Metcalf 13th, Kaji 17th at NCAAs

Jess Westendorf, [email protected]

April 17, 2017

Iowa’s Angel Metcalf performs on the beam during the NCAA Women’s gymnastics Regional meet at the State Farm Center in Champaign. The Hawkeyes took third in the over all team competition with a score of 196.050, .100 points away from second ending their chances at Nationals. Iowa’s Angel Medcalf and Clair Kaji will represent Iowa at Nationals. (The Daily Iowan/Margaret Kispert)

The Iowa women’s gymnastics program sent two gymnasts, senior Angel Metcalf and freshman Clair Kaji, to the 2017 NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships in St. Louis on April 14 to represent the Hawkeyes.

Metcalf represented Iowa in the all-around while Kaji appeared as an event specialist on beam to show out at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships.

In the first session, Oklahoma won with a 197.7250 with UCLA finishing in second with a 197.500. Utah came in at a close third with a 197.050 to round out the top three. Washington (196.5625), Denver (196.4750), and Oregon State (196.3625) rounded out the team competition.

“I am very pleased with how Clair and Angel did today,” head coach Larissa Libby said in a release. “For a first time competitor, Clair killed it on beam. To ask her to come out on the national scene for the very time with the likes of national champions and Olympians is so hard, and I thought she handled herself like a champion.”

Kaji rotated with Utah and competed on beam in the fourth rotation. She scored a 9.8625 to give her a tie for 17th place in the event.

“Since I was competing on beam today, it was a little nerve wracking due to all of the sitting and waiting,” Kaji said in a release. “It was a little difficult, but I got through it and I am happy with how I performed. I am so thankful that I got to come here with Angel. To get this experience as a freshman and in this huge arena, even just competing in one event, is amazing.”

Metcalf rotated with Denver during the whole competition and began on beam where she registered the highest score of the rotation with a 9.8750. She tied for 13th overall in the event.

“It was Angel’s first time being here as well. To come out and have her highest all-around scores at the national championship is amazing,” Libby said in a release. “I am just so proud of them.”

After beam, Metcalf and the Denver squad had a bye rotation before heading to floor.

There, she tied her season-high 9.8750 to tie for 13th overall, before then competed on vault registering a 9.7250.

Metcalf ended the afternoon on bars with a score of 9.8375 to tie for 16th and securing her a 12th place finish overall in the all-around with a 39.3125.

“Being here was such an amazing experience,” Metcalf said. “I’ve never been to the NCAA Championships before, and I was excited and honored to be able to represent the University of Iowa. I think I had a great career, but I really don’t think it has hit me yet that I’m never going to do gymnastics again. I am so thankful and happy for everyone and anything that has helped to bring me to this point.”

Both Metcalf and Kaji were essential with how the GymHawks finished with one of the best seasons in the programs history. Iowa finished the season ranked as No. 17 in the nation and third at the NCAA Champaign Regional with a 195.050.

Metcalf earned nine events titles in 2017 — five on beam and four on uneven bars. Kaji followed closely behind and collected seven titles — three on beam, three on floor, and one on bars.

Both Metcalf and Kaji ended the season with Iowa’s season-best score on beam (9.950), with Metcalf taking the team’s season high on bars (9.950) and in the all-around (39.375).