AMES, Iowa – For the second straight season, Iowa State had 14 gymnasts named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WGCA) Scholastic All-Americans.

Iowa State’s 14 WCGA Scholastic All-Americans are tied for the most student-athletes receiving the award in program history. It is the fourth-straight season that the Cyclones have tallied double-digit selections.

Ana Palacios earned WCGA honors for a school-record fifth time, while Laura Cooke, Maya Ford, Madelyn Langkamp and Jade Vella-Wright each earned the recognition for the fourth time. Loganne Basuel claimed her third Scholastic All-American honor and Josie Bergstrom, Hannah Loyim and Rachel Wilke all picked up their second time on the list. Kelsey Boychuk, Madison Matassa, Kaia Parker, Sydney Saturino and Lauren Thomas all were tabbed with the award for the first time.

Both Langkamp and Palacios recorded 4.0 GPAs over the 2022-23 school year.

Iowa State’s 14 recipients were tied for a Big 12-best, as both West Virginia and Oklahoma also had 14 student-athletes recognized. Affiliate program Denver saw 12 members earn the honor.

Student-athletes must maintain a 3.50 or higher GPA during the academic year or cumulatively during their collegiate career to qualify for Scholastic All-America honors.

IOWA CITY, Iowa – Three University of Iowa women’s gymnasts were named Women’s Collegiate Gymnastics Association Scholastic All-America Award recipients, it was announced Tuesday by the WCGA.

Iowa’s honorees include freshmen Gianna Masella and Kaia Vanney and junior Allison Zuhlke.

WCGA Scholastic All-Americans have a 3.5 overall grade point average or a 3.5 grade point average for 2022-23 academic year.

Vanney, a health studies major, was one of 223 student-athletes in the nation who received a 4.00 GPA. Masella is carrying a 3.83 GPA while majoring in dentistry and Zuhlke has a 3.70 cumulative GPA in enterprise leadership.

Sophomores Cartevious Norton and Eli King are the most experienced running backs in a group that is missing senior Jirehl Brock at Iowa State. Norton appeared in eight games last season but was hampered by a hamstring injury he suffered in the season opener.

Norton says with experience he has learned to be patient.

Though still early in his career Norton has become one of the leaders of the running back group.

King also appeared in eight games last year and feels he has improved during the offseason.

King says he has become a better student of the game.

Injuries plagued the running backs last year and King says they are trying to do a better job of taking care of their bodies.

The Cyclones open at home on September second against UNI.

Iowa’s offense is motivated to stop being a liability this season. The Hawkeyes were 8-5 last season but it could have been much better had they averaged more than a measly 17.7 points per game. An influx of transfers are being counted on to make the offense more productive, including former Michigan quarterback Cade McNamara.

That is senior receiver Nico Ragaini who says the offense has something to prove.

Ragaini says McNamara has been a great addition.

Offensive coordinator Brian Ferentz had a 25 points per game incentive added to his contract, but the son of head coach Kirk Ferentz is focused on winning.

The added pressure of being the head coach’s son has always been there.

He says McNamara has shown the ability to extend plays in practice.

The Hawkeyes open the season at home on September second against Utah State.

Today, we continue our preview of the upcoming Big Ten football season with a 14-team preview over 14 weekdays. Tanner Hoops previews the 2023 Michigan State Spartans:

Tomorrow, we will preview Penn State.