Hawkeye Fan Shop — A Black & Gold Store | Hawk Talk Monthly — April | 24 Hawkeyes to Watch 2018-19
IOWA CITY, Iowa – For the Iowa men’s gymnastics team, this season has been one to remember, and the Hawkeyes are ready to put the icing on the cake.
On Tuesday, the Hawkeyes loaded the bus to Champaign, Illinois, to compete at the NCAA Championships, and head coach JD Reive thinks his Hawkeyes are poised for a big performance.
“The team looks great,” said Reive. “We are super well prepared for this. Physically, we are peaking exactly when we want to be. This is going to be an event of focus and fun.”
After a five-win season, a regular season Big Ten Championship, and a coaching staff of the year honor, the Hawkeyes are ready to add to what has already been a historic season.
“All the work has been put in, we have had a killer season leading into this and we are ready to go,” Reive said. “We need to get out and perform and have a really good time doing it. That is going to be the difference between who makes the second day and who doesn’t.”
Previous success at the NCAA Championships from senior Jake Brodarzon, juniors Andrew Herrador and Nick Merryman, and sophomore Bennet Huang will bring a sense of ease and confidence for the Hawkeyes and help newcomers to continue that tradition of success.
Iowa is looking for power performances from freshmen Evan Davis and Stewart Brown who were both named Big Ten Freshman of the Week this season. Brown is fresh off a bronze medal at the Big Ten Championships and is hoping to continue that momentum into the NCAA Championships.
The Hawkeyes will compete in the night session of the National Qualifier against Oklahoma, Penn State, Illinois, Ohio State, and Army West Point. The top three teams in each session earn a chance to compete on day two of competition.
The ultimate goal is to be one of the six teams who survive and advance to day two and the Hawkeyes believe this is the year to do so.
The NCAA Championships begin at 7 p.m. (CT) on Friday, April 19 and will be streamed on BTN2GO. Day two begins at 6 p.m on Saturday, April 20 and will air live on the Big Ten Network. Live stats and links are posted on hawkeyesports.com.
