Notes: No. 19 Hawkeyes Face No. 35 Nebraska

THIS WEEK
The 19th-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team will travel to Lincoln, Nebraska, for its regular season finale against No. 35 Nebraska on Sunday at 4 p.m. (CT) inside the Devaney Center. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, there will be no general admittance to the meet.

FOLLOW LIVE
• Sunday’s meet will be streamed live on B1G+.
• Fans can follow along via live results at hawkeyesports.com.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
• The GymHawks won their first Big Ten Conference title, winning the regular season crown after going 8-0 in the league during the 2021 season.
• Iowa (9-1 overall) is ranked 19th in the Road to Nationals rankings with an average score of 196.588. The Hawkeyes started the season ranked 25th before climbing to No. 9 for three straight weeks. Iowa’s No. 7 ranking during the week of Feb. 15 was the highest in school history.
• The Hawkeyes posted six season-high scores and put two gymnasts in the record books in the victory at the Big Five Meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, en route to a score of 196.100. Iowa downed No. 5 Michigan, No. 30 Penn State, and No. 43 Rutgers. The Hawkeye win in Ann Arbor was a first for the program.
• Iowa currently leads the Big Ten and is ranked No. 5 on floor with a 49.463 average. Junior Lauren Guerin is ranked No.10 nationally and is third in the Big Ten on floor with an average of 9.938. Iowa set the program record with a 49.600 against Maryland on Feb. 13.
• The Hawkeyes are third in the Big Ten and 19th nationally on vault and 23rd in the country on uneven bars.
• Iowa freshman Adeline Kenlin is ranked No. 15 nationally on beam with a 9.925 average.
• Iowa has earned eight Big Ten weekly honors this season, the most for the program in school history. Clair Kaji earned her third honor on March 8, while Adeline Kenlin (3 honors) and Lauren Guerin (2) have also been multiple award winners.

B1G CHAMPIONS
The Hawkeyes clinched their first Big Ten Conference championship, claiming the regular season title, when they won the Big Five Meet in Ann Arbor, Michigan, on Feb. 27. Iowa finished the Big Ten regular season with an 8-0 record.

KAJI EARNS 3RD B1G HONOR
Senior Clair Kaji was named Big Ten Specialist of the Week — her third weekly honor of the season — on March 8. The Vancouver native earned the award after sharing the floor title and finishing as the runner-up on beam to help lead the Hawkeyes to victory over No. 19 Illinois. Kaji tied her career record on floor after posting a score of 9.925.

A START FOR THE AGE
The Hawkeyes climbed to as high as No. 7 in the national rankings during the week of Feb. 15, which was the highest ranking in program history. Iowa started the season ranked 25th in the preseason poll before jumping 16 spots to No. 9 in the rankings following a season-opening 196.450 at Minnesota.
• Iowa posted its highest score of the season and its highest score under Libby — a 196.800 — in a come-from-behind victory over No. 11 Minnesota. The score is the highest since 2004.
• The Hawkeyes followed up the score with a 196.775 against Minnesota and Maryland. The score was tied for sixth all-time.
• Iowa’s 196.450 was a high under Larissa Libby in a season opener and in the month of January. Iowa followed it up with a 196.550 in the decisive win over No. 13 Ohio State.

Q’S SCHOOL RECORD
Sophomore JerQuavia Henderson tied a school record on floor, scoring a 9.975 in Iowa’s tri-meet against Minnesota and Maryland. The Illinois native received a 10.000 from one judge en route to her career-best score. Her performance tied Alexis Maday and Stephanie Gran for the school record, which was set during the 2004 season.

KAJI NOMINATED FOR AAI AWARD
Senior Clair Kaji is one of 30 nominees for the American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) award, one presented to the most outstanding senior female gymnasts in the country. This award can be considered the Heisman Trophy of women’s gymnastics.

HAWKEYE NOTABLES
• Freshman Adeline Kenlin scored a 9.950 on beam — a career-best — to finish as the event winner against Nebraska on Feb. 20. The 9.950 is tied for the second-highest score in school history.
• Senior Clair Kaji scored a 9.950, which is second in school history, on beam to tie her career best at the Big Five Meet on Feb. 27.
• Sophomore JerQuavia Henderson set a new season bests on vault after scoring a 9.925 on Feb. 27. This ties for ninth-best in school history.

HENDERSON’S ALL-AROUND
Sophomore JerQuavia Henderson is the only Hawkeye to compete in all-around this season. The Illinois native posted a career-best — a 39.325 — in her debut at Illinois en route to the all-around win. Henderson has a 39.175 average, which puts her fifth in the Big Ten and No. 31 nationally.

HAWKEYE EVENT WINNERS
Iowa has shared or won 20 individual events this season. Senior Clair Kaji has won six event titles, junior Lauren Guerin, sophomore JerQuavia Henderson and Iowa City native Adeline Kenlin all have four wins. Junior Alex Greenwald and senior Emma Hartzler have one victory apiece.

B1G WEEKLY HONOREES
• Senior Clair Kaji was the Big Ten Specialist of the Week on March 8 after scoring a 9.925 and sharing the event title of floor and she scored a 9.900 on beam to place second against No. 19 Illinois. Kaji was also honored Feb. 1 after winning floor (9.900) and finishing as runner up on the beam (9.875) and bars (9.725) against Illinois. She received her first honor Jan. 25 after earning a share of beam title and tying a career-high on floor for a second consecutive week in the win over Ohio State.
• Junior Lauren Guerin was the Big Ten Specialist of the Week on Feb. 8 after scoring a 9.950 and sharing the event title on floor against No. 11 Minnesota. She also earned the distinction on Jan. 18 after sharing the floor title at Minnesota after posting a 9.950 for fourth time in her career.
• Adeline Kenlin earned her third Freshman of the Week honors after posting a pair of career-highs in helping Iowa to the Big Five Meet title. She earned her second honor on Feb. 8 after placing third on the bars and beam posting a 9.85 and 9.875 in the win over No. 11 Minnesota. Her first honor came on Jan. 25 after sharing the bar title and placing third on vault in the win over Ohio State.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Five Hawkeyes currently are in the Iowa record books. They are as follows:
• JerQuavia Henderson – t1st – 9.975 – Floor
• JerQuavia Henderson -t9th- 9.925- vault
• Clair Kaji – t2nd – 9.950 – Beam
• Adeline Kenlin – t2nd – 9.950 – Beam
• Lauren Guerin – t4th – 9.950 – Floor
• Allyson Steffensmeier – 6th – 9.925 – Uneven Bars
• Lauren Guerin – t9th – 9.925 – Vault
• Lauren Guerin – t11 – 9.925 – Floor
• Clair Kaji – t11 – 9.925 – Floor
• Clair Kaji – t14th – 9.900 – Beam
• Clair Kaji – t15th – 9.900 – Uneven Bars

19 & COUNTING
Head coach Larissa Libby has led GymHawks to 19 straight NCAA Regional appearances (either as a team or individually). The 2021 season is Libby’s 17th as Iowa’s head coach and 21st overall with the program.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
For a behind the scenes look at the program, follow the GymHawks via social media at Facebook/IowaGymnastics, Twitter/@IowaGymnastics, and Instagram (@IowaGymnastics).

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Minneapolis to compete in the Big Ten Championships on March 20 at Maturi Pavilion. The Big Ten Conference announced a limited number of fans will be allowed in accordance with local health guidelines and restrictions.