This dual will kick off conference play for the Hawkeyes and Gophers, and it could be a close matchup. Remember that in the Big Ten, conference win-loss records determine championship seeding, so starting this weekend, winning matters!
The Hawkeyes fielded a Yurchenko layout—a 9.750 start value—last week, while sorting out lineups without JerQuavia Henderson, who has stepped away from college gymnastics, and the injured Allison Zuhlke. Still, strong performances on the other three landed Iowa a solid 196.400 opening score. Karina Muñoz and Adeline Kenlin led the way on vault and bars and beam and floor, respectively. Former five-star recruit Eva Volpe also competed in the all around, with solid numbers across all four.
The Gophers, meanwhile, have put up two mid- to high-196 numbers so far. Mya Hooten has already nabbed a 10.0 on floor. Brooklyn Rowray was also nearly perfect on beam, but is currently injured. We haven’t yet seen a counting routine from former three-star recruit Jenna Olshefski, who was in a boot during preseason, but if she is back she should be a balm for Rowray’s loss on beam.
