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IOWA CITY, Iowa — University of Iowa women’s gymnasts senior Clair Kaji and freshman JerQuavia Henderson were named to the 2020 Big Ten Women’s Gymnasts to Watch List, and the GymHawks were selected to finish fifth in the league, the conference announced Thursday.
A LOOK AT KAJI AND HENDERSON
Kaji enters her senior season after being named first-team All-Big Ten following the 2019 season. She competed in every meet and scored season highs of 9.900 in every event she competed, beam, floor, and bars.
Kaji earned three event titles on beam (9.875), floor (9.900), and bars (9.900) at the Big Five Meet on Feb. 22, 2019, and she scored a 9.875 on beam at the NCAA Corvallis Regional in session two in April 2019.
Henderson, a freshman from Peoria, Illinois, attended Dunlap High School and was a member of the Gym Corner gymnastics club.
Henderson placed second at the Eastern Championships (Level 9) in all-around with a score of 37.625 in 2016. As a sophomore in high school (2017), Henderson placed seventh at the Women’s Junior Olympics National Championships in all-around with a score of 37.85.
In 2018, Henderson earned Peoria Journal Star’s 2018 Central Illinois Best of Preps: Gymnast of the Year. Concluding her senior year season (2019), Henderson competed in the State Championship as an all-around competitor and placed third with a score of 38.225.
AS A TEAM
As a team, Iowa was picked to finish fifth in the Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Preseason Coaches’ Poll.
UP NEXT
The GymHawks open the 2020 season on the road against Georgia, Oregon State, and Bridgeport in Orlando, Florida, on Jan. 3 at 6 p.m. (CT). The GymHawks make their home debut Jan. 11 at 4 p.m. (CT) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena.
BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Nebraska
- Ohio State
- Iowa
- Illinois
- Penn State
- Maryland
- Michigan State
- Rutgers
BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTS TO WATCH LIST
Karen Howell, Sr., Illinois
Mia Takekawa, Fr., Illinois
JerQuavia Henderson, Fr., Iowa
Clair Kaji, Sr., Iowa
Audrey Barber, Jr., Maryland
Collea Burgess, Jr., Maryland
Sierra Brooks, Fr., Michigan
Gabby Wilson, Fr., Michigan
Lea Mitchell , Jr., Michigan State
Nyah Smith, Fr., Michigan State
Ona Loper, Jr., Minnesota
Lexy Ramler, Jr., Minnesota
Adnerys De Jesus, So., Nebraska
Taylor Houchin, Sr., Nebraska
Colby Miller, So., Ohio State
Jenna Swartzentruber, Jr., Ohio State
Lauren Bridgens, Jr., Penn State
Cassidy Rushlow, Fr., Penn State
Belle Huang, Jr., Rutgers
Hannah Joyner, Fr., Rutgers