tough on them. They showed control over their gymnastics and the finishes and details were there. It made all the difference.”
The GymHawks travel to College Park, Maryland, on Sunday, Jan. 31 for another Big Ten matchup at Maryland. The meet is set to begin at 1 p.m. (CT) inside XFINITY Center Pavilion.
