AMES — The Iowa State gymnastics team jumped into a new era this season with six newcomers to the roster and newly named head coach Ashley Miles Greig. For the first meet of the season, the Cyclones fell to the Cornhuskers 196.125-195.825.
The Miles Greig era
Iowa State athletics announced in April of 2023 that the gymnastics program will be welcoming a new head coach. Miles Greig became the eighth head coach of the Iowa State Cyclones gymnastics program.
Miles Greig was a top gymnast during her collegiate career at the University of Alabama where she had secured three national titles in vault. She also held another title in the floor exercise.
With the four new added members to the gymnastics staff in 2023, the Cyclones were ready to get the new era of Iowa State gymnastics started: the Miles Greig era.
Miles Greig and the gymnastics team were welcomed into Hilton Coliseum by loud and dedicated fans. Miles Greig and her staff brought a lot of energy and presence to the meet alongside their gymnasts competing in their first meet of the season, as the energy helped the team record the best season opening in 20 years.
Dominating on beam and vault
The Cyclones started the night with their first event being the vault, while the Cornhuskers started the night on the bars.
The star for Iowa State on the vault was junior Josie Bergstrom who finished with a score of 9.900 in the event. Bergstrom took first place in the meet with her performance on the vault.
Joining Bergstrom in the vault event was freshman Noelle Adams who was right behind her with a score of 9.800.
The Cyclones took the vault event during the meet with a final score of 49.075 with the Cornhuskers close behind with a score of 48.850.
Along with dominating the vault event for Iowa State, the Cyclones took their talents to the beam event as well. They finished with two Cyclone gymnasts tying for first place in the event.
Adams and senior Lauren Thomas tied for first place in beam during the meet combining with a score of 19.75. However, while Adams and Thomas were at the top of the event, the Cyclones finished the beam with a score of 48.575 while the Cornhuskers took it with a score of 48.900.
Freshman Noelle Adams starts strong
Adams started her career as a Cyclone strong against the Cornhuskers.
Before coming to Iowa State, Adams was a top-level gymnast in events including floor and vault. Leading up to Iowa State, Adams finished her high school career with a state championship in floor.
Adams showed off her skill level while competing in vault, beam and lastly performing her floor routine.
Adams placed first in two out of the three events that she had competed in. She finished with the second highest score in the vault with a 9.850.
Adams went to compete in beam where she tied for first place. Lastly, she finished off the meet with a first-place finish on the floor with a score of 9.900.
The Cyclones started off the 2024 season strong, however they fell to the Cornhuskers by a point difference of 0.3.
Iowa State gymnastics will continue its season Jan. 12 at Penn State against the Nittany Lions.
