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Gophers Ranked No. 2 in B1G Preseason Poll
1/13/2021 1:30:00 PM | Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics program will open the 2021 season ranked No. 2 in the Big Ten Preseason Coaches' Poll, announced on Wednesday.
The No. 2 preseason ranking is the same spot the Gophers earned in last year's preseason poll, with only Michigan coming in ahead at No. 1.
For the third year in a row, seniors Ona Loper and Lexy Ramler were selected as Big Ten Women's Gymnasts to Watch.
Loper had a season of a lifetime in 2020, earning her first Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor back in February. The year of firsts continued when she earned the first of three all-around titles of her career in the second meet of the season. She went on to win one title on the uneven bars and four on vault and floor.
During the final meet of her junior season, she notched her first perfect 10 on vault and set a career-best 39.625 in the all-around to tie for ninth all-time in program history. Loper ended the season ranked No. 18 nationally and No. 4 in the conference on vault, No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the B1G in the all-around and No. 4 in the conference on floor. The Bluffton, S.C. native spent four weeks at No. 1 in the all-around in the Big Ten and was ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation.
Despite the abrupt end to the 2020 season, it was Ramler's best one yet after she reached perfection for the first time with a perfect 10 on beam in January. A week after her first perfect 10, she did it again, becoming the first Gopher gymnast to reach perfection in Maturi Pavilion and have multiple perfect 10s in one season. Ramler finished the 2020 season ranked No. 1 on beam in the nation, No. 6 on bars nationally and No. 1 in the B1G. She was tabbed No. 8 in the all-around in the NCAA and No.1 in the conference. Ramler repeated as the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, Region 2 Gymnast of the Year, earned First Team All-American Honors (UB, BB, AA) and was named a Honda Sports Award Finalist for gymnastics.
Coming in at No.11 in the WCGA Preseason Poll released last month, Minnesota is one of eight Big Ten teams to be ranked in the top 36 nationally. The Gophers open their season and have their first Big Ten matchup when they host Iowa on Friday, January 15.
2020-21 BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON POLL
1. Michigan
2. Minnesota
3. Nebraska
4. Iowa
5. Illinois
6. Penn State
7. Maryland
8. Ohio State
9. Michigan State
10. Rutgers
The No. 2 preseason ranking is the same spot the Gophers earned in last year's preseason poll, with only Michigan coming in ahead at No. 1.
For the third year in a row, seniors Ona Loper and Lexy Ramler were selected as Big Ten Women's Gymnasts to Watch.
Loper had a season of a lifetime in 2020, earning her first Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor back in February. The year of firsts continued when she earned the first of three all-around titles of her career in the second meet of the season. She went on to win one title on the uneven bars and four on vault and floor.
During the final meet of her junior season, she notched her first perfect 10 on vault and set a career-best 39.625 in the all-around to tie for ninth all-time in program history. Loper ended the season ranked No. 18 nationally and No. 4 in the conference on vault, No. 12 nationally and No. 3 in the B1G in the all-around and No. 4 in the conference on floor. The Bluffton, S.C. native spent four weeks at No. 1 in the all-around in the Big Ten and was ranked as high as No. 9 in the nation.
Despite the abrupt end to the 2020 season, it was Ramler's best one yet after she reached perfection for the first time with a perfect 10 on beam in January. A week after her first perfect 10, she did it again, becoming the first Gopher gymnast to reach perfection in Maturi Pavilion and have multiple perfect 10s in one season. Ramler finished the 2020 season ranked No. 1 on beam in the nation, No. 6 on bars nationally and No. 1 in the B1G. She was tabbed No. 8 in the all-around in the NCAA and No.1 in the conference. Ramler repeated as the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, Region 2 Gymnast of the Year, earned First Team All-American Honors (UB, BB, AA) and was named a Honda Sports Award Finalist for gymnastics.
Coming in at No.11 in the WCGA Preseason Poll released last month, Minnesota is one of eight Big Ten teams to be ranked in the top 36 nationally. The Gophers open their season and have their first Big Ten matchup when they host Iowa on Friday, January 15.
2020-21 BIG TEN WOMEN'S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON POLL
1. Michigan
2. Minnesota
3. Nebraska
4. Iowa
5. Illinois
6. Penn State
7. Maryland
8. Ohio State
9. Michigan State
10. Rutgers
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