The Iowa State Cyclones are 1-3-1 on the season but continue to show improvement each time they take the floor. Despite their current ranking at No. 28 overall, the Cyclones actually hold the No.1 ranking on balance beam with the highest event total in the NCAA of a 49.425.  

via Iowa State Gymnastics on Facebook


With only one senior and seven true freshman, the Iowa State Cyclones are a young team with an abundance of potential.

SENIOR
Caitlin Brown

Lone yet formidable senior, Caitlin Brown, is the clear leader of the 2015 Cyclones. Coming off a breakout season last year, Brown qualified to NCAA Championships as an individual all-around competitor and has continued to lead the Cyclones snagging one all-around title already this season. 

JUNIORS
Kristen De Costa
Annie Glasenapp
Alex Marasco
Sammie Pearsall
Sara Townsend

Kristen DeCosta competed for Iowa State in all 12 meets on bars and floor last season, posting a career-high 9.850 on floor exercise at NCAA Regional. Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll recipient since her arrival at Iowa State, Annie Glasenapp hasn’t yet made her collegiate debut due to multiple injuries, but an impressive club career suggests she could be a significant contributor as long as she stays healthy.

Before a season-ending injury in 2014, Sara Townsend was a consistent contributor on vault, bars and floor for Iowa State. Townsend will be looking to make a comeback in her junior season.

Other standout veteran’s on the Iowa State roster include juniors Alex Marasco, a staple in the vault and beam lineups, and fierce beam competitor, Sammie Pearsall, who missed most of 2014 due to an injury but has hit the ground running this season on bars and beam scoring as high as a 9.950 on the latter.

Sammie Pearsall, Courtesy of Iowa State Athletics


SOPHOMORES
Allie Hansen
Lily Hardman
Lark Pokladnik

Allie Hansen competed only twice for ISU in last season but, has broken into the beam and floor lineups consistently so far in 2015, scoring a season-high of 9.825 and 9.725 respectively. Lily Hardman did not compete as a freshman but the three-time regional qualifier has potential to provide depth on bars and floor for the Cyclones. Lark Pokladnik is a transfer from the University of Missouri making an impact on the beam and floor lineups for Iowa State.
 

FRESHMEN
Hilary Green
Courtney Horstman
Briana Ledesma
Courtney Middelkoop
Micole O'Dell
Kelsey Paz
Haylee Young

The Cyclones will heavily rely on their freshman class this season, but the sizeable squad has the potential to step up and answer the calling. Making an impact in her debut season is two-time J.O. Nationals qualifier, Briana Ledesma. Ledesma has solidified a spot in both the vault and bars lineups so far this season, scoring a career-high 9.750 on bars in last week’s ti-meet against West Virginia and George Washington.

Fourth-place finisher on bars at the 2014 Junior Olympics NIT, Courtney Middelkoop will not only add depth to Iowa State’s roster, she will also boost the team academics as she graduated as the salutatorian of her class with a 4.0 GPA.

Haylee Young, Courtesy of Iowa State Athletics

J.O. Nationals floor champion in 2014, Micole O’Dell is currently a  contributor in the vault lineup with a season-high of 9.775. Standouts Kelsey Paz and Haylee Young have secured spots in all four line-ups, joining Brown as all-around competitors for the Cyclones. And, 2014 Region 8 all-around champion, Hilary Green, has also made significant contributions in the bar lineup, posting a season-high of 9.825. Looking to break into all-around competition, Courtney Horstman competed at 2011 Junior Olympic nationals as well as the 2008 US Challenge qualifier. 

Though they may be the only team not ranked in the Top 10 at this week’s Metroplex Challenge, the No. 28 Iowa State Cyclones will most certainly be a force of nature other teams can’t ignore.