The Iowa women’s gymnastics team qualified six gymnasts to compete at the NCAA regional on Saturday at the Sports Pavilion in Minneapolis. Freshman Angel Metcalf, sophomore Alie Glover, and junior Sydney Hoerr were selected to compete in the all-around competition, while freshman Jordyn Doherty will compete on vault and freshman Mollie Drenth was chosen to compete on floor. Sophomore Maryah Huntley was selected as an alternate behind Drenth.
"It’s a pretty fantastic deal," head coach Larissa Libby said. "There’s only nine spots and we have six of them, three of which are by freshmen.
"We are definitely disappointed that we were [so close] to qualifying the whole team, but I think we have a record right now for the most kids to qualify. It’s frustrating, but very exciting at the same time."
The regional meet will consist of six qualifying teams — Minnesota, California, Illinois, Oklahoma, San Jose State, Southern Utah — five all-around competitors (not on a qualifying team) and one individual event specialist per event who has scored a minimum of 9.400 in the respective events.
"The setting will be something new for us, as well not competing with our entire team," Glover said. "The meet will go slower, and there’ll be more waiting time between events than are regular one-on-one meets, but there will be a lot more excitement with more people on the floor.
"It’ll be loud. It’ll crazy. But it’ll a lot of fun."
A look at Iowa
Glover was named to the 2014 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch List in December along with Hoerr. The Destin, Fla., native has competed for nine all-around titles in 12 meetings this season, tallying one first-place finish at Michigan State on Feb. 7. She posted her career best all-around score of 39.125 at Illinois on Jan. 31.
Metcalf leads the Hawkeyes with team-high scores and individual season bests on floor (9.925), beam (9.875), and all-around (39.325). She has tallied her best all-around score twice this season, first against Ohio State on Feb. 14 and most recently at the Big Ten championships on March 22, where she placed fourth. Metcalf has competed in nine all-around competitions in 12 meets, collecting three first place-finishes at Utah State, Ball State, and Ohio State and one second-place finish against Georgia.
Hoerr was recently named second team All-Big Ten. She holds the individual season-best on bars with a 9.900. Her season-best all-around score stands at 39.250 collected at Boise State. She has competed for six all-around titles out of 12 meets, collecting two second-place finishes at Ball State (Jan. 17) and Boise State (Feb. 28).
Doherty holds the individual season-best on vault with a 9.875 (at Boise State) for the GymHawks. She has competed in 10 regular-season meets and at the Big Ten championships. Of those 11 meets, Doherty competed on the vault in 10 of the meetings.

Drenth tallied her season-best score of 9.850 on floor two times this season, most recently at the Big Ten Championships on March 22. Drenth has competed for the Hawkeyes 10 times on floor.
Huntley has competed in all regular season duals as well as the Big Ten championships. Her season best on floor is 9.850, which she collected on Feb. 14 against Ohio State.
