EAST LANSING, MICH. – The 16th-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team set a season-high score in its 196.475-196.350 victory over No. 15 Michigan State on Saturday night in its Big Ten opener at the Jenison Field House.
Two Hawkeyes – senior Lauren Guerin and freshman Marissa Rojas — won event titles and 10 Gymhawks set season-highs.
BARS
Iowa set a season-high score of 48.900 on bars with two gymnasts setting season-bests. Senior Clair Kaji and junior JerQuavia Henderson tied for fifth place with 9.800s. Juniors Ellie Rogers and Allyson Steffensmeier followed with 9.775s to tie for seventh place. Senior Alex Greenwald followed with a 9.750 and senior Carina Tolan posted a 9.700.
VAULT
The Hawkeyes posted a 49.025 on vault with two gymnasts finishing in the top three. Henderson scored a 9.850 to finish as the event runner-up. Guerin tied her season-high with a 9.825 to take third place and junior Linda Zivat tied for fourth with a 9.800. Sophomore Kendall Laplante set a career-high with a 9.775 to tie for seventh place with teammate Bridget Killian. Senior Alex Greenwald made her vault debut, posting a 9.675.
FLOOR
The Gymhawks tied their season-high of 49.350 on floor with two gymnasts occupying the top two spots and four either tying or setting season/career-highs. Guerin set a season-high and took the event title after posting a 9.950, which ties her for fourth-best score in school history. Henderson scored a 9.900 to tie for second. Zivat tied her career-high, posting a 9.875 for the third time to tie for fifth place. Killian scored a 9.825, and Rojas scored a 9.800 in her floor debut. Senior Allie Gilchrist made her floor debut, posting a 9.700.
BEAM
Iowa scored an overall 49.200 on beam and had three gymnasts place in the top three. Rojas set a career-high, 9.925, to not only take the event title but also tie for eighth place in school history. Killian set a career high and tied with Kaji for third place with a score of 9.875. Vance set a season-high 9.825 to take fifth place, while sophomore Aubrey Nick scored a 9.700 and Gilchrist scored a 9.075.
UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes return to Carver-Hawkeye Arena on Jan. 29 to host Nebraska. The meet is set to begin at 5 p.m. (CT) and it will be 90’s night. Tickets are available online at hawkeyesports.com