IOWA CITY, Iowa – The 25th-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team has been picked to finish fourth in the Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Preseason Poll in a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches, it was announced Wednesday by the Big Ten office.
Two Hawkeye underclassmen – sophomore JerQuavia Henderson and freshman Adeline Kenlin – were named to the Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List. It is the second straight year Henderson has been named to the Watch List.
Henderson, a native of Peoria, Illinois, missed the 2020 season with an Achilles injury. Before joining the Hawkeyes, she placed second at the Eastern Championships (Level 9) in all-around in 2016. In 2017, she placed seventh at the Junior Olympics National Championships in all-around.
Kenlin, an Iowa City, Iowa native, was a member of the Junior U.S. National Team in 2017, leading the team to a gold medal after finishing fourth in all-around. Kenlin also placed in the top 10 in all-around at the P&G Championships and was second on balance beam.
Michigan was voted as the preseason favorite, followed by Minnesota and Nebraska. Following the Hawkeyes, Illinois rounded out the top five.
Iowa opens its season Friday, facing No. 11 Minnesota at 3:30 p.m. (CT) in Minneapolis. The meet will air live on BTN.