ISU gymnasts beat Hawkeyes

Jeff Raasch

Here’s a pop quiz: How many consecutive wins has the ISU women’s gymnastics team had over the University of Iowa in the last eight years? Last Friday night, the streak hit fifteen.The 19th-ranked Cyclones rung up the Hawkeyes by the final score of 196.325-195.925, despite the fact that the Hawkeyes broke three team school records. The score was the highest team mark Iowa State has seen on the young season and evened its record at 2-2 overall. Balance was key on this night. Iowa State had four gymnasts earn multiple career-high scores, and when the night was through, a Cyclone was at the top in every event.Shelly Kringen outshined the competition most of the night. She won the vault with a 9.850 and performed a nearly perfect floor exercise, earning a personal best 9.950 to take first place in that event. However, it didn’t stop there. The junior increased her balance beam score by more than five tenths from last week, scoring a 9.875 to tie for second place with ISU freshman Chee Chee Calina and Hawkeye Steph Gran. It all added up to a first-place all-around finish for Kringen (39.550). The high mark was a career high for her and ranked as the second highest all-around score in school history.When Kringen didn’t work her magic, fellow junior Sissy Huey stepped right in. Huey, who is currently rated first in the Big 12 and sixth nationally on the uneven bars, remained undefeated in the event this season. Her 9.925 matched a career best, set at last season’s Big 12 Championships. She vaulted her way to another personal best (9.825) to tie Iowa’s Alexis Maday for second place. Huey and teammate Jessy Smith each impressed the judges with scores of 9.90 on the floor exercise. The two Cyclones both achieved career highs and second-place finishes in the event. Smith, who won the all-around last week, also posted a 9.90 on the uneven bars to tie for second place with Hawkeyes Giselle Boniforti and Maday.Stephanie Sweitzer gave the Cyclones a boost by taking first in the balance beam. The 9.90 she earned was a personal best. The junior attributed the win to a high energy level and mental focus. “We always seem to have more confidence [against Iowa],” said Sweitzer. “We wanted to beat the Hawks pretty bad.”ISU head coach K.J. Kindler said a strong showing by Cyclone fans helped the team. “They were loud and supportive,” said Kindler. “[Iowa] didn’t have the home-court advantage.” Add that to some fired-up gymnasts and the competition is in trouble.In the new rankings Monday, the Cyclones moved up to fourteenth in the nation. “It’s a great place to be right now,” said Kindler. “We’re right where we want to be.”Next on the schedule for the Cyclone gymnasts is a Feb. 11 meet with Missouri at Columbia. Iowa State will be seeking its first conference win.