The Hawkeye gymnasts competed for local fans to preview the upcoming season.
By Anna Kayser
The Iowa men’s and women’s gymnastics teams put on their annual showcases over the weekend to both shake off the preseason nerves and to teach the fans about the sport.
The women competed in an intrasquad meet on the morning of Dec. 2. The group split up into the Black and Gold teams and competed in all four events: uneven bars, beam, floor, and vault.
The Gold team took home the victory, 13-7, but competing against teammates proved to be a challenge for the Hawkeyes.
“We don’t do well when we are separated,” women’s head coach Larissa Libby said. “We are like a puzzle. We don’t function very well when we are apart, but put us together, and we are fantastic, so it was just difficult in seeing how they were away from each other.”
This meet gave both the team and the fans a chance to judge where the gymnasts are at so far and a glimpse into what the regular season will bring.
“My hopes for the upcoming season are that we continue to progress,” senior Lanie Snyder said. “This was our baseline starting point, and whatever happens, I just hope that we keep building from this meet and go on from here.”
The men started off the weekend holding a showcase of their own. The format was different from the women’s; instead of holding a meet in which the team faced off against each other, the atmosphere was more intimate.
RELATED: Gymnastics teams hold preseason showcases
The athletes performed at each station of events, with head coach JD Reive explaining each event and what the gymnasts were doing.
Having the athletes be able to engage with the crowd, and more importantly, perform the specific skills and routines that they will compete with during the season, was a big point of the meet.
“The big thing with this is just nerves,” Reive said. “We do all this training, nobody watches what we’re doing for like six months.”
Another part of the unique format of the showcase was the athletes’ ability to fall and make mistakes in their routines without the judgment of competition.
Being able to get back up will be a big strength for the Hawkeyes going into the season.
“Their goal is to go out and hit routines,” Reive said. “As you can see from tonight, you do wipe out sometimes. How you handle that, and how easy it is to get back up, and those types of things are what really makes a team.”
The men’s team is ranked No. 8 in the College Gymnastics Association Preseason Coaches Poll.
“I am looking forward to seeing just how this team develops,” senior Mark Springett said. “We have Windy City four or five weeks out, so that’ll be a good little tester to get the nerves under control. I fully expect us to progress as the season continues.”
The women’s team will start its season on Jan. 5 on the road versus Arizona State and Iowa State. The men’s season will begin on Jan. 13 in Chicago at the Windy City Invitational.
