THIS WEEK
The 18th-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team opens its 2023 season traveling to Las Vegas to compete in the Super 16 presented by Ozone on Saturday, January 7. The Hawkeyes will compete in session 3, which starts at 2 p.m (CT) inside the Orleans Arena facing No. 11 California-Berkley, No. 24 BYU, and Arizona State.
FOLLOW LIVE
- More information on Saturday’s meet can be found via Super16gymnastics.com or on social media at @super16gym on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and YouTube.
- Fans can follow along via live results at hawkeyesports.com or via Twitter (@ IowaGymnastics).
- Fans can watch the action live on BTN+ (subscription required) or via a delayed telecast on BTN scheduled for Sunday Jan 8 at 9pm CT.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
- The Hawkeyes are ranked 18th for the second year in the WGCA preseason poll. Iowa is one of nine Big Ten teams in the rankings or receiving votes.
- Iowa was selected to finish fifth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll in a vote of the league’s 10 head coaches. Senior JerQuavia Henderson and junior Adeline Kenlin were tabbed as Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.
- The Hawkeyes finished the 2022 season ranked 15th nationally, the highest final ranking since 2004. Iowa was ranked No. 9 following Week 1, which was the second-highest ranking in program history.
- Iowa advanced to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time in the current format, which debuted in 2019.
- The Hawkeyes posted five of the top eight scores in program history during the 2022 season.
- Head coach Larissa Libby signed a contract extension through June 2026.
- Iowa returned 10 letter winners in 2023, including two All-Big Ten selections – JerQuavia Henderson and Adeline Kenlin.
HENDERSON AND KENLIN NAMED BIG TEN GYMNASTS TO WATCH
- JerQuavia Henderson and junior Adeline Kenlin were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.
- Henderson won 12 event titles and posted 27 top-three finishes in 2022. The two-time All-American tied the school record on floor, scoring a 9.975 a season ago. The Peoria, Illinois native was WGCA Second-Team All-American on floor and First Team All-Big Ten selection.
- Kenlin is coming off a record-setting 2022 season and is a two-time All-American. The Iowa City native was NCAA runner-up on beam in 2022 after scoring a 9.950, the highest finish by a Hawkeye in program history. She was a second-team All-Big Ten selection and Academic All-Big Ten honoree.
KENLIN MAKES HISTORY
- Junior Adeline Kenlin finished as the NCAA runner-up on beam after scoring a 9.950 while competing as an individual at the 2022 NCAA Championships. The Iowa City, Iowa, native’s finish is the highest by a Hawkeye all-time and the score is the highest beam score by a Hawkeye at the NCAA meet in program history.
- Kenlin earned first-team All-America honors at the NCAA Championships, becoming the sixth such All-American in program history. She is the second Hawkeye to earn All-America distinction on the beam.
- Kenlin was the first Hawkeye since 2017 to advance to the NCAA Champion¬ships and the 11th Iowa gymnast all-time.
HENDERSON EARNS WGCA ALL-AMERICAN HONOR
- Senior JerQuavia Henderson was named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics As¬sociation second-team All-Americans on floor on March 24. She is only the 12th All-Americans in program history.
- Henderson is the third Hawkeye to earn multiple All-America distinctions. She was a second team selection last season.
NCAA REGIONAL FUN
- The Hawkeyes overcame a .100 deficit on the final rotation to advance to the NCAA Regional Final for the first time under the current format. Iowa defeated No. 6 LSU and NC State to advance, joining Missouri out of the first session.
- Iowa posted a 196.900 to tie the fourth-best score in program history in the NCAA Regional competition.
- The GymHawks scored a 197.075 at the NCAA Regional Final, the program’s second-highest score all-time (trailing only the 197.150 set in 2004). The 197 was just the third all-time in program history.
WELCOME NEWCOMERS
- The Hawkeyes have nine newcomers on the 2023 roster
- They include Minnesota transfer Haley Tyson and Long Island Transfer Ella Castellanos
- Iowa’s freshmen are Hannah Castillo, Avery Chambers, Emily Erb, Bailey Libby, Gianna Masalla, Karina Muñoz, and Kaia Vanney.
IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Four Hawkeyes are in the Iowa record books. They are as follows:
- JerQuavia Henderson – t1st – 9.975 – Floor
- Adeline Kenlin -t1st- 9.975- Beam
- JerQuavia Henderson – t4th – 9.950 – Floor
- JerQuavia Henderson – t6th – 9.925 – Uneven Bars
- Marissa Rojas – t8 – 9.925 – Beam
- Linda Zivat – t9th – 9.925 – Vault
- JerQuavia Henderson -t9th- 9.925- Vault
- Adeline Kenlin – t15th – 9.900 – Uneven Bars
- Adeline Kenlin – t17 – 39.500 – All-Around
22 & COUNTING
Head coach Larissa Libby has led the GymHawks to 22 straight NCAA Regional appearances (either as a team or individually). The 2023 season is Libby’s 19th as Iowa’s head coach and 22nd overall with the program. She is a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.
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).
LOOKING AHEAD
After competing at the Super 16 the Hawkeyes will return to action Jan. 14, traveling to Salt Lake City, Utah to compete in the Wasatch Classic.