Denver Tops Iowa State in Big 12 Gymnastics Clash, but Cyclones Show Grit and Growth
In their second meet of the season, the Iowa State gymnastics team hit the road for a tough Big 12 matchup against No. 17-ranked Denver. The Pioneers came away with the win, posting a 196.525 to Iowa State’s 192.550 on Sunday afternoon in Magness Arena. The meet was nationally televised on ESPN2, giving fans a front-row seat to a high-level conference showdown.
While the final score tipped heavily in Denver’s favor, the Cyclones showed flashes of potential and resilience-especially in the meet’s closing moments. Head coach Ashley Miles Greig praised her team’s perseverance, calling out the adversity they faced and the way they rallied to close strong.
“Very proud of the way this team finished this meet,” Greig said. “With Fred, that was very uncharacteristic of her and that was challenging for our team afterwards.
But I was so proud of the team after that, and I think we have a lot to be proud of today. You know, Haylee Hardin tied her career high, so I think she is going to get that 10.0 eventually.
Overall, the team showed how tough they are today.”
A Rocky Start on Bars
The meet opened on the uneven bars, and Denver wasted no time setting the tone. Five of the Pioneers’ routines topped Iowa State’s best score in the event, with Kiley Rorich leading the way with a 9.900. Cecilia Cooley (9.850), Mila Brusch and Kaitlynd Kastl (both 9.825) helped push Denver to a 48.750 team total.
For Iowa State, Paige Willis led the way with a 9.650, while Peyton Nock notched a career high 9.625. But a string of lower scores-including three routines under 9.0-put the Cyclones in an early hole, trailing 48.975 to 45.925 after one rotation.
Vault Brings a Spark
The Cyclones bounced back on vault, finding some rhythm and confidence. Noelle Adams and Aubree Guinee both delivered strong efforts, each scoring 9.825 to tie for the second-highest marks in the event. Denver’s Shyla Bhatia edged them out with a 9.850, but Iowa State’s vault lineup showed promise.
The 48.825 team total helped ISU close the gap slightly, though Denver still led 98.100 to 94.750 at the halfway point.
Beam Battles and Bright Spots
On the balance beam, Lauren O’Brochta led the way for the Cyclones with a steady 9.825, her best of the season. Chloe Hammond followed close behind with a 9.800, also a season high. Iowa State put together a solid rotation, but Denver continued to apply pressure.
The Pioneers were sharp on beam, putting up a 49.500 as Megan Aarnold (9.875) and Cecilia Cooley (9.850) led the charge. That beam score marked a season high for Denver and extended their lead to 146.225 to 143.900 heading into the final rotation.
Floor Finale: Hardin Shines Again
The Cyclones closed the meet on floor, and that’s where they truly found their footing. Haylee Hardin delivered one of the top performances of the day, tying her career high with a 9.950. It was the latest in a string of standout floor routines from Hardin, who has now scored 9.9 or higher every time she’s competed the event this season.
Aubree Guinee added a season high 9.850, and Noelle Adams chipped in a 9.825. The Cyclones posted a 49.150 on floor, their best event score of the day, showing the kind of finishing power Coach Greig highlighted in her post-meet comments.
Denver’s Depth on Display
Denver, meanwhile, showcased why they’re one of the top teams in the country. With a balanced mix of veteran leadership and talented newcomers, the Pioneers hit season highs on both beam (49.500) and bars (49.150). Seniors like Rorich and Cooley delivered under pressure, while underclassmen like Bhatia and Reidenbach stepped up with big scores.
This is a young but deep Denver squad, featuring seven newcomers from a top-10 recruiting class, and they’ve started the season 5-0 overall, 2-0 in Big 12 competition.
What’s Next for Iowa State
Now 0-2 in conference and 2-7 overall, Iowa State heads back home for a Friday night clash against West Virginia. The Cyclones swept the Mountaineers in two meetings last season-including a win at the Big 12 Championships-and will look to build on their floor momentum as they return to Hilton Coliseum.
The meet begins at 6:30 p.m. and will be streamed on ESPN+.
Big 12 Standings (Through Feb. 2)
- Denver: 2-0 (5-0 overall)
- Utah: 2-0 (7-3)
- Arizona State: 1-1 (3-2)
- BYU: 1-1 (4-3)
- West Virginia: 0-1 (4-5)
- Arizona: 0-1 (2-3)
- Iowa State: 0-2 (2-7)
Final Score:
Denver 196.525, Iowa State 192.550
There’s still a long season ahead, and while Iowa State didn’t leave Denver with a win, they left with something just as important: a sense of resilience, a few career highs, and a clear picture of what they’re capable of when things start to click.