The Iowa State gymnasts finally picked up their first win of the season in a 195.125-193.800 upset victory over No. 24 Iowa. Even though the Cyclones had won 27 of their previous 28 meetings with the Hawkeyes, they went into Friday’s meet as underdogs.

“That first win just gets the ball rolling. You have no idea – the monkey on our back was large,” said junior Jasmine Thompson.

The Cyclones overmatched Iowa with their aggressiveness on the mat, setting a new season-high score of 195.125 points.

“I woke up this morning, and all I was thinking was that the only way we’re going to win and the only way we’re going to get a decent score is if we attack every routine, and that’s what I told the team,” said coach Jay Ronayne. “I said the word for today is ‘attack’ . attack, attack, attack.”

Ronayne said the Iowa meet may be the most important meet of the season for the fans.

“We have a large group of gymnastics fans in the country that support Iowa State gymnastics,” Ronayne said. “There [are] way more Cyclones fans, just plain Cyclones fans. This means way more than any gymnastics meet – it’s beating Iowa.”

Iowa State got the quick start it needed in the first rotation. All five gymnasts put up high scores, with sophomore Megan Barnes leading the way with a season-high 9.825. The Cyclones posted a 48.575 on the vault, while Iowa scored a 47.850 on the uneven bars.

The Cyclones extended their lead in the second rotation with one of their best bars performances of the year. The Cyclone’s final two performers on the uneven bars were their best. Thompson led the team with a score of 9.825, and junior Ashley Kent followed her up with a season-high 9.800.

“I’ve been battling back from an injury and had a rough few meets, but I went out there and it just feels good to get one under my belt and just work up from there,” Kent said.

Iowa posted a 48.500 on vault in the second rotation. Halfway through the meet, the Cyclones led their in-state rival, 97.275- 96.350.

Both squads turned it up a notch in the third rotation. Iowa State tied a season high on the balance beam with a 48.875. Kent continued her strong night with a team-high 9.825.

The Hawkeyes cut into the Cyclones’ lead with a 48.975 on floor exercise. Regardless, for the second time this season, Iowa State went into the final rotation with the lead, holding on, 146.150- 145.325.

This time, the Cyclones finished off the meet as the victors, with a season-high 48.975 on floor exercise to shut the door on Iowa. Sophomore Katie Sweetin had a season-high 9.875 and won first place on the floor.

Iowa State’s next meet is against Minnesota on March 2 at Hilton Coliseum.