The ISU gymnastics team is gearing up for the season’s final home meet 2 p.m. Sunday against Minnesota. The Cyclones are coming off of their first win of the season and are looking to set a season-high score for the fourth time in five meets.

“We’re getting better – peaking is sort of a relative term. We’re just getting better every week, and we plan to do that the entire year,” said coach Jay Ronayne.

Even though the Cyclones are only 1-2 at home this year, their last two home meets, against Iowa and Stanford, were their best of the year. Against Iowa, they posted a season-high score of 195.125, earning their first victory of the year.

Sophomore Jody McKellar said the excitement of a home meet usually brings the best out of the Cyclones.

“The crowd is always with you from the beginning and right to the end. We definitely feed off of them because they are so energetic,” McKellar said.

In three home meets this season, the Cyclones are averaging just under 3,000 fans per contest.

When Iowa State traveled to Big 12-leading Oklahoma earlier in the season, just 300 people showed up to watch while a wrestling meet ran concurrently.

Ronayne said he thinks there is no comparison between the Iowa State crowd and the other away crowds the team has performed in front of. He said Hilton Coliseum has had by far the best environment and the most fans.

“I just want the crowd to know – and they’re getting this now – but it’s not a quiet event. It’s not like watching golf. I want people screaming and yelling and having a good time,” Ronayne said.

Ronayne hopes the home crowd will help avenge the early-season loss to Minnesota.

“It was a really close meet, and we came out on the short end of it,” Ronayne said. “I know the team wasn’t happy about it at all. It’s a motivating factor for sure – Minnesota’s coming back, and it’s a chance to show that we’re a lot better.”

The Golden Gophers defeated Iowa State 193.755-193.625 on Jan. 26 in Minneapolis.

Sophomore Katie Sweetin thinks the team has gotten a lot better since that first matchup.

“We’re completely confident that we can beat them. We are just going to go out there and do what we’ve been doing,” McKellar said.

Minnesota is in fifth place in the Central Region – one spot ahead of Iowa State. Sunday’s meeting between the two evenly-matched teams should give the Cyclones a good benchmark for the rest of their season.