Big 12 Gymnastics Week 4 Recap: Oklahoma survives Denver, Iowa State heating up

By Micahya Costen | January 29, 2024
Oklahoma's Katherine LeVasseur on beam at the 2024 Mean Girls Super 16.
© Filippo Tomasi/Gymnastics Now

Week 4 of Big 12 gymnastics has come to a close, with many successful and high-achieving moments from the four teams in action.

Illinois State @ #22 Iowa State

Final score: Iowa State: 196.650 – Illinois State: 194.825 

Starting the weekend of matchups on Friday, Iowa State came out on top once again (196.650), this time over the Illinois State Redbirds (194.825). 

Starting on vault, junior Josie Bergstrom led the Cyclones with a score of 9.875 to win the event title and contribute to a team score of 49.1 on the event. Heading toward bars, senior Lauren Thomas topped the standings with a 9.85. On beam, the Cyclones earned a new season high with a score of 49.225. Freshman Noelle Adams and Thomas tied for the top score (9.9), which was also a new career high for Adams. Concluding the night on floor, Iowa State earned the highest event score of the night with a 49.325 (also a season high). Senior Kaia Parker (9.925) closed the meet with a bang to win floor. The Cyclones’ only all-arounder was Hannah Loyim, who earned a 38.975.

“This team did their job tonight,” head coach Ashley Miles Greig said. “They came out and executed, and they proved that they are continuing to work and not taking their foot off the gas. I am so proud of the way they closed out the meet. To put together two more season-high scores on the third and fourth rotation was huge for us. This is going to help carry forward our upward momentum.”

#12 Denver @ # 1 Oklahoma

Final score: Oklahoma: 197.775 – Denver: 197.150

Another week, another Denver vs. Oklahoma showdown, with the Sooners (197.775) once again winning against the Pioneers (197.150) on Friday evening at home.

Oklahoma

Beginning with vault, Denver (49.425) bested the Sooners (49.175) in the overall event score. Senior Katherine LeVasseur took the team high score with a 9.9.

“I think it was the first time that we were behind this season, and they didn’t give up; they kept pushing, and it wasn’t easy. There’s a lot of little things and details I think we left out today overall. For us, the lesson was: we fight back, you keep fighting, you don’t give up no matter what,” head coach K. J. Kindler said.

Taking the bars title, junior Jordan Bowers scored a 9.975.

Moving to beam, the Sooners were only 0.025 points ahead and were in a pressure situation to execute on beam. Fifth-year Ragan Smith took the top score of 9.975 thanks to her magnificent routine and dismount.

Going into the final rotation on floor, both sophomore Faith Torrez and Bowers shared a portion of the title with 9.95s, securing the win with a 49.575. Fifth-year Soraya Hawthorn also earned a season-high 9.875 on the event. Bowers also posted a 39.700 in the all-around, marking the second straight week of her obtaining a 39.7+.

Denver

Denver might have fallen to Oklahoma, but they did give the Sooners a run for their money throughout the meet.

Starting on bars, freshman Madison Ulrich led the team with a 9.9. On vault, the Pioneers earned a season-high 49.425 and a career-high 9.95 from senior Jessica Hutchinson, who won the event title outright. Hutchinson also tied for first on floor with a 9.95 and won the all-around with a career-best 39.725.

West Virginia @ Kent State

Final score: West Virginia: 194.825 – Kent State: 194.050

The Mountaineers took a trip to Ohio for a dual meet against Kent State, which they won 194.825-194.050.

Opening the meet on bars, sophomore Emma Wehry won the event title with a 9.8. She also won vault with a 9.875. Freshman Jurnee Lane hit a career-high 9.925 on floor, marking the first 9.9+ of West Virginia’s season on any event. Ending the night on beam, fifth-year Abbie Pearson won the event with a 9.85, also securing her all-around win (39.175).