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THIS WEEK
The tenth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team hosts No. 5 Nebraska on Friday, at Carver-Hawkeye Arena. Competition is scheduled to begin at 8 p.m. (CT). The meet will air live on Big Ten Network.
PROMOTIONS
- Saturday is Superhero Day. Fans are encouraged to dress up as their favorite superhero.
- Season ticket holders can pick up their quarter zip at the east entrance.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can watch the meet on Big Ten Network. They can also follow along with live streaming and live stats. Links are available on the Iowa men’s gymnastics schedule page at hawkeyesports.com. Fans can also follow along with live updates on Twitter (@mensgymiowa) and Facebook (/iowamensgymnastics).
LAST TIME OUT
- Senior Dylan Ellsworth, sophomore Nick Merryman, and freshman Bennet Huang competed at the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas on Feb. 15-17.
- Huang won the all-around crown (77.600) in the junior session prelims on Feb. 15 to advance to the finals on Feb. 17. At the finals, Huang notched six top-five finishes to finish runner-up in the all-around (154.000).
- Ellsworth advanced to the final session after placing 18th in the senior session prelims with a 77.500 all-around score and a fourth-place finish on vault (14.100). He notched four top-20 finishes, including three top-15 finishes, in the final session to place 17th overall (152.350 all-around score).
- Merryman earned 20th in the senior session prelims (76.800). He notched a 13th-place finish on pommel horse (13.250), a 14th-place finish on parallel bars (13.350), and tied for 15th on rings (13.200).
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP TICKETS
The 2018 NCAA Championship will be hosted by University of Illinois-Chicago on April 20-21. Tickets are on sale now. To purchase tickets, visit NCAA.com/tickets.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Hawkeyes are ranked 10th in the College Gymnastics Association Rankings with a three-score average of 400.267. The Cornhuskers are ranked fifth with a three-score average of 409.600.
AROUND THE NATION
The Hawkeyes are ranked sixth nationally on pommel horse (67.017), eighth on high bar (65.717), and ninth on parallel bars (65.767) and vault (69.767).
POMMEL HORSE DOMINANCE
- Senior Austin Hodges is ranked fifth with a 14.417 National Qualifying Average and a season-high 14.700 (Windy City Invite, 1/13), which marks the nation’s fifth-highest pommel horse score this season.
- Merryman is ranked 11th with a 13.833 NQA and a season-high 14.200 (Windy City Invite, 1/13).
- Senior Elijah Parsells is ranked 17th with a 13.633 NQA and a season-high 13.900 (UIC/Stanford, 1/21).
- Junior Kevin Johnson is ranked 19th with a 13.550 NQA and a season-high 13.750 (Minnesota, 1/27).
FRESHMAN PHENOM
Huang is ranked 11th in the all-around with a 78.300 NQA and season-high 79.450 (Illinois, 2/3). He is also ranked 14th on floor with a 14.083 NQA and a season-high 14.250 (UIC/Stanford, 1/21).
ADDITIONAL HAWKEYES IN THE RANKING
- Ellsworth is ranked 10th on vault with a 14.433 NQA and a season-high 14.550 (Windy City Invite, 1/13).
- Hodges is ranked 17th on parallel bars with a 13.833 NQA and a season-high 14.250 (Windy City Invite, 1/13).
- Junior Rogelio Vazquez is ranked 21st on high bar with a 13.533 NQA and a season-high 13.850 (Oklahoma, 2/10).
TITLE TRACKER
- Iowa has won 12 event titles this season — three on parallel bars, pommel horse, and in the all-around, and one on floor, rings, and vault.
- Hodges and Huang have won multiple event titles for the Hawkeyes. Hodges has four event titles — two on parallel bars and pommel horse. Huang has four titles — three in the all-around and one on floor.
HAWKEYE NEWCOMERS SEASON-HIGHS
All four freshmen competed at Oklahoma on Feb. 10.
- Chung placed fifth on vault with a season-high 14.150 and notched a season-best 13.300 on rings.
- Huang notched a season-high 14.000 and tied for third on pommel horse.
- Taylor earned a season-best 13.950 and tied for ninth on vault.
- Tommasone recorded a season-high 12.800 on pommel horse.
TWO HAWKEYES NAMED TO WATCH LIST
Junior Rogelio Vazquez and freshman Bennet Huang were named to the 2018 Big Ten Men’s Gymnasts to Watch list, the conference office announced Dec. 14.
- Vazquez notched a season-best 13.850 and finished fourth on high bar at Oklahoma on Feb. 10.
- Huang, one of three freshmen on the list, won the all-around crown (77.600) in the Winter Cup Challenge junior session prelims on Feb. 15 to advance to the finals on Feb. 17. At the finals, Huang notched six top-five finishes to finish runner-up in the all-around (154.000).
RETURNING EXPERIENCE
Iowa returns 12-of-17 gymnasts from last season. Ellsworth notched four top-20 finishes, including three top-15 finishes, in the final session to finish 17th overall (152.350 all-around score) at the Winter Cup Challenge Finals.
ROSTER BREAKDOWN
The 2018 men’s gymnastics team breaks down into one redshirt senior, three seniors, three juniors, five sophomores, and four freshmen.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa men’s gymnastics program and access to exclusive coverage, “like” Iowa Men’s Gymnastics on Facebook and follow @mensgymiowa on Twitter and @iowamgym on Instagram.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes host No. 2 Penn State and No. 13 Arizona State at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on March 3. The meet is scheduled to take place at 7 p.m. (CT).
