ISU Defeats Iowa, Falls to Minnesota

IOWA CITY, Iowa- The No. 10 Iowa State gymnastics team picked up two points in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series, defeating No. 24 Iowa 195.325-194.275, Sunday afternoon in Iowa City at the UI Field House, but fell to No. 28 Minnesota, 195.350-195.325. Cyclone Janet Anson won the beam and floor events and tied for second on vault (9.875) en route to the all-around title (39.450). Megan Barnes scored a season-high 39.125, placing third overall in the all-around with a first-place finish on vault (9.90).

Freshman Nikki Dilbert led the Cyclones on bars with a 9.80, ISU's highest score of the first rotation. Dilbert finished tied for second. Ceilia Maccani also performed a solid routine for Iowa State, recording a 9.750. Anson anchored the rotation with a 9.775 effort. The score after the first rotation was Minnesota 48.725, Iowa State 48.675, and Iowa, which was forced to count mistakes on vault, third with a 47.750.

Iowa State was on beam in the second rotation. Anson was solid as the Cyclones' anchor, scoring a 9.875, the highest score of the afternoon. Katie Sweetin scored a 9.825, taking second place and Barnes scored 9.775 to tie for fifth place. On floor, Minnesota scored a 49.050 and still had the lead over Iowa State, 97.775-97.025, after the second rotation.

"We didn't do bars at all like we warmed up [or] like we did in practice," said Iowa State head coach Jay Ronayne. "We thought we were going to get it together on beam and it just never happened."

However, the Cyclones picked up the pace with a great floor rotation anchored by high scoring routines from Sweetin (9.90) and Anson (9.925). ISU also counted season-highs from Barnes (9.775) and Tham (9.80) to score its new season-high 49.075 in the event. ISU rallied to narrow Minnesota's lead, 146.675-146.100, and improved on their lead over Iowa (145.325).

In the final rotation, Iowa State put together another strong rally, scoring a 49.225 on vault, but it was not enough to overcome mistakes in the first half of the meet. Barnes won the event with a 9.90 score, which tied her season-high set against Minnesota earlier this season. Anson and Thompson (9.875) were part of a four-way tie for second place in the vault. The final score was Minnesota, 195.350, Iowa State, 195.325, Iowa, 194.275.

"The second half of the meet, I'm very proud of how they came back," said Ronayne. "They showed what they're made of, second half - they took it to them. But, I'm surprised we came back and didn't win it. I really was positive we were going to. That's why I'm still mad."

Iowa State was originally scheduled to host Minnesota on Friday, but the meet was postponed due to weather conditions. The Golden Gophers were then invited to Iowa making the contest a triangular meet. Iowa State's victory over Iowa in gymnastics keeps hopes of an ISU victory in the Hy-Vee Cy-Hawk Series alive, but the Cyclones still trail the series, 11-6.

The Cyclones will be in action again at No. 8 Nebraska on March 11.

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Players Mentioned

Janet Anson

Janet Anson

Megan Barnes

Megan Barnes

Nikki Dilbert

Nikki Dilbert

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Katie Sweetin

Katie Sweetin

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