Despite Iowa State’s victories in wrestling and soccer over intrastate rival Iowa, losses in football, swimming and both men’s and women’s basketball left fans doubting the Cyclones’ ability to overcome a 9-4 deficit and win the 2004 Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series.

That was until the gymnastics season rolled around.

Last month in Ames, the ISU women’s gymnastics team annihilated the GymHawks 195.575-192.40, sweeping the top-three places on every event. The win narrowed the Hawkeye lead to 9-6.

Saturday night, the eighth-ranked ISU gymnasts will once again carry the hopes and dreams of the entire Cyclone nation on their strong, tiny shoulders. The team will brave Carver Hawkeye Arena to face a much-improved Iowa squad.

An Iowa victory would automatically guarantee the Hawkeyes the series crown. For Iowa State, a victory will lock the series in a 9-8 standstill, leaving the ultimate series winner to be determined by the outcome of the Iowa State-Iowa softball game in April.

Head coach K.J. Kindler said she recognizes the importance of the rivalry to athletes, students and fans alike, and that her team is ready to take on the extra responsibility of facing the Hawkeyes twice.

“We’re very proud to be chosen as such a huge part of this series,” Kindler said. “Being selected to earn four points total puts a lot of pressure on the sport and motivates us to really come through for Iowa State.”

After a season-best performance and win last week against Nebraska, Kindler said her team is really starting to come together and will enter the match up in its best shape of the season.

“We were pretty beat up at the beginning of the season,” Kindler said. “Our trainers have put in a lot of time to help the team recover, and we finally feel like we’re healthy and can compete at our best.”