The University of Iowa has continued to invest heavily in women’s gymnastics, creating new opportunities for the Hawkeyes to improve and perform. A $20 million training center, unveiled to the public on April 10, is an example of Iowa’s growing interest in the sport.

The ceremony officially showcased the Nagle-Duda Gymnastics & Spirit Squads Training Center, named after former spirit squad member and donor Mary Lee Nagle-Duda, whose $5 million gift was critical to the success of the project. The building contains locker rooms, athletic training and meeting rooms, and office space, as well as 21,000 square feet of training space, such as uneven bars and vault runways.

First-year head coach Jen Llewellyn expressed gratitude to all who made the facility possible during her remarks at the dedication ceremony, which saw a turnout that included spirit squad members, donors and benefactors, coaching staff, and UI President Barbara Wilson.

“From the moment that we moved from the Field House into this dream home at the end of January, as a coaching staff, we saw an immediate shift in trajectory of our program,” Llewellyn said. “Watching this group support one another, rise to the occasion, and surpass all expectations was nothing short of inspiring. Along the way, we matched a few program records and earned multiple personal bests.”

Despite being unranked and projected to finish 10th in conference, the Hawkeyes nabbed important victories over No. 25 Nebraska and No. 26 Illinois in February and placed fifth at the Big Ten championships on March 22.

Iowa’s season came to an end at NCAA Regionals at the University of Alabama, where the Hawkeyes placed behind No. 6 California, No. 11 Alabama, and North Carolina. Iowa finished the season 4-3 overall, including an even 3-3 in the Big Ten.

“What we accomplished this year wasn’t just about rankings or results,” Llewellyn said. “It was about heart, resilience, and a shared dream turned into a reality. This foundation that was laid out as a group will only impact the future in the best possible way.”

While Iowa is a school known for programs such as wrestling and women’s basketball, its gymnastics squad, often called the GymHawks, brings a lot of talent and dedication to the table.

Iowa boasts two Olympians, Cassie Lee and Aurélie Tran, both of whom represented Canada at the 2024 Paris Olympics. This year’s roster featured athletes from nine different states and three provinces, including Lee and Tran, natives of Ontario and Quebec, respectively. Additionally, Tran and fourth-year teammate Haley Tyson each earned all-championship honors during Iowa’s fifth-place showing in Ann Arbor.

“With these new resources, we are positioning ourselves to compete at the highest level,” Llewellyn said. “We are ready to build on the legacy that is Iowa gymnastics in ways that will continue to inspire the future generations of young women from all around the community, the country, and the world.”

For her part, athletics director Beth Goetz showed excitement upon the completion and unveiling of the project.

“This 32,000-square-foot facility that was completed just a few months ago is going to serve the needs of our outstanding gymnastics teams and incredible spirit squads, supporting almost 70 students a year and hundreds more for years to come,” Goetz said in her speech.

Goetz also celebrated the building as a major sign of progress for programs that have previously relied on shared facilities for practice and training.

“It’s a long-awaited home for premier programs that haven’t had a place where they could showcase their hard work, their sweat and tears, that are going to lead to a lifetime of memories and friendships,” Goetz said. “This is a place where their commitment is going to be shared and showcased with so many others.”

From third-year Karina Muñoz claiming four event titles against Rutgers on Feb. 9 to third-year Emily Erb tying a program scoring record with a 9.975 on floor against Illinois just one week later, the GymHawks had cause for celebration at many points throughout the season.

“We continue to celebrate when we see our teams perform, when we see our spirit squads engaged almost daily in our community, but the real work, the many hours that they spend, are right here in this facility,” Goetz said. “This is going to be their home away from home, a place where they’re going to build culture, train and perfect their craft, and study to earn their Iowa degrees. Championship teams need championship resources to prepare, and the hours they spend here will not only prepare them for success in competition and performances, but to be our leaders of tomorrow.”

Even for those moving on from the program, the facility, as well as Iowa’s increased attention to the sport, is a major step forward for the team’s progress. Fourth-year Alexa Ebeling echoed her coach’s opinions while also emphasizing the close-knit structure of the team.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming into college,” the Iowa native said in an interview with The Daily Iowan. “Immediately coming into this family and having these sisters that I’ll be friends with for a lifetime is something that I’ll cherish.”

Ebeling, whose high school career saw her a national qualifier in 2019, also expressed how much of an impact the facility and this year’s coaching staff have made.

“I think that the facility has been a tremendous surprise to us,” Ebeling said. “It’s been an amazing addition to our success. I think that the new coaching staff has also been amazing.”

Ebeling noted the strength of the program and its supporters, acknowledging these qualities as what made the project and its longterm effects possible.

“It shows that the people that really care about this program are going to continue to come back, and we’re one big family,” Ebeling said. “It’s a never-ending effort of gratitude. We’re super grateful to be able to have been practicing in this facility for the last few months. It just goes to show the endless efforts of the Hawkeye community.”