Iowa at Iowa State

Recap

The Big Storyline: Iowa leaves Ames with the CyHawk crown after edging the Cyclones with a pair of 9.975s on floor for JerQuavia Henderson and Lauren Guerin. Linda Zivat returned on vault for a 9.925. Iowa State had a solid day, but a weaker-than-normal bars rotation opened the door for the Hawkeyes. 

Implications: This is Iowa’s best away number, tying its season high and replacing a 196.225 in the Hawkeyes’ NQS. That change won’t be enough to move Iowa out of No. 19, though, after Arkansas and Oregon State joined the NQS party this weekend. Iowa State’s NQS also goes up about two tenths, but the Cyclones hold strong at No. 26.

Controversies: Gym fans have long been rooting for Henderson and Guerin to score 10s. They will have to wait another week.

Preview

Current Rankings: No. 19 Iowa at No. 26 Iowa State

Why You Should Make Time to Tune in: It’s the Cy-Hawk baby! For the uninitiated, Iowa and Iowa State compete against each other in every sport each year in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series. The school that wins the most meetings in every school year wins the series (there’s a point system, but it seems unnecessarily complicated and implies football is the most important, which is rude) and the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series Trophy. The 2021-2022 series is currently 5-4 in favor of Iowa State, so the stakes are high. The Cyclones also own the all-time gymnastics Cy-Hawk crown 14-9. Yes, it’s corny. Yes, the state takes this very seriously. Yes, it’s a blast.

Need More Proof? As usual, the Iowa floor rotation is the team’s shining glory. Lauren Guerin continues her hunt for a 10.0. She and JerQuavia Henderson both own 9.975s on the event this year. Bars is Iowa’s tough event; if it gets through the first rotation with a 49 or better, things will be looking good. Conversely, the first rotation should be Iowa State’s best; the Cyclones are No. 12 on vault, where Makayla Maxwell shines. Keep an eye on Maddie Diab on floor; she scored her first career 10.0 last week, and Andrea Maldonado has a 9.975 to her name. The fight for the floor title should be intense.