COLUMBUS, Ohio – Senior Lauren Guerin shared the floor title for a second consecutive season and the 23rd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team posted a 196.950 – the third-best score in program history – to win Session I and take third overall at the Big Ten Championships on Saturday at the Covelli Center.
Guerin became the second Hawkeye to earn back-to-back Big Ten titles, joining Alexis Maday, as she posted a 9.950 to share the floor title. The Austin, Texas, native is the 18th Big Ten champion and eighth floor champion in school history. She was also named to the All-Championships Team.
Iowa finished behind Michigan (198.200) and Michigan State (197.050) in the team race. It is the Hawkeyes’ highest finish since 2017 (Iowa tied for third last season).
Bars
The Hawkeyes went 6-for-6 on bars, posting a 49.075. Sophomore Allison Zuhlke, who was competing on bars for just the second time this season, started things off tying her season high of 9.800 to tie with Alex Greenwald.
Competing in her first Big Ten Championships of her collegiate career, freshman Marissa Rojas stuck her routine to score a 9.750 to tie her career high and tie Carina Tolan. Junior Allyson Steffensmeier performed one of her best routines of the season, scoring a 9.900 to tie for fifth place and sophomore Adeline Kenlin ended the rotation with a stick to score a 9.825.
Beam
The GymHawks kept their energy on beam, scoring a 49.100 with four gymnasts scoring a 9.800 or higher. Kenlin continued to show, posting a 9.900 for the third straight week to place fourth and her score was Iowa’s 50th 9.900 of higher this season. After missing the regular season finale, first-team All-Big Ten selection, JerQuavia Henderson, scored a 9.850 to tie for sixth. Rojas followed with a 9.825, and senior Mackenzie Vance tied her season high, scoring a 9.800. Senior Bridget Killian and Clair Kaji posted 9.725 and 9.675 to assist in the team’s overall score.
Floor
Iowa, who is ranked 11th nationally on floor, posted its second highest floor score of the season and the program’s fourth-best score with a 49.525. For only the second time this season, Guerin performed her new floor routine and scored a 9.950. The senior tied for first for the second year in a row and tallied her seventh floor title this season. Henderson posted a 9.925, while Kaji and Kenlin both posted a pair of 9.900s back-to-back, and Greenwald and Killian scored 9.850 and 9.650, respectfully, to go into the last rotation with momentum.
Vault
The Hawkeyes ended their final rotation on vault, scoring a 49.250 with all six gymnasts scoring a 9.800 or higher. Killian scored a 9.875 to lead the team and tie for 10th. Three gymnasts scored a 9.850, with sophomore Kendall Laplante setting a season-high and tying Henderson and Zuhlke, who posted her second highest scores of the season. Junior Linda Zivat scored a 9.825 and Guerin scored a 9.800 to help Iowa win the first session.
Up Next
The top 36 teams based on NQS scores will compete in NCAA Regionals. Regional pairings will be announced Tuesday and competition will begin March 31.