Both Iowa gymnastics teams are coming off losses two weekends in a row. Now, it’s time for a reset.
For the men, that means taking a weekend off as a team and sending three competitors to the Winter Cup Challenge in Las Vegas.
“There are two of these a year, and it’s a high-profile event,” said men’s gymnastics head coach JD Reive. “It’s the best kids in the country. The fun part is that there’s a lot of men’s NCAA gymnastics represented in this meet, and I always bring a lot of athletes, and the Big Ten is bringing a lot of athletes. It’s an opportunity for them to be on a really large stage with world champion Olympic individuals and to get out there and perform again.”
This event determines which athletes will get the opportunity to perform on the U.S. Senior Men’s National Team for the 2018 U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Boston, Aug. 16-19.
The athletes are chosen for the event based on their previous performances. Freshman Bennet Huang was selected for a performance from last spring, so he will perform in a junior division separate from his fellow Hawkeyes.
The other Hawkeyes are sophomore Nick Merryman and senior Dylan Ellsworth. Merryman was nominated by the Iowa men’s gymnastics coaching staff, and Ellsworth was selected based on his performance at the Windy City Invitational.
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For Ellsworth, this event is particularly emotional.
“It’s my senior year, and I haven’t done [the Winter Cup Challenge] since I was a junior [in high school] — I’m excited to do it for one last time,” he said. “I just want to hit all of my routines. That’s my goal. [Consistency is] something that’s been my enemy since I started gymnastics, so if I can hit two solid days of all six, then I’ll be really excited for myself. I’m not expecting to win or anything like that. I just want to have fun.”
For the rest of the men’s gymnastics team, this weekend provides an opportunity to rest after a hectic January and early February schedule.
The women aren’t off the hook, however.
Ball State is coming to town to compete against the GymHawks tonight in a pink-theme Carver-Hawkeye. The Cardinals are ranked below the GymHawks, but women’s gymnastics head coach Larissa Libby is far from expecting an easy victory. In fact, talking about Ball State brings a warm smile to her face.
“They’re a very good team,” Libby said. “And actually, connection there: The head coach and I used to be assistant coaches here together. So [Joanna Seleem]’s a Hawkeye, and she’ll tell you that. Now, with her as the head coach, that program is up-and-coming. It’s exciting to watch her do great things with that program. She’s got some fabulous new assistants, and they’ve got some really phenomenal kids on that team. So no, I don’t ever expect things to be easy.”
While this meet is an opportunity for two friends to meet up in competition, junior Nicole Chow is excited about the Carver experience.
“I’m looking forward to the Hawkeye fans, obviously,” Chow said. “Competing in Carver is always so fun — the energy is so high. I’m excited for them to try to break another record for the attendance. And obviously, to do good gymnastics and put on a great show.”
The theme of the 7 p.m. Ball State meet is pink to spread awareness about breast cancer. The GymHawks will use the meet to support their community and try to reset their season’s momentum.