Wolverines Set to Host Big Five Meet at Crisler

» Michigan hosts Iowa, Penn State and Rutgers for the Big Five Meet on Saturday at Crisler Center. Michigan State was schedule to compete, but withdrew due to COVID-19 protocols.
» U-M is looking for its fifth straight victory at the Big Five Meet.
» The Wolverines rank fifth nationally and lead the nation on the uneven bars.
» Michigan will honor its three seniors at the conclusion of the Big Five Meet.

THIS WEEK
Saturday, Feb. 27 -- Big Five Meet (Crisler Center), 2 p.m.
TV: Big Ten Network+ | Live Results | Live Video
• Complete Notes (PDF)

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The No. 5-ranked University of Michigan women's gymnastics team will host Iowa, Penn State and Rutgers for the Big Five Meet on Saturday (Feb. 27) at 2 p.m. at Crisler Center. Michigan State was scheduled to compete, but withdrew from the meet Thursday (Feb. 25) due to COVID-19 protocols.

The meet will be streamed live on Big Ten Network Plus, and Michigan will honor its three seniors -- Anna Dayton, Lauren Farley and Anne Maxim -- at the conclusion.

Rotation Information

• The Wolverines will start with first-rotation bye before heading to floor exercise, followed by the vault in the third rotation, the uneven bars in the fourth and finishing on the balance beam.
• Iowa will start the meet on the uneven bars before moving to the balance beam and then having its bye in the third rotation. The Hawkeyes will return to finish the meet on floor and vault.
• While Michigan State will not be competing as a team, the Spartans may send individual gymnasts to the meet. If so, they will begin the meet on the vault and head to the uneven bars and balance beam before the bye before coming back to finish the meet on floor.
• Penn State will start on beam before having its bye and returning during the third rotation for the floor. The Nittany Lions then move to the vault and uneven bars to conclude the meet.
• Rutgers starts the meet on the floor and will move to the vault, uneven bars and balance beam. The Scarlet Knights' bye will be in the final rotation of the afternoon.

Wolverine Bites

• Michigan is looking for its fifth straight victory at the Big Five Meet as it has finished the event in first place since 2016. Last season, the Wolverines set a program record with a 197.950 to earn its fourth consecutive Big Ten regular-season title. U-M used season-best scores in three of the four events to set the program record.

• The Wolverines are No. 5 in the Road To Nationals rankings with an average score of 197.025, leading all Big Ten teams. Minnesota is the only other B1G team in the top 10 as it ranks eighth overall. After four meets, Michigan leads the nation on uneven bars with an average score of 49.375, while ranking third on the vault (49.325). U-M moved up to sixth on the balance beam (49.163) and comes in 13th on the floor (49.163). Michigan leads the Big Ten in all events except the floor as Iowa ranks No. 1 nationally and Illinois comes in at No. 12.

• Junior Abby Heiskell's vault is worth a 9.950. posting that score at Illinois to lead off the rotation for U-M. Heiskell earned her first title of the season and fourth of her career and ranks 14th nationally on the vault with an average score of 9.875.

• Junior Natalie Wojcik took home her fourth all-around and beam titles at Illinois, scoring a 9.975 on beam and 39.625 in the all-around. Wojcik also earned a share of the floor title, scoring a 9.925 to tie for first with teammate Gabby Wilson. The junior all-arounder leads the nation on the beam with an average score of 9.956, while ranking second in the all-around (39.613) and seventh on the uneven bars (9.906).

• Sophomore Gabby Wilson picked up her third floor title of the season, scoring a 9.925 to tie with Wojcik in the event. Wilson captured her second straight floor victory of the season, winning the event against Nebraska, while also taking home the win against Ohio State in the season opener.

• The Wolverines will honor their three seniors -- Anna Dayton, Lauren Farley and Anne Maxim following the Big Five Meet.

Opponent Preview

Iowa
Michigan leads, 58-7, in the all-time series against Iowa

The Wolverines are 58-7 all-time against the Hawkeyes, winning 18 straight meetings between the two squads. Iowa is 5-1 overall this season and has not lost a meet since its season-opener to then-No. 11 Minnesota. Michigan has not lost a meet to Iowa since 2011. Iowa comes into the meet as the national leader on floor exercise (49.383) and a season-high 49.600. Clair Kaji leads the Hawkeyes on the floor, ranking eighth nationally with an average score of 9.908. Also ranking in the top 15 for Iowa is Adeline Kenlin, who comes in at No. 15 on the beam with a 9.883 average.

Penn State
Michigan leads, 52-10, in the all-time series with Penn State

Michigan has won 10 straight meetings with the Nittany Lions with its last loss coming in 2016. Penn State is 1-6 overall this this season, its lone win coming against then-No. 28 Maryland on Feb. 5. PSU is ranked No. 23 on the uneven bars with a season-average of 48.971 paced by Cassidy Rushlow, who averages a 9.863 and is an all-arounder with a season-best score of 39.475.

Rutgers
Michigan leads, 17-0, in the all-time series with Rutgers

The Wolverines have won every meeting with the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers is 1-5 overall on the season with its lobe win coming over Nebraska on Feb. 7. Rutgers ranks inside the top 30 on the balance beam at No. 27 with a season-average of 48.810. Belle Huang is the top-ranked Scarlet Knight on the beam with a season-best score of 9.900

Up Next

Fri-Sun., March 5-7 -- at Michigan State (East Lansing, Mich.), TBA