Notes: No.10 GymHawks Host Border Battle

THIS WEEK
The No. 10 University of Iowa women’s gymnastics team returns home to Iowa City to compete against Illinois, Illinois State and No. 15 Iowa State, in the Border Battle meet on Saturday, Jan 10.  Action inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena will begin at 4 p.m. (CT). Tickets are available for $15 (adults) and free (youth).

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

• GymHawks posted a 194.825 to finish third in a tri-meet at Utah, falling to No. 3 Utah (196.625) and No. 8 Minnesota (195.475).
• Fifth-year JerQuavia Henderson made a standout return to the lineup after two years.
• Henderson tied for second on floor with a 9.875 and shared third in the all-around with sophomore Aurélie Tran (39.125).
• Freshman Sophie Schriever made an immediate impact in her collegiate debut by delivering a solid 9.800 on vault.
• The GymHawks posted a meet-high 48.950 on vault to lead all events. 

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

•  In their last meeting with Iowa State, the GymHawks broke 197.000 for the first time since 2021 with a 197.025, the fourth-highest score in program history. Along with a score of 49.425 on bars, tying the program’s second highest score in program history on the event.
• Henderson and sophomore Sydney Turner were tabbed as Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch.
• Tran hopes to capitalize after a strong freshman season where she earned first team all-Big Ten and all-freshman honors after competing in every meet last season.
• Tran and senior Haley Tyson were named to the 2025 Big Ten all-championships team for bars and floor, respectively.
• The Hawkeyes have three Canadians on the roster for 2026, including three 2024 Olympians in sophomore Cassie Lee, Tran and Turner.
• The GymHawks return eight athletes who accounted for 37 event titles in 2025.

SCOUTING ILLINOIS

• Head Coach Josh Nilson is in his first season as head coach, after serving as associate head coach the past two seasons.
• The Illini finished third of four in the second round of NCAA Regionals with a score of 195.725 to conclude their 2025 season. 

SCOUTING ILLINOIS STATE

• Head Coach Cassandra Ringer is in her first season leading the Redbirds, after serving as an assistant coach at Ball State since 2018.
• The Redbirds won the Midwest Independent Conference Championship. 

SCOUTING IOWA STATE

• Head Coach Ashley Greig is in her third season leading the Cyclones.
• Iowa State opened the season with a 191.325–196.850 loss to Missouri.
•  Sophomores Frederique Sgarbossa (bars) and Haylee Hardin (floor), along with junior Noelle Adams (floor), were named to the Big 12 Gymnastics Preseason Team.

THE LLEWELLYN ERA

• Jen Llewellyn is heading into her second season as head coach for the GymHawks after bringing success immediately to the program.
• After being picked to finish 10th in the Preseason Poll, the GymHawks took fifth in the regular season and at Big Ten Championships.
• Following their first season assistant coaches Craig Ballard, Brenna Brooks and Kyle Grable were named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association WCGA Assistant Coaches of the Year for the North Central Region.
• 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. 

IN THE RECORD BOOKS
Seven Hawkeyes are in the Iowa record books. They are as follows:

•  JerQuavia Henderson - T-9th - 9.925 - Vault
•  Karina Muñoz - T-9th - 9.925 - Vault
• Karina Muñoz – T-2nd – 9.950 – Uneven Bars
• Aurélie Tran – T-2nd – 9.950 – Uneven Bars
• JerQuavia Henderson - T-8th - 9.925 - Uneven Bars
• Sydney Turner- T-8th - 9.925 - Uneven Bars
•  Marissa Rojas – T-9th – 9.925 – Beam
• Karina Muñoz – T-9th – 9.925 – Beam
• JerQuavia Henderson – T-9th – 9.925 – Beam
• JerQuavia Henderson – T-1st– 9.975 – Floor
• Emily Erb– T-1st– 9.975 – Floor
• JerQuavia Henderson – T-6th– 9.950 – Floor
• Emily Erb - T-6th - 9.950 - Floor
• Hanna Castillo - T-6th - 9.950 - Floor
• Karina Muñoz – T-8th – 39.575 – All-Around
• Karina Muñoz – T-11th – 39.550 – All-Around

NEW FACES ON THE MAT

• The Hawkeyes have welcomed four newcomers to the team, all freshmen.
• The freshman class includes Oklahoma native Maggie Ball, Nevada native Daisy Bowles, Arizona native Stella DePaola and Utah native Sophie Schriever.
•  Ball is the daughter of Oklahoma head coach K.J. Kindler and associate head coach Lou Ball.

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 host Michigan State on Jan. 17.  Action inside of Carver-Hawkeye Arena will begin at 4 p.m. CT.