After losing by less than half a point to Missouri last week, the ISU gymnastics team (1–2) will host No. 17 Michigan and BYU this Friday.

Last week, the Cyclones posted their highest score (196.000) since 2007 and moved up from No. 17 to No. 14 in the national rankings. The team has been consistently rising in the rankings so far this season and confidence is running high.

Although the Cyclones hit 24 out of 24 of their routines last week, coach Jay Ronayne said there is still a lot of room for improvement.

“It’s the details we need to sharpen up,” Ronayne said. “That means hitting landings and having feet together when they need to be together, and toes pointed when they need to be pointed.”

Last year, the Cyclones had bigger problems when they faced Michigan in Ann Arbor and lost 195.875–193.300.

Senior Ceilia Maccani said the team had a rocky turn on the floor exercise, with several girls going out of bounds. She said that is definitely not going to happen this year.

“It was not a shining moment,” Ronayne said. “It was embarrassing to walk out of that stadium, and we have a little to prove. But we aren’t that team anymore.”

Instead, Ronayne compared this year’s team to the one in 2007 that was ranked the highest Iowa State has been for three years at No. 13. He said the athletes are now even better because they are experienced.

“We have seniors and super-seniors who were on that team,” Ronayne said. “They are strong and healthy, and without strength you cannot have quality gymnastics. I feel this team is better than the one in 2007.”

Looking toward the meet on Friday, junior Alex Grant said the team is more focused in on itself and not on the other teams’ scores.

“The final team score is what’s important,” Grant said. “Our goal is to go in and hit all of our routines. The score will be high if we have clean routines.”

Michigan and BYU will travel to Hilton Coliseum for the tri-meet against the Cyclones at 7 p.m. on Friday.