Hawkeyes Start 2024 With a Win

CORALVILLE, Iowa – The 23rd-ranked University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team defeated No. 21 Washington, 196.400-196.250, in its season opener on Friday evening in Xtream Arena. 196.400 is the second-highest score in a season opener in program history (196.450 at No. 11 Minnesota in 2021).

The GymHawks had an event sweep over the Huskies with senior Adeline Kenlin winning on beam, floor and ultimately the all-around. Kenlin scored a career-best, 39.575, in the all-around. The Iowa City native finished in the top-two in every event in the meet. Sophomore Karina Muñoz brought home the event titles on vault and bars.

Freshmen Eva Volpe and Alyse Karenbauer made their collegiate debuts. Volpe competed in all four apparatuses for the GymHawks and finished with an all-around score of 39.100. Junior Ilka Juk made her Iowa debut competing on bars and beam.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH LARISSA LIBBY 

“This was one those moments when you would have been okay to lose. I say that because our teams were very comparable and both teams did everything they possibly could.  This is an excellent Washington team and we are excited that we will represent this conference together beginning next season.

Our team literally did everything right tonight.  I don’t mean from the gymnastics aspect but from all of the other things we ask them to do. From a team culture standpoint, they couldn’t have been better. The contributions came from every single member of this team. Everyone played a role tonight and owned those roles. Our upperclassmen did the most incredible job keeping our freshmen pumped and on the right track. Everything about this night was amazing and gives a very young team a fantastic start to the season.”

VAULT
The GymHawks started the meet off strong with a team score of 48.850 on vault. Volpe and sophomore Avery Chambers each had strong vaults, posting a score of 9.750. Kenlin and Muñoz closed the event by posting that top-two scores for the night on vault scoring 9.850 and 9.875, respectively. Kenlin scored a career-best 9.850 on vault for the seventh time in her career.

BARS
Iowa entered the second rotation trailing Washington by the slim margin of .025. Volpe led off for the Hawkeyes with another strong performance scoring a 9.800. Juk made her first appearance in an Iowa leotard and finished her routine with a 9.750. Muñoz and Kenlin anchored the team finishing with two best scores of the meet. Kenlin just off her career-best, scoring a 9.850 and Muñoz secured the event title with a 9.875. The Hawkeyes finished with a team score of 49.100 on bars. This score is a program-best on bars in a season opener.

BEAM
The GymHawks came into the third rotation with a slight lead over Washington. They finished with a team score of 49.150 on the beam. Kenlin led the way for Iowa scoring a 9.950 in the anchor position. Junior Alexa Ebeling tied for third in the event and scored a career-high, 9.875.

FLOOR

Iowa finished strong on floor with a team score of 49.300 to secure the win over the Huskies. The top-three scores on the floor belonged to Hawkeyes. Sophomores Bailey Libby and Emily Erb each scored a 9.875. For Erb it was a career-high in the event. Kenlin capped off a spectacular night with a 9.925 as the anchor and secured the win for Iowa.

UP NEXT
The Hawkeyes will travel to Minneapolis, Minnesota, to face the Gophers on Monday, Jan. 22. Action inside of Maturi Pavilion will begin at 7 p.m. (CT) and will be broadcast on BTN.