Gymnasts fall to Iowa for first time in 5 years

Corey Aldritt

Iowa State scored a dismal 192.650 and got soundly beaten by their in-state rival Iowa on Friday. The Cyclones were looking for a season sweep, but No.19 Iowa made sure that didn’t happen, defeating the Cyclones, 195.350-192.650.

Iowa State won the first meeting with Iowa, 195.125-193.800. The loss brings Iowa State’s overall record to 1-7.

Iowa State failed to have a single gymnast place first in any of the four rotations. Sophomore Nikki Dilbert finished third in the all-around competition to continue her strong season.

Iowa State started the meet with a 48.575 on the uneven bars. Dilbert led the way with a 9.825 and Jody McKellar scored a career-high 9.800. After the first rotation, Iowa State was down 48.725-48.575.

The Cyclones saw the match slip away in the second rotation when they stumbled on the vault. Their score of 47.950 was one of their lowest of the season. Meanwhile, Iowa put up a very high score on bars, leading 97.625-96.525 halfway through the meet.

Megan Barnes and Dilbert led the Cyclones with scores of 9.775 on vault, but three sub-9.600s led to a poor Iowa State score.

Iowa State fell further behind in the third rotation after scoring 48.450 on floor exercise. Jasmine Thompson posted the highest Cyclone score with a 9.825.

Iowa came out and scored well on the balance beam and led 146.450-144.975 heading into the final rotation.

Iowa State ended the meet on a very sour note with a poor score of 47.625 on beam. Two gymnasts posted scores under 9.000, and the best score was 9.750, which was reached by three Cyclones.

In the end, the Cyclones found themselves on the wrong end of a 195.350-192.650 defeat. The loss was Iowa State’s first to Iowa in five years and only the second time the team has lost to the Hawkeyes in the teams’ last 30 meetings.

The Cyclones will need to put this meet behind them and gear up for two tough road meets to end the regular season.

Iowa State will face Nebraska on Friday, looking to avenge an earlier loss to the Cornhuskers.

Nebraska beat Iowa State 193.500-192.475 in the season opener.