The extra-long NCAA gymnastics weekend wraps up this Monday evening with a Big Ten rivalry showdown between Iowa and Nebraska! The home Huskers face an uphill battle as the Hawkeyes enter as heavy favorites in the battle for corn bragging rights.
Expectations were relatively low for Iowa entering this season, losing Lauren Guerin and Claire Kaji who were instrumental for the program over the last few years. But, both the freshmen and returnees have started out quite strong and consistent, improving on the start to the 2022 season that saw the Hawkeyes make a run to the regional finals. Adeline Kenlin and Jerquavia are leading the way, as expected, but the roster of roleplayers are all finding ways to step up. Last week, Linda Zivat stuck her Tsuk full on vault for a near-perfect 9.975 while freshman Karina Munoz is averaging over a 9.8 on her three events—vault, bars and floor.
After a successful summer helping Canada win a bronze medal at Worlds, Emma Spence is leading the Huskers as they look to rebound from missing regionals last season. Spence boasts the top average on three of four events for Nebraska, while Ayzhia Hall has been integral in pacing the team on beam. The Huskers use primarily upperclassmen in their lineups and are expecting to build upon…
