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THIS WEEK
The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team hosts the No. 26 Iowa State Cyclones in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. Iowa is leading the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series 13-6. The meet starts at 6:30 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
It’s senior night for the GymHawks and they will recognize their five seniors at the conclusion of the meet.
WATCH/FOLLOW LIVE
- Friday’s meet will be live streamed on FloGymnastics, subscription required.
- Live stats throughout the season can be found on hawkeyesports.com/wgymlive
SCOUTING IOWA STATE
- Iowa State is ranked 26th in the latest Road to National Poll (2/25).
- The Cyclones are ranked 18th on vault, 29th on bars, 32nd on beam, and 35th on floor in the latest Road to National Poll (2/25).
- Iowa State’s highest score of the season was 196.700 on Feb. 2 at the West Virginia Tri-Meet, vs. Denver and West Virginia.
- Iowa State competed against Boise State and Denver on Sunday, Feb. 24 at the Denver Tri Meet and earned a score of 195.4250.
- Senior Meaghan Sievers posted 9.900s on floor and vault at the Denver Tri Meet.
- Also at the Denver Tri Meet, junior Molly Ross scored a 9.875 on floor.
- The Cyclones are led by Jay Ronayne, who is in his 13th season as head coach.
- Ronayne has coached multiple All-Americans, two Big 12 Gymnasts of the Year, and guided the Cyclones to 11 NCAA Regional appearances.
GYMHAWKS WIN SESSION 1 OF BIG FIVE MEET
- The GymHawks won session one of the Big Five Meet, which guarantees them a spot in the night session at the Big Ten Championships.
- Iowa earned a season high score of 196.450.
- Junior Clair Kaji set a career high and senior Nicole Chow tied a career high on bars, both with a 9.900s, sharing the event title.
- Junior Charlotte Sullivan competed in the all-around for Iowa for the first time this season and finished fourth with a score of 39.100.
- Junior Clair Kaji earned three event titles on beam (9.875), floor (9.900), and bars (9.900).
- Freshman Lauren Guerin earned a 9.900 on floor, sharing the title with Kaji.
- Sophomore Emma Hartzler tied a career high (9.725), freshman Bridget Killian set a career high (9.825), and Sullivan (9.825) tied a personal best on vault.
HEAD GYMHAWK
- Head Coach Larissa Libby is entering her 15th season as head coach and 19th year overall.
- In 2018, Libby led the GymHawks to their 18th NCAA appearance with a No.33 national ranking and a 13-win season.
- Libby coached All-Championship honoree Charlotte Sullivan.
- During the regular season, Libby coached three GymHawks–Lanie Snyder, Nikki Youd, and Nicole Chow– to second team All-Big Ten honors.
- Libby takes pride in her GymHawks outside the gym as well. In 2018, a record 11 gymnasts received Academic All-Big Ten honors.
GYMHAWK HIGHLIGHTS
- The GymHawks are ranked 33 overall in the latest Road to Nationals Poll (2/25).
- Iowa is ranked 27th on bars, 30th on beam, and 23rd on floor in the latest Road to Nationals Poll (2/25).
- The GymHawks scored a 195.400 vs. Illinois on Feb. 16, scoring a 49.200 on bars and a season high of 49.400 on floor.
- Three GymHawks earned 9.900s on floor — Erin Castle, Clair Kaji, and Lauren Guerin — while the other three GymHawks earned 9.850s — Charlotte Sullivan, Bridget Killian, and Allie Gilchrist.
- The GymHawks earned two 9.900’s on bars from Jax Kranitz, a career best, and Nicole Chow tied a career best.
- Sophomore Erin Castle scored a career best of 9.750 on vault vs. Illinois.
- On vault vs. Illinois, freshman Lauren Guerin tied a career best of 9.750.
- Iowa earned a score of 195.375 vs. No. 10 Michigan.
- The GymHawks defeated Rutgers on Jan. 26, 194.575-191.625.
- Freshman Lauren Guerin won floor against Rutgers with a 9.875.
- Freshman Bridget Killian won two events against Rutgers – beam (9.725) and vault (9.750).
- Senior Nicole Chow won bars against Rutgers with a score of 9.900
- The GymHawks beat SEMO in their home opener Jan. 11, 194.700-180.925.
FANTASTIC FIVE
- Friday’s meet will recognize five GymHawk seniors, Misty-Jade Carlson, Nicole Chow, Sydney Hogan, Maria Ortiz, and Rose Piorkowski.
- Misty-Jade Carlson, a Portland, Ore. native, is the daughter of Pauline and Kerry Carlson. Carlson has had career bests of 9.850s on vault and beam.
- Nicole Chow from Port Coquitlam, B.C., is the daughter of Peter and Elaine Chow. Chow has earned 9.900s on beam and bars, and 9.850s on vault and floor in her career.
- Sydney Hogan from Waterloo, Iowa, is the daughter of Pat and Kari Hogan. Hogan has earned a career high on beam of 9.850.
- Maria Ortiz, a native of Fort Myers, Fla., is the daughter of Laura and Mike Ortiz. Ortiz has scored 9.875 on vault and 9.825 on bars in her career as a GymHawk.
- Rose Piorkowski from Panama City, Fla., is the daughter of Karen and Gary Piorkowski. Piorkowski has earned a 9.875 on vault and 9.825 on beam in her career.
FABULOUS FRESHMEN
- Lauren Guerin has earned her third 9.900 in a row on floor to tie a career high at the Big Five Meet to help her team earn a season high score of 196.450.
- Bridget Killian earned a career high on vault with a 9.825 at the Big Five Meet.
- Jax Kranitz earned a career high of 9.900, on bars vs. Illinois on Feb. 16.
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa gymnastics program and access to exclusive coverage, “like” Iowa Women’s Gymnastics on Facebook and follow @IowaGymnastics on Twitter, and Instagram.
POSTERS
The GymHawks will have posters, magnets, and schedule cards available for free at all meets throughout the season.
PARKING
Parking is FREE for the home meets. Fans are encouraged to park in Lot 46, the parking lot connected to Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
UP NEXT
- The GymHawks travel to Seattle, Wash., to take on Washington and Sacramento State in a Tri-Meet on Friday, March 8, competition begins at 9:00 p.m. (CT).
- Lives results will be available at hawkeyesports.com/wgymlive.