Hardin Tabbed as Big 12 Newcomer of the Week

AMES, Iowa – Iowa State freshman gymnast Haylee Hardin has been named the Big 12 Newcomer of the Week, the league office announced Tuesday.

Hardin, a Wichita Falls, Texas native, placed top three in both events she competed in last Friday. The competition against Simpson was part of the ninth-ever Beauty and the Beast meet in front of a record crowd of 9,470.

She began the meet by anchoring a vault lineup that produced a 49-flat, the second-highest event score of the season for the Cyclones. In the final leg, Hardin earned a 9.8 to place third in the meet. Her 9.800 is the second-highest vault score of her career.

Haylee finished the night anchoring on floor exercise. She was part of a rotation that finished with a 49.2 – the highest team floor score of the season. Hardin herself recorded a 9.85, placing second. Her 9.85 is the third-highest floor score she's had in her young collegiate career.

She became the first Iowa State gymnast since teammate Noelle Adams last season to earn Newcomer of the Week honors. Overall, she's the ninth Cyclone gymnast to receive the award, joining Michelle Shealy (2011), Camille Santerre-Gervais (2011), Haylee Young (2015), Makayla Maxwell (2020), Andrea Maldonado (2020), Jade Vella-Wright (2020) and Addy De Jesus (2021).

Iowa State will be back in action this Friday, January 31, when it hosts Arizona State in the home Big 12-opening meet. The Cyclones and Sun Devils will compete at 6:30 p.m. and the meet will be streamed live on ESPN+.

Big 12 Weekly Award Winners (1/28)
Gymnast: Emily Mueller (Arizona)
Event Specialist: Brynlee Andersen (BYU)
Newcomer: Haylee Hardin