MINNEAPOLIS – The University of Iowa women's gymnastics team heads to the NCAA Regional for the fourth consecutive year in Minneapolis on Saturday afternoon as the No. 6 seed. The meet is set to begin at 4 p.m. (CT) in the Maturi Pavilion.
The Hawkeyes will compete against No. 1 Oklahoma, No. 12 Kentucky, No. 13 Denver, No. 24 Minnesota, and Iowa State. Individual competitors from Utah State, Air Force, Wisconsin-La Crosse, Wisconsin-Eau Claire, Wisconsin-Stout, and Wisconsin-Whitewater will also be present. The GymHawks are one of 36 teams nationally and one of eight Big Ten teams to qualify for regional competition.
TICKETS
Fans can purchase tickets online at mygophersports.com, at NCAA.com/tickets, or by calling the Minnesota Ticket Office at 612-624-8080.
Adult single tickets are $12, while student single tickets are $10. Groups of five or more can purchase tickets at $8 per person.
WATCH/ FOLLOW ALONG
The meet will be live streamed on BTN Plus. A direct link is on the women's gymnastics schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
Live stats links throughout the season can be found on the women's gymnastics schedule page on hawkeyesports.com.
LAST TIME OUT
The GymHawks posted a season-best 196.400 to finish fourth at the Big Ten Championships on March 24.
Sophomore Charlotte Sullivan was named to the Big Ten All-Championship Team for the first time in her career, while sophomore Gina Leal collected the Sportsmanship Award. Sullivan earned her spot on the all-championship team by placing third on vault with a career-high 9.875.
The Hawkeyes registered a season-high 49.100 on vault, and eight GymHawks tallied 15 top-20 finishes during the competition.
In the all-around, junior Nicole Chow finished sixth (39.325) and Sullivan finished eighth (39.275). Chow also finished sixth on beam, while juniors Misty-Jade Carlson and Sydney Hogan and Sullivan tied for 16th (9.800). Senior Melissa Zurawski placed sixth on bars (9.900), and senior Lanie Snyder and junior Maria Ortiz tied for 20th (9.825). Snyder placed 11th on floor (9.875) and Chow followed in 16th (9.850), while Zurawski and senior Nikki Youd tied for 16th (9.800) on vault.
NATIONAL RANKINGS
Iowa is ranked No. 35 nationally with a regional qualifying score (RQS) of 195.775. The GymHawks also rank 29th on beam (49.045 RQS), 31st on bars (49.070), 35th on floor (49.130), and 37th on vault (48.925).
Individually, five GymHawks rank in the top-100 nationally:
All-Around: Sullivan ranks 55th (39.195) and Chow stands at 71st (39.075).
Bars: Zurawski ranks 89th (9.855).
Beam: Youd ranks 63rd (9.870) and Chow ranks 72nd (9.865).
Floor: Snyder stands at 39th (9.895).
THE COMPETITION
Teams are selected for regional competition based on their regional qualifying scores (RQS).
SeedTeamRQSNo. 1Oklahoma198.375No. 2Kentucky196.800No. 3Denver196.785No. 4Minnesota196.250No. 5Iowa State196.045No. 6Iowa195.775
FOLLOW THE HAWKEYES
For an inside look at the Iowa gymnastics program and access to exclusive coverage, "like" Iowa Women's Gymnastics on Facebook and follow @IowaGymnastics on Twitter, Instagram, and Snapchat.