University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Announce 2015 Schedule
11/3/2014 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
MINNEAPOLIS, Minn. - The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics team will host six regular season contests at the Sports Pavilion, as the 2015 competition schedule was announced today by interim head coach, Jenny Hansen.
"We have a fantastic schedule for the 2015 season and can't wait to get started," said Coach Hansen. "We have a talented team and will be tested throughout the season as we face one of the most difficult schedules we've had in some time. Competing each week with the top teams in the country will continue to prepare us for being our best in the championship part of the season."
The Gophers, who continue to participate in one of the strongest gymnastic conferences in the country, will also host Iowa, Michigan, Penn State and Rutgers in the Big Ten Qualifier on March 14. Last season, six teams finished the 2014 season ranked in the top 25 teams in the country. Minnesota finished the season ranked 14th in the country.
Minnesota will open the regular season at the Sports Pavilion on Jan. 10 as they host Iowa State in the Hall of Fame meet set to start at 6:30 p.m.
The following week, the Gophers will hit the road for their first Big Ten match up with conference newcomer, Maryland, on Thursday, Jan. 15. The Terrapins finished second at the EAGL Championships and advanced to the NCAA Regional in University Park, Pa.
The Maroon and Gold will return home to host Oklahoma on Jan. 17. The Sooners tied for first place with reigning champion, Florida, to end the Super Six in wild fashion as they became the first co-champions in NCAA women's gymnastics history.
Minnesota will finish out the month of January with two conference match ups as they travel to Michigan State on Jan. 24 and host Ohio State at home on Jan. 31 at 6:00 p.m.
Heading into the month of February, the Golden Gophers will travel to Champaign, Ill., to face the Illini on Feb. 7 before returning home to host Nebraska in the Gophers' Pink Meet on Valentine's Day. Both the Illini and the Huskers finished in the top 15 at the conclusion of last season.
Before hosting two home meets to close out February, the Gophers will travel to Ames, Iowa to face Iowa State for the second time in the 2015 season. The Cyclones finished last season ranked 21st.
The final two home meets of the regular season will feature the annual Best of Minnesota/Always Dreaming meet where all four collegiate gymnastic teams in the state of Minnesota compete under the same roof. This meet is always one of the best-attended meets of the season. The meet is named Always Dreaming in honor of former Minnesota athletics compliance director Frank Kara, and will serve as a fundraising and awareness campaign for cancer research.
To conclude the regular season, Minnesota will travel to Louisiana State University to take on the NCAA bronze medalists on Friday, March 6.
Minnesota will host Iowa, Michigan, Penn State and Big Ten newcomer, Rutgers, on Saturday, March 14 at 4 p.m. in the Sports Pavilion before traveling to the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Mich. to compete in the 2015 Big Ten Championships.
If the Maroon and Gold finish the 2015 season among the top 36 teams in the national rankings, they will advance to an NCAA Regional on April 4. If they qualify this season, it will mark their 20th consecutive season as a regional qualifier. The top two teams from each region will earn a bid to the 2015 NCAA Championships to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, April 17-19.
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