Notes: Hawkeyes Open 2024 Season at Xtream

THIS WEEK

The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team hosts it’s season opener this Friday against No. 21 Washington. The meet is set to start at 6:30 p.m. (CT) and will be at Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

FOLLOW LIVE

• Fans can follow along via live results at hawkeyesports.com or via Twitter (@IowaGymnastics).

• The meet will be streamed on B1G+ (Subscription needed)

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

• The Hawkeyes are ranked 23rd in the WCGA preseason poll. Iowa is one of nine Big Ten teams in the rankings. 

• Iowa was selected to finish fourth in the Big Ten Preseason Poll. Senior Adeline Kenlin and sophomore Karina Muñoz were tabbed as Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.

• The GymnHawks finished the 2023 season in third place in the Big Ten and ranked 26 nationally.

• Rachel David was elevated to assistant coach this past offseason. She begins her fourth season on the staff with the GymHawks.

• The Hawkeyes recorded 45 scores of 9.900 or higher during the 2023 season.

• Iowa posted its highest floor score of the season and the program’s sixth-best score all-time with a 49.450 at the Wasatch Classic.

KENLIN AND MUÑOZ NAMED B1G GYMNASTS TO WATCH

• Senior Adeline Kenlin and sophomore Karina Muñoz were named B1G Gymnasts to watch by the conference fro the 2024 season.

• Kenlin captured five event titles and 16 top-three finishes in the 2023 season. The Iowa City native, was the runner-up at the Big Ten Championships on beam. She earned second team all-Big Ten honors and was named to the Big Ten All-Championship team. Kenlin finished second on the team with 14 scores of 9.900 or higher.

• Muñoz is coming off an amazing season where she was the only Hawkeye freshmen to compete in the all-around. The New Jersey native captured seven event titles and 13 top-three finishes. She scored a 9.800 or higher on every vault. Muñoz was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week on March 12.

KENLIN EARNS B1G HONORS

• Adeline Kenlin was named to the 2023 Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics All-Big Ten Second-team.

• This was Kenlin’s third straight season earning All-Big Ten honors.

• The Iowa City, Iowa, native has five event titles and 15 top-three finishes this season. She has posted a 9.950 twice on beam, which is second-best in school history as well as ties for best in school history with a 9.975.

23 & COUNTING

• Head coach Larissa Libby has led the GymHawks to 23 straight NCAA Regional appearances (either as a team or individually). The 2023 season is Libby’s 20th as Iowa’s head coach and 24th overall with the program. She is a three-time Big Ten Coach of the Year.

NEW HOME AT XTREAM ARENA

• The GymHawks will host three of their four home meets inside of Xtream Arena in Coralville, Iowa.

• Iowa hosted one meet and the the Big Ten Championships in Xtream during the 2023 season.

• Xtream Arena has been the home of Iowa Volleyball since 2021.

• The capacity of Xtream Arena is 5,100.

PREVIEWING THE WASHINGTON HUSKIES

•  Head coach Jen Llewellyn is in her third season leading the Huskies.

•  This will be the fourth meeting between Iowa and Washington, and the second under Coach Libby.

•  UW opened the season at the Super 16 in Las Vegas where the finished in third in session one of the event.

•  Senior Skylar Killough-Wilhelm and junior Lana Navarro were named to the Pac-12 Gymnastics Preseason Watch List.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

Five Hawkeyes are in the Iowa record books. They are as follows:

• Adeline Kenlin -t1st- 9.975- Beam

• Marissa Rojas – t8 – 9.925 – Beam

• Karina Muñoz – t8 – 9.925 – Beam

• Aubrey Nick – t10 – 9.900 – Beam

• Adeline Kenlin – t15th – 9.900 – Uneven Bars

• Kendall LaPlante- t15th – 9.900 – Uneven Bars

• Karina Muñoz – t15th – 9.900 – Uneven Bars

• Adeline Kenlin – t17 – 39.500 – All-Around

NEW FACES ON THE MAT

•  The Hawkeyes have welcomed five newcomers to the team.

•  There are four freshmen and one transfer that have joined the GymHawks for the 2024 season.

•  Iowa welcomes Olivia Dylnicki, Alysa Karenbauer, Eva Volpe, Katelyn Wiederspahn and Ilka Juk.

•  Juk joins the team as a junior after spending her first two seasons at Long Island University.  She is a two-time WCGA Scholastic All-American and qualified for NCAA Regionals in 2023 on beam.

FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES

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

LOOKING AHEAD

The Hawkeyes will return to action Jan. 22, traveling to Minneapolis, Minnesota to face No. 18 Minnesota. The meet is set to start at 7:00 p.m. (CT) and will be aired on B1G Network.