Iowa Season Preview by Greg

Last season, the Iowa Hawkeyes came within 0.125 of a point from edging Michigan for the second and final slot at Nationals from the Northeast Regional.  The talented core from that team returns, and combined with a strong freshman class and UCLA transfer Michelle Conway, the Hawkeyes are focused on making their first ever National meet.  In hitting 23 of 24 routines, Iowa proved the ability to hit under pressure, and took both Michigan and Regional Champ Nebraska to the limit last season.

The Hawkeyes will face the season without the services of six veterans, including the graduated Corynne Cooper and Michelle Ford, and transfer Kello Kello (NCSU).  These departed athletes leave openings on Vault and FX that the Hawkeyes will look to any number of the newcomers to fill.

The Returners

One of two seniors on the Hawkeye team, Janna Alexandranova shows a beautiful style and great lines on BB and UB.  Her experience and top skills (ro, lo, lo) on the former event will make her an important asset.  Jessica Kyanka, the other senior, also lends experience, especially on the BB.

The junior class is headlined by All-American and NE Regional AA Co-Champ Alexis Maday.  Maday made the 1st Team All-American on vault (Yurchenko Full) and UB (giant full to Tkachev).  On FX, Maday has upgraded each one of her passes, and now dismounts with a world class triple full.  Fellow junior Stephanie Gran rebounded last season from a severe leg injury to make it back in the AA.  Her power is most evident on FX, where she tumbles a clean double layout.  On V, Gran is now training a Yurchenko Full, replacing her former Layout Phelps.  

Fellow Jr. Brandy Killian is a former JO National AA champ who is showing strong preseason form on all four events.  She has added a RO entry vault in the preseason and is strong and confident on BB (bhs, layout, one arm bhs)  Nicole Wong, overcoming past injuries, shines brightest on UB (Shaposhnikova).

Sophomore Annie Rue was an NCAA individual qualifer in the All-Around, edging teammate Gran.  A clean and powerful athlete, she shows dynamic power (high double pike on FX, new Yurchenko 1/2 front layout) and big skills (full in double layout dismount on UB).  Fellow Soph Mindi Levitz shined last season on Vault, provided needed depth on the event.

The Newcomers

The Hawkeyes welcome five frosh and former Canadian Olympian Michelle Conway.  Conway is looking sharp in the preseason, overcoming her first year adjustment issues.  Her Yurchenko 1/2 front layout is already looking stronger in preseason, and her new FX is sure to be a crowd pleaser in Ames.

Two other Canadians join the team as frosh, Tiffany Kwan and Natalie Balfour.  Kwan was the 2001 National Open Canadian AA and UB Champ.  From the Winstonettes, she shows strong tumbling (arabian double front, front to double pike) and a graceful style.  On UB, she swings a Tkachev and a tough blind-Healy to double front.  Balfour, from Flicka in BC, has been known since her junior HP days as an elegant dancer.  This continues today as a collegian, and her FX and BB are beautiful.

Perhaps the mostly highly touted of the Iowa frosh is Kortny Williamson, who hails from Berks.  She is former JO National Champ (in 2000) in the AA and UB, and multi-time champ on the Vault.  A powerful athlete, she is well known for her Yurchenko layout 1 1/2 twists.  

Liz Grajewski, a L10 from Gymnastics Express in Washington, is showing solid and consistent routines in preseason on all four events.  Her best event is UB, where she shows a high Tkachev and smooth Pak salto.  Melissa Saliba, a L10 from Westside, is walkon showing strong improvement.

Outlook

The 2003 Iowa Hawkeyes undoubtably are aiming to quality to Nationals for the first time as a team.  To do this, they will look to replace the experience and talent lost from last year's team, while looking for continued improvement from the returners.  They will also look for a set of talented newcomers to adapt quickly to college life and NCAA competition.  From this large group of six, they will be looking for some key players to break out and complete the lineups, especially on FX and V.  Transfer Michelle Conway has a year's advantage over the others, and could potentially contribute a lot.

However, a big part of the future success of the team will depend upon returners Alexis Maday, Stephanie Gran and Annie Rue.  This trio of AAers provides the base that allows the rest of the team time develop.  As with any team, staying injury free and getting a good draw at Regionals will be important, but Hawkeyes will look to leave nothing to chance.