On Tuesday night, the Hilton faithful were treated to an excursion into Betsyville, perhaps officially becoming the happiest place on Earth.

Junior Betsy Hamm put on another impressive performance, taking first on the uneven bars, floor exercise and all-around competition, en route to a school-record score of 197.275 to Missouri’s 194.525.

Hamm said her zone of focus during competition lead her to dub it ‘Betsyville.’

“Before the meet, I told [junior teammate] Lauren [Goldberg] that I think I’m in ‘Betsyville’ because I’m concentrating so much on my gymnastics that everything else is a blur,” Hamm said, joking. “It’s a good feeling because I’m very concentrated. Before the event, I’m pretty nervous, but once I get out there, I’m relaxed.”

It must have worked, as Hamm’s 39.60 in the all-around was a school record and career high. She scored a 9.925 on floor; a school-record 9.95 on bars, and second and third place showings of 9.925 and 9.80 on the balance beam and vault, respectively.

The team also hit 24 of 24 routines without a fall, something that coach Amy Pyle’s squads have never done.

“I was a little nervous at first, because they vaulted a little flat in warm-ups, but then they wouldn’t stop,” Pyle said. “That (24 out of 24) has been a goal for us ever since I’ve been here. Top to bottom…one girl would go and the next girl would be thinking, ‘I’m going to top that;’ they just kept building and building and building and that’s what we need for those big meets.”

Tuesday’s meet was also special for four gymnasts, as it was the final home meet of the year, making it senior night. Kelli More, Sarah Sanderson, Martha Strain and Kelly Cherwien were honored after the meet for their contributions to the squad.

More and Sanderson were their usual selves, with several top finishes.

More tied her own school record on the beam with a 9.95 and also tied for third on the bars with Sanderson, scoring a 9.875.

Sanderson tied for first on the vault with Missouri senior Katie Cole, carding a 9.825. She also tied with More and three other teammates on the floor for second with a 9.875.

Pyle said More’s routine was the best she has ever seen her do. More said the routine was a nice way to say thanks to the Iowa State fans and was a boost for the team.

“It was definitely one of my best routines. I was a little nervous going in there, but once I saw the judge, I felt like I always feel,” More said. “So I knew I could just go out there and perform like I usually do. I wanted to go out on a bang for my last home meet and I felt great when I was done.”

This was the No. 13 Cyclones’ second victory in a row, after a 195.425 to 192.250 win March 3 at Iowa.

The turned in a third place showing at a February 25 quadrangular event at Florida.

After struggling in February, this win was considered large not only in terms of national ranking, but also as a confidence-builder for the team.

“It’s a big confidence-booster for Big 12, because we can hit at home and Big 12’s are at home,” Hamm said. “If we can get a 197, we can do it. It’s a matter of who sticks, who takes those falls and who takes those steps.”

“It’s always good to get that confidence level raised before you go out on the road,” More said. “We had a couple people on beam who had been consistently struggling up to this meet and now that they all stuck, that builds for what happens in Minnesota. They have to take what they did tonight, figure out how they did it and do it in Minnesota.”

More is alluding to the March 11 meet at Minnesota, the squad’s last tuneup before the Big 12 Championships, March 18 at Hilton Coliseum.

The Cyclones defeated the Golden Gophers back on February 4 in Ames, 195.850 to 192.425.

Pyle said she hopes her squad can take this win and build on it, going into and past the Minnesota meet.

“We needed this as a confidence builder and for our ranking,” Pyle said. “Minnesota is always tough on them mentally, so this was a big meet to have here so they can walk into Minnesota, going 24 of 24 and knowing they can do it again.”