Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Daily links | Hawk Talk Monthly — December | Minnesota, UIC Notes
THIS WEEK
The ninth-ranked University of Iowa men’s gymnastics team opens its home slate, hosting No. 6 Minnesota and No. 18 University of Illinois-Chicago at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 2, at 2 p.m. (CT). The event will be streamed on BTN Plus. Live stats will be posted on hawkeyesports.com.
FOLLOW ALONG
Fans can follow online through live streaming and live stats. A link to both will be 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).
HAWKEYES IMPROVE AT FIRST B1G MEET
• Iowa improved its score by 4.100 points from the previous meet, scoring a 398.800 at Illinois.
• Each Hawkeye bested their scores from the previous meet on pommel horse (65.350) and vault (71.050).
• Three freshman contributed six routines to the Hawkeyes team score (79.350).
TWO HAWKEYES EARN TITLES AGAINST ILLINOIS
• Sophomore Bennet Huang and junior Andrew Herrador tied for first place on vault with career-high scores of 14.550.
• The junior also earned a season-best 13.750 on high bar, placing second to a 2018 Big Ten event finalist.
• Huang also garnered two season high scores, placing third on pommel horse (13.500), and seventh on rings (13.350).
SCOUTING THE GOPHERS
• Minnesota is ranked No. 4 in the Big Ten and No. 6 in the nation, according to Road to Nationals.
• The Gophers are ranked first on parallel bars in the Big Ten and second in the nation as well as second on vault in the Big Ten and fourth nationally.
• Sophomore Shane Wiskus was named the 2018 CGA Rookie of the Year, 2018 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, and earned seven Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors, and was the runner up in the all-around competition at the 2018 National Tournament.
• Wiskus leads the Gophers with team-high scores on floor (14.300), pommel horse (14.100), rings (13.800), parallel bars (14.300) high bar (13.900), and in the all-around competition (82.900).
• The Gophers placed third at the Windy City Invitational behind No. 3 Illinois and No. 7 Michigan.
• Minnesota placed second in the 2018 National tournament. They earned 11 All-America honors from eight different gymnasts, four of which returned for the 2019 season.
SCOUTING THE FLAMES
• UIC is ranked No. 5 in the EIGL conference and No. 18 nationally.
• Their team best score is a 66.000 on vault at Illinois on Jan. 12.
• Freshman Nick Smiley leads the Flames on rings (12.750), and parallel bars (12.850).
• Freshman Kaleb Booth has garnered the EIGL Specialist of the Week honors, as the Flames’ top vaulter.
• The Flames return sophomore Colin Schwartz, who was an alternate on pommel horse at the 2018 National Tournament.
IN THE RANKINGS
The Hawkeyes are ranked seventh in the Big Ten and ninth in the nation. As a team, the Hawkeyes are ranked sixth nationally on high bar.
THREE ALL-AMERICAN SCHOLAR ATHLETES RETURN
• Senior Jake Brodarzon, junior Brandon Wong, and sophomore Kulani Taylor were all named to the second team All-American scholars list. They each maintained a GPA between 3.200 and 3.499.
SEASON TICKETS
• Season tickets are available at hawkeyesports.com/tickets, by calling 1-800-IA-HAWKS, or at the UI Athletics Ticket Office at the north entrance of Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
• Season tickets are $40 and all seating is general admission. Youth ages 18 and under and UI students receive free admission to all regular season home meets.
• Season ticket holders gain admission to five home meets at Carver-Hawkeye Arena against Minnesota and UIC, Oklahoma, Nebraska, and Ohio State.
• Season ticket holders receive early entrance (1.5 hours prior to the start of competition at the west entrance) to all home meets, ensuring access to the Kids Zone, limited edition posters, and other promotions.
BIG HOME ADVANTAGE HOSTING BIG TEN’S
This postseason the Hawkeyes are set to host the Big Ten Tournament. The tournament is at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on April 5-6. Stay tuned to hawkeyesports.com for more information regarding tickets and promotions.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes open their home slate, hosting Minnesota and UIC at Carver-Hawkeye Arena on February 2nd at 2 p.m. (CT).
