Denver’s Jessica Hutchinson and Oklahoma’s Ragan Smith share Gymnast of the Week after perfect-10 routines while the Pioneers’ Momoko Iwai and Madison Ulrich earned Event Specialist and Newcomer awards, respectively.
Hutchinson tallied an all-around score of 39.725 during a home meet against San Jose State, Lindenwood and Air Force. The physiology in health & disease major claimed event titles in the all-around, bars and floor. Her highlight of the meet was earning a perfect 10 on her floor routine, the third in her career and second time this season. Hutchinson has won the event in eight consecutive meets which marked her as the first Pioneer in program history to win at least a share of the gold medal in every meet they’ve competed in a single season. This is the third weekly award for the senior during the 2024 season.
Smith garnered her first Gymnast of the Week honor this season and the third of her career following a weekend of record-setting performances. During the Sooners’ home meet on Friday night against Michigan, she recorded her third consecutive 10.000 on the balance beam before she added another perfect score during a quad meet at Texas Woman’s on Sunday. As the nation’s leader in beam this season, the three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection has procured eight unblemished balance beam performances in her career to claim the most in the event in OU history while tying for the most career perfect-10s on any event. Participating in other events during the weekend, Smith achieved a 9.900 in bars at both meets while scoring a 9.925 and a 9.85 on floor.
Iwai set two career highs during Denver’s quad meet last week. She served as the lead-off for the Pioneers’ beam lineup and registered a personal best 9.975, which is the highest score posted in program history from the first competitor in any beam rotation. The international business major then set another career-high with her floor performance scoring a 9.950. During the meet, she placed first on beam and tied for second on floor. Iwai’s score helped Denver tally a 49.675 on floor and an overall score of 198.025, both sitting as the second-best in program history. This is her second career Big 12 gymnastics award.
Revealing an updated floor routine last week, Ulrich tagged a 9.925 to match her season-high and earned a second-place finish. Instead of a double tuck for her first tumbling pass, she incorporated a double layout. The five-time Newcomer of the Week also procured a 9.925 on bars while scoring a 9.825 on vault and a 9.800 on beam. She placed second behind teammate Jessica Hutchinson with a final all-around score of 39.475. It was the sixth time this season the freshman has garnered a podium finish after competing in all four events.