The ISU gymnastics team picked up its first win of the season in an upset victory over No. 24 Iowa 195.125- 193.800. Even though the Cyclones had won 27 of the previous 28 meetings with the Hawkeyes, they came 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 over matched Iowa with their aggressiveness on the mat. They set a season-high with 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’s 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 that it needed in the first rotation. All five gymnasts put up high scores on the vault, with sophomore Megan Barnes leading the way with a season-high 9.825. The Cyclones posted a 48.575, 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. Their final two performers on uneven bars were the Cyclones best. Thompson led the team with a 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 all season, Iowa State went into the final rotation with the lead, holding on 146.150- 145.325.

This time,the Cyclones were able to finish the meet off, 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.