Gymnastics 2018 Season Review

AMES, Iowa – The Iowa State gymnastics team wrapped up a memorable season with an individual appearance from Meaghan Sievers at the NCAA Championships last weekend. The Cyclones had one of their better season in recent memory finishing the season ranked 24th. Iowa State recorded a score over 196.000 four times en route to finishing 20-12 on the year. This was the sixth time in program history ISU has recorded at least 20 dual wins in a season.

Best Meet

Iowa State had their best meet of the season on Senior Night against Iowa and Missouri. The Cyclones recorded a score of 196.700, which tied the highest score in head coach Jay Ronayne's tenure. From the team's 196.700, the Cyclones notched season high scores on bars (49.300) and floor (49.450). Every Cyclone in the floor lineup recorded a score of 9.875 and above and, Meaghan Sievers, Ariana Orrego and Molly Russ all broke career highs. The 49.450 team score on floor is tied for the 14th best in school history.

Season High Event Scores

Vault

Iowa State's top vault performance came in the Minneapolis Regionals to close the season. The Cyclones scored a 49.250 and were led by Meaghan Sievers who tallied a 9.925. Sievers went on to become the individual vault champion at the regional and earned a spot in the NCAA Championships. Sophia Steinmeyer ended her impressive freshman campaign with her fifth 9.850 of the season. Haylee Young also helped ISU with a 9.850. Kelly Martin, who made major strides on vault, ended her season recording a career high 9.825.

Bars

The 49.300 against Iowa and Missouri was the highest bars score of the season. Meaghan Sievers had a fantastic routine and tallied a new career high 9.900. Similarly, Kelsey Paz also finished the night with a career high, earning a 9.875. Both Hilary Green and Madeline Johnson recorded 9.850s and Briana Ledesma scored a 9.825.

Beam

While at San Jose State on Feb. 9, the Cyclones had to power through adversity after counting a fall on bars to record their 49.225 on beam. Iowa State ended the night on beam and had a terrific team performance to earn their then highest road score of the early season (195.725).

Molly Russ lead the way for Iowa State earning a new career high 9.900. It was business as usual for Kelsey Paz and Haylee Young as they scored a 9.850, which they routinely did all season. Meaghan Sievers followed closely as she earned a 9.825, tying her career high. Freshman Ariana Orrego also had a strong outing earning herself a 9.800.

Floor

As mentioned before, Iowa State's best event on floor this season came against Iowa and Missouri. Haylee Young let out a roar of emotion after capping off one of her last routines in Hilton Coliseum scoring a 9.925. After reworking her routine from her sophomore season, it all clicked for Meaghan Sievers earning a new career high 9.900. Briana Ledesma, Kelsey Paz, Molly Russ and Ariana Orrego all ended their night with a 9.875 to help secure this historic event score

Looking Ahead

Iowa State's roster will look a little different next season. With five seniors leaving, Iowa State is tasked to find new leaders as the graduating class served as captains for the last two seasons. ISU loses a lot of production in their lineup but will welcome elite level gymnast signee Phoebe Turner and a slew of other commits as well.

The Cyclones will return NCAA Championship Qualifier Meaghan Sievers next year. As a two-time NCAA Championship Qualifier, Sievers will be tasked to carry the team on vault. During the year, Sievers added new career highs on floor and in the all-around. She even tied her career highs on vault, bars, and beam as well. Sievers is the lone all-arounder returning for Iowa State next season.

Madeline Johnson will be back in 2019. Johnson was one of two Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week award winners last season. Her 9.925 at San Jose State was one of the best Cyclone routines all season. Look for her to be a key piece in the bars lineup next year.

With their freshman seasons come and gone, Sophia Steinmeyer and Ariana Orrego are poised to take a big leap during their sophomore year. Steinmeyer showed a lot of promise as she competed in almost every meet on vault tallying a career high 9.850 four times. Orrego had a great showing during her freshman year as well, compiling a career high 9.875 on floor during the meet against Iowa and Missouri. Both have seen time in the lineup on beam, vault and floor, and both should be contenders to all-around next year.

Molly Russ emerged as a big-time contributor for the Cyclones in 2018. Russ made her way into the beam and floor lineup and didn't look back. Her 9.900 and 9.875 on beam and floor should leave reason for excitement in 2019.

Kelly Martin steadily progressed on vault throughout the year. Martin ended the year earning her career high score of 9.825 at the Minneapolis Regional. Look for her to remain in the vault lineup next season.

Sydney Converse, who missed all of 2018, will be back and ready to compete next season. Her services were missed on vault, beam and floor. The Cyclone staff will be happy to see her ready to compete in 2019.

Casandra Diaz competed most of the year on beam earning a season high 9.825. Diaz, who was limited after suffering a knee injury before the first meet, was slated to start in the floor lineup at Arizona State. Look for Diaz to have a smooth transition coming back from injury in 2019.

Gymnast Honors

Briana Ledesma

Academic All-Big 12 Second Team

Casandra Diaz

Academic All-Big 12 First Team

Courtney Middelkoop

Academic All-Big 12 First Team

Emily White

Academic All-Big 12 First Team

Haylee Young

Big 12 Event Champion on Floor

Hilary Green