Notes: Hawkeyes Host No. 20 Minnesota in Home Opener

THIS WEEK

The University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team returns to Iowa City to host the No. 20 Minnesota Golden Gophers in its home opener. Action inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena will begin at 2:00 p.m. CT.

FOLLOW LIVE

• The meet with be streamed on B1G+ (subscription required).

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

LAST TIME OUT

• The GymHawks fell short against No. 9 Ohio State in its Big Ten opener, 196.275-195.200.

• Freshman Aurélie Tran delivered Iowa’s first 9.900 of the season for the GymHawks on bars—earning second-place in the event.

• Tran took second in the all-around scoring a 39.350, bettering her AA score from the week before by .300.

• On vault, Muñoz anchored the lineup with a strong 9.875 to take second place, while Castillo set a career-high with a 9.850.

• Iowa recorded a season-high 49.125 on vault during the second rotation.

• Sophomore Emily Erb earned a team-leading 9.875 in the anchor position on floor, which tied for third-place overall.

PREVIEWING MINNESOTA

• The Golden Gophers are 3-0, 1-0 in Big Ten competition.

• Head Coach Jenny Hansen is in her 11th season leading the Golden Gophers.

• Minnesota enters the new week ranked No. 20. The Golden Gophers are ranked 18th on vault, 25th on bars, 14th on beam and 32nd on floor nationally.

• Minnesota opened its 2025 season with a 194.450 to 193.400 win over Central Michigan, led by fifth-year senior Mya Hooten, who took home event titles on vault (9.000) and floor (9.825).

• Freshman Ava Stewart was named Big Ten Freshman of the Week after the opening weekend after taking home the event title on beam.

• In its Big Ten opener, No. 21 Minnesota defeated No. 16 Penn State, making it their eighth straight win over the Nittany Lions.

• Mya Hooten earned a season-high 9.925 on floor, winning her fifth event title of the year.

• Ava Stewart also registered a career-best 9.925 on vault, taking home the event title.

O CANADA!

• The Hawkeyes have four Canadians on the roster for 2025, including three 2024 Olympians in Cassie Lee, Aurélie Tran and Sydney Turner.

• Tran was named Big Ten Freshman of the week after capturing the all-around and bars titles at the Iowa State Tri-Meet in the first meet of the season.

• Senior Ilka Juk won the title on beam scoring a 9.850 in the anchor position at Iowa State.

• In Iowa’s first meet the Canadians accounted for 11 of the GymHawk routines.

A NEW ERA OF IOWA GYMNASTICS

• Jen Llewellyn was named the fifth head coach in program history on June 6, 2024.

• Coach Llewellyn came to Iowa with 13 years of head coaching experience including multiple postseason appearances.

• Along with a new head coach, the Hawkeyes have a brand new staff that includes Craig Ballard, Brenna Brooks and Kyle Grable.

• Ballard spent the last 13 seasons on staff at Kent State University. Brooks was a student-athlete under Llewellyn.

at Washington and was an assistant coach in 2024. Grable was on staff at UCLA the past three seasons and was a successful club coach for 15 years prior to that.

• The GymHawks have made 24 consecutive NCAA Regional appearances (as a team or individuals) and the expectation does not change with the new staff.

STRONG RETURNING CORE

• The Hawkeyes boast a roster full of returners including 2024 NCAA Regional qualifiers Emily Erb, Ilka Juk and Karina Muñoz.

• Erb was a qualifier on floor with an NQS of 9.895. As a sophomore she had three top-three finishes with a season high of 9.950.

• Juk qualifed for regionals on beam for the second time in her career with a NQS of 9.900 and a season-high of 9.925. She was also a second team all-Big Ten honoree.

• Muñoz was an all-Big Ten first team selection after competing in the all-around in six meets. She had an NQS 39.470. She won 14 event titles and posted 30 top-three finishes in 2024. She competed in the all-around in six meets and took home three titles. She posted 11 scores of a 9.900 or higher.

•Eva Volpe returns for her sophomore season after a strong collegiate debut where she was named Big Ten Freshmen of the Week three times.

IN THE RECORD BOOKS

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

• JerQuavia Henderson - T-9th - 9.925 - Vault

• Karina Muñoz – T-2nd – 9.950 – Uneven Bars

• JerQuavia Henderson - T-7th - 9.925 - Uneven Bars

• Adeline Kenlin – T-18th – 9.900 – Uneven Bars

• Adeline Kenlin -T-1st- 9.975- Beam

• Adeline Kenlin -T-3rd- 9.950- Beam

• Marissa Rojas – T-9th – 9.925 – Beam

• Karina Muñoz – T-9th – 9.925 – Beam

• Ilka Juk - T-9th- 9.925 - Beam

• Adeline Kenlin– T-9th – 9.925 – Beam

• JerQuavia Henderson – T-9th – 9.925 – Beam

• JerQuavia Henderson – T-1st– 9.975 – Floor

• JerQuavia Henderson – T-4th– 9.950 – Floor

• Emily Erb - T-4th - 9.950 - Floor

• Adeline Kenlin - T-15th - 9.925 - Floor

• Karina Muñoz – T-8th – 39.575 – All-Around

• Adeline Kenlin – T-8th – 39.575– All-Around

NEW FACES ON THE MAT

• The Hawkeyes have welcomed four newcomers to the team, all freshmen.

• The freshmen class includes Iowa native, Reese Wilson and Canadians Cassie Lee, Aurélie Tran and Sydney Turner.

• Lee and Tran both represented Team Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics where they finished fifth in the team competition. Turner traveled with the team as an alternate.

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).

UP NEXT

The Hawkeyes will head to Lincoln, Nebraska on Feb. 1 to face the Nebraska Huskers. Action inside the Devaney Sports Center will begin at 7:00 p.m. CT and be streamed on B1G+.