CORALVILLE, Iowa – The University of Iowa gymnastics team delivered a strong performance, finishing second at the Big Four Meet with a 196.125 on Sunday night inside Xtream Arena.

No. 7 Michigan State took first place with a 197.150, Washington took third with a 195.650 and No. 25 Penn State rounded out the standings scoring a 195.475.

Junior Karina Muñoz led the way for the Hawkeyes, securing a first-place finish in the all-around scoring 39.225, followed by freshman Aurélie Tran scoring 39.200 to clinch second-place. In team competition, the GymHawks posted a season-best team score of 49.175 on bars. Junior Emily Erb tied for first place on floor with a 9.900, and freshman Sydney Turner delivered an impressive 9.900 on bars to tie for third overall.

BEAM

The GymHawks opened the competition on the beam with a solid 49.125, led by three strong 9.850 performances from senior Ilka Juk, junior Haley Tyson, and fifth-year Adeline Kenlin. Juk’s score set a new season-high for the senior. Muñoz followed closely with a 9.825, while Tran posted a 9.750. Cassie Lee contributed a 9.675 to round out the lineup.

FLOOR

Iowa carried its momentum into floor, posting a 49.050 in the event. Erb shined with a standout performance, earning a 9.900 to tie for first place. This was Erb’s fourth times scoring a 9.900 or higher this season. Junior Hanna Castillo contributed a strong 9.825, while Tran followed with a 9.800. Junior Gianna Masella posted a 9.775, and Muñoz added a 9.750. 

VAULT

The GymHawks posted a 48.775 on vault, with Muñoz leading the way at 9.800. Junior Avery Chambers and Tran both posted 9.775s, while sophomore Eva Volpe delivered a 9.725. Castillo and Masella each contributed scores of 9.700.

BARS

Iowa closed the meet with a season-best 49.175 on bars. Turner led the lineup with an impressive 9.900 to tie for third on the event. Tran closed out her night in the all-around with a 9.875. Muñoz added a strong 9.850, and Masella stuck a 9.800. Juk posted a 9.750, and Kaia Vanney scored a 9.600 to complete the lineup.

HEAR FROM HEAD COACH JEN LLEWELLYN

“I’m really proud of our team, it was a gritty performance. We competed against tough competition from all teams. It was a complete team effort of hitting 24 of 24 routines, so I’m really proud of how they stuck together. Right now, we just need to continue to get back into the gym and find ways that we can get better and compete at the highest level. It’s also important to focus on having fun doing what we love, because when we bring that joy, the results take care of themselves.”

UP NEXT

The GymHawks will host Iowa State in the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series on Friday, March 7, at 6:30 p.m. (CST) inside Carver-Hawkeye Arena in Iowa City, Iowa.

The ACGC Chargers boys basketball team’s season stopped short of the state tournament at the hand of the Remsen St. Mary’s Hawks. In a battle of offense versus defense, Remsen St. Mary’s defense won out. The Hawks were able to hold ACGC to well below their average and were able to use their size to score in the paint. Despite the Chargers’ effort to come back in the fourth it ultimately fell short in a 57-49 loss.

Throughout the postseason the Chargers had been able to get off to fast starts. However, it was apparent early on that this game would be different. Remsen St. Mary’s came into the game allowing just 37 points per game and used every bit of that to slow down the Chargers offense. In a slug fest of a first quarter, the Hawks held ACGC to six points to hold a 3-point lead at the end of the frame. Although the offenses picked up in the second, it was still low scoring. However, it was Remsen St. Mary’s that had the edge. Jeshua Phillips had three field goals for Remsen St. Mary’s as the Hawks started to expand their lead. With a minute to go in the half the deficit for the Chargers had become ten. However, as they did at points during the game, had a strong stretch. Payton Policky knocked down three field goals in the quarter while Jathan South hit a field goal and a three as ACGC slimmed the deficit to 29-24 before the end of the half.

Although there was a fair amount of the fouls in the first half, the second half was a foul fest. One player on each team fouled out while both sides shot over 15 free throws. However, little changed in the way the game played out. Much like the first half, the Hawks continued to trouble the ACGC offense. Using their defensive success as momentum, the Hawks were able to push the envelope gaining a 14 point lead. Despite this, ACGC didn’t go down without a fight. Late in the game the offense started to heat up. Half of the Chargers six three pointers came late in ball game as ACGC gave themselves a chance. However, it was ultimately too little to lead as Remsen St. Mary’s held on to earn a berth in the state tournament. South led the way for the Chargers finishing the game with 16 while Collin Homan led the Hawks with 13. Although disappointed, head coach Lance Kading was proud of the way his team battled.

Kading also touched on how the game played out.

ACGC boys basketball will look a little different next year. The Chargers are graduating four of their five starters and five total seniors. Kading is appreciative of what the seniors have done but is also looking forward for what is to come.

Hannah Stuelke scored 21 points and added 15 rebounds as the Iowa Hawkeye women beat Wisconsin 81-66 in Iowa City to close the regular season.

That’s Iowa coach Jan Jensen. The Hawkeyes have a 20-9 overall record and they finished 10-8 in the Big Ten as they get ready for this week’s Big Ten Tournament in Indianapolis.

Drake closed the regular season with a thrilling overtime victory at the Knapp Center. The Bulldogs outscored Missouri State 9-0 to start the extra session in a 68-60 win, a game the Bulldogs trailed by 10 in the second half.

That’s Drake coach Ben McCollum, who inherited a Drake team with only one returning player and directed the Bulldogs to the Missouri Valley regular season title and a 27-3 record in his first season at the helm.

The question now is do the Bulldogs need to win this week’s Missouri Valley Conference Tournament to go dancing?

McCollum is not listening to the at-large speculation surrounding the Bulldogs.

Junior guard Bennett Stirtz led the way with 23 points and says the Bulldogs stepped up their level of play in overtime.

Stirtz was asked if the Bulldogs deserve an at-large bid into the NCAA Tournament if they don’t win the Valley Tournament.

The Bulldogs will be the top seed at Arch Madness in St. Louis and open friday at Noon. The Full bracket will be released Monday morning.

AMES, Iowa— Officials with Iowa State University, on Friday, announced Jamie Pollard, the longest-tenured director of athletics in Iowa State University history, has received a five-year contract extension through June 30, 2030. In making the announcement, ISU President Dr. Wendy Wintersteen said “During Jamie’s 20 years, the university has celebrated all-time program bests academically and athletically, and significant growth in attendance,” Wintersteen said. “He has built a culture of success at Iowa State, while navigating the many changes in collegiate athletics. I also appreciate Jamie’s efforts to create a new vision for the Iowa State Center and athletic facilities through the CyTown entertainment district concept.”

Pollard, the nation’s third-longest serving active Power Four Director of Athletics, has led the Cyclones’ 18-sport intercollegiate athletics program to unprecedented academic and athletic success during his two-decade run in Ames, re imagining nearly every phase of the ISU program along the way.

Under Pollard’s leadership, Cyclone student-athletes continue to thrive in the classroom, having matched or established a school-record Graduation Success Rate score for 10-consecutive years, improving from 77 percent in 2014 to its 95 percent mark each of the past three years, including the most-recent NCAA data released last fall.

The terms of Pollard’s new contract will be announced at a future date.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. – Freshman Pauline Bikembo and sophomore Ryan Johnson were crowned champions of their respective events on Friday afternoon at the Big Ten Indoor Championships inside the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

At the end of the first day of competition, the men’s team is in fourth place with 24 points. The women’s team has 11 points in eighth place.

Bikembo set Iowa’s school record with 4,330 points in the women’s pentathlon on her way to the conference title. Johnson became Iowa’s first-ever men’s weight thrower to win the Big Ten title.

Bikembo used a balanced performance to win the event and became Iowa’s first Big Ten pentathlon champion since 2019. The freshman from Saint Lue La Foret, France, placed first in the high jump at 1.79 meters. She was second in the long jump with a mark of 6.10 meters. A fourth-place finish in the 60-meter hurdles (8.56) and a pair of eighth-place results in the shot put and 800 meters helped Bikembo accumulate her career high in points. Bikembo scored the Hawkeyes ten team points. Annie Wirth staked a spot at the podium, finishing eighth with a personal-best 3,941 points to move to sixth all-time at Iowa.

In his debut season with the Hawkeyes, Johnson made the ultimate mark, winning the program’s first conference men’s weight throw title at 24.38 meters. The final three throws of Johnson’s series were his best, surpassing the 23.50 mark each time. The sophomore from Springboro, Ohio, held off Nebraska’s Henry Zimmerman to win the event. Sean Smith (21.83 meters) and Austin Busch (21.05 meters) also scored for the Hawkeyes, placing fifth and eighth, respectively.

Also in his rookie campaign, long jumper Emmanuel Njoku claimed the silver medal at 7.72 meters. The native of Benin City, Nigeria, rose to fifth in program history on his final jump. Heading into his final attempt, Njoku was in a tie for third place at 7.56 meters. He broke through and moved into sole possession of second with his new career best of 7.72 meters. Freshman Abraham Vogelsang scored a point for Iowa in the long jump with a 7.47-meter mark, while also recording Iowa’s third-best pole vault mark at 5.15 meters.

The Hawkeyes had 13 athletes qualify for the finals on Saturday, highlighted by junior Gabby Cortez, who finished first in the women’s 600 meters with a time of 1:28.67. Senior Alli Bookin-Nosbisch was close behind, clocking in at 1:29.02 to also advance to Saturday’s competition. Also advancing in the men’s 60-meter hurdles, sophomore Kai Graves-Blanks finished third matching his personal best time of 7.78.

In the women’s 400-meter prelims, freshman phenoms Chioma Nwachukwu and Damaris Mutunga posted impressive times, securing their spots in the finals. Nwachukwu moved up in the program all-time list with a 52.07, good for third at Iowa.

Veterans Austin Kresley (60 meters, 200 meters) and Paige Magee (60-meter hurdles) will compete in the finals of their respective events on Saturday.

The men’s heptathlon will wrap up on Saturday, as well. Sal Capaldo finished day one in fifth place with 3,109 points after strong performances in the 60 meters (6.98) and high jump (2.00 meters).

Up Next: Iowa track and field concludes the Big Ten Championships with action starting at 9:20 a.m. (CT) at the Indiana State Fairgrounds.

HAWKEYE RESULTS
Men’s 60 Meters Prelims
7. Austin Kresley – 6.66, q

Women’s 60 Meters Prelims
14. Lia Love – 7.37
22. Holly Duax – 7.57
25. Alexandria Edison – 7.62, PR

Men’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
3. Kai Graves-Blanks – 7.78, Q, =PR
8. Kalil Johnson – 7.92, q
9. Tyler Kenaga – 7.98, PR
14. Drew Dillard – 8.13, PR

Women’s 60-Meter Hurdles Prelims
5. Paige Magee – 8.20, q
11. Lillian Harden – 8.40

Men’s 200 Meters Prelims
9. Austin Kresley – 21.05, q
19. Jaylin Holmes – 21.44

Women’s 200 Meters Prelims
10. Lia Love – 23.41
17. Holly Duax – 23.80
18. Alexandria Edison – 23.98

Men’s 400 Meters Prelims
8. Landon Fontenot – 46.73, q, PR
9. Zidane Brown – 46.76
11. Josh Pugh – 46.97
13. Tyrese Miller – 46.99
15. Isaac Lewis – 47.21

Women’s 400 Meters Prelims
3. Chioma Nwachukwu – 52.07, q, PR, 3rd at Iowa
5. Damaris Mutunga – 52.73, q
9. Alivia Williams – 53.20
17. Olicia Lucas – 55.00
19. Arianna Williams – 55.37

Men’s 600 Meters Prelims
5. Terrick Johnson – 1:16.98, q, PR, 9th at Iowa
6. James Fingalsen – 1:17.22, q, PR
9. Caleb Levy – 1:17.74, PR

Women’s 600 Meters Prelims
1. Gabby Cortez – 1:28.67, q
2. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 1:29.02, q
12. Jaiden Itson – 1:32.16
17. Ali Frandsen – 1:33.23

Men’s 800 Meters Prelims
11. Ryan Schreiner – 1:48.70

Women’s 800 Meters Prelims
7. Alli Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:06.29, Q
19. Grace Bookin-Nosbisch – 2:11.22
21. Clare Kelly – 2:13.13

Men’s 5,000 Meters
20. Brayden Burnett – 14:20.23
24. Miles Wilson – 14:22.84
29. Will Ryan – 14:41.21

Women’s 5,000 Meters
25. Miriam Sandeen – 16:59.84
29. Hillary Trainor – 17:10.66, PR

Women’s Distance Medley Relay
12. Kelly, Williams, Bookin-Nosbisch, Torres – 11:46.08

Men’s Pole Vault
10. Abraham Vogelsang – 5.15 meters (16’ 10.75”), PR, 3rd at Iowa

Men’s Long Jump
2. Emmanuel Njoku – 7.72 meters (25’ 4”), PR, 5th at Iowa
8. Abraham Vogelsang – 7.47 meters (24’ 6.25”), PR,

Women’s Long Jump
11. Maud Zeffou-Poaty – 6.07 meters

Men’s Weight Throw
1. Ryan Johnson – 24.38 meters
5. Sean Smith – 21.83 meters
8. Austin Busch – 21.05 meters
10. Bryce Ruland – 20.13 meters
15. Walker Whalen – 19.79 meters, PR

Women’s Weight Throw
24. Peyton Wilson – 17.58 meters, PR
26. Alivia Bauer – 16.78 meters
30. Sydnie Smith – 16.51 meters

Women’s Pentathlon
1. Pauline Bikembo – 4,330 points, PR, 1st at Iowa
8. Annie Wirth – 3,941 points, PR, 6th at Iowa
15. Carlee Rochford – 3,631 points, PR

60m Hurdles
4. Pauline Bikembo – 8.56
16. Carlee Rochford – 8.86, PR
20. Annie Wirth – 8.95

High Jump
1. Pauline Bikembo – 1.79 meters (5’ 10.5”), PR, tied 4th at Iowa
2. Annie Wirth – 1.76 meters (5’ 9.25”)
8. Carlee Rochford – 1.67 meters (5’ 5.75”)

Shot Put
8. Pauline Bikembo – 12.36 meters (40’ 6.75”), PR
14. Carlee Rochford – 10.81 meters (35’ 5.75”)
16. Annie Wirth – 10.71 meters (35’ 1.75”)

Long Jump
2. Pauline Bikembo – 6.10 meters (20’ 0.25”)
12. Annie Wirth – 5.57 meters (18’ 3.25”), PR
17. Carlee Rochford – 5.27 meters (17’ 3.5”)

800 Meters
7. Annie Wirth – 2:21.94
8. Pauline Bikembo – 2:22.10
16. Carlee Rochford – 2:32.88

Men’s Heptathlon
5. Sal Capaldo – 3,109 points
14. Canaan Burnett – 2,569 points

60 Meters
3. Sal Capaldo – 6.98, PR
13. Canaan Burnett – 7.30, PR

Long Jump
8. Sal Capaldo – 6.96 meters (22’ 10”)
12. Canaan Burnett – 6.71 meters (22’ 0.25”), PR

Shot Put
8. Sal Capaldo – 12.11 meters (39’ 8.75”)
15. Canaan Burnett – 9.43 meters (30’ 11.25”)

High Jump
3. Sal Capaldo – 2.00 meters (6’ 6.75”)
13. Canaan Burnett – 1.76 meters (5’ 9.25”)