Iowa Freshman Gymnast Shines in Debut Season

Sophie Schriever thrives in first year with Gymhawks, earning high scores and team support

Feb. 3, 2026 at 9:07pm

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Freshman gymnast Sophie Schriever has made an immediate impact in her first season with the University of Iowa Gymhawks. Across four meets, Schriever has averaged 9.8 out of 10 on all four events, including a career-high all-around score of 39.275. Despite the pressure of debuting in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Schriever has embraced the collegiate stage and credits her veteran teammates for helping her adjust to the team dynamic.

Why it matters

Schriever's early success highlights the strength of Iowa's gymnastics program, which has built a roster of talented young athletes. Her performance as a freshman is particularly noteworthy, as she looks to make a case for Big Ten Freshman of the Year honors.

The details

In her first four meets, Schriever has averaged 9.8 out of 10 on all four events - vault, bars, beam, and floor. On January 24th against Michigan, she earned a career-high all-around score of 39.275. Schriever is the only freshman this year to place an all-around score for Iowa. Despite the pressure of debuting in her hometown of Salt Lake City, Schriever says she has "never felt so loved" and credits her veteran teammates for helping her adjust to the team dynamic after competing individually in high school.

  • Schriever made her collegiate debut for Iowa in the season-opening NCAA gymnastics meet in Salt Lake City, Utah on January 6th.
  • On January 24th, Schriever earned a career-high all-around score of 39.275 against Michigan.

The players

Sophie Schriever

A freshman gymnast on the University of Iowa Gymhawks team who has made an immediate impact, averaging 9.8 out of 10 on all four events in her first four collegiate meets.

Jen Llewellyn

The head coach of the University of Iowa Gymhawks, who has noted Schriever's talented gymnastics skills and strong work ethic, while also working with her to build confidence.

Aurélie Tran

A second-year member of the Gymhawks team who has praised Schriever as an "amazing teammate" who brings energy and inspiration to the team.

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What they’re saying

“I've been having the best time of my life. I just feel like I'm living my dream and really couldn't ask for more.”

— Sophie Schriever (dailyiowan.com)

“I honestly have never felt so loved in my life. I was so excited when I came out, and everyone was cheering my name and getting so loud, I was just so blown away, and that was the coolest thing for me.”

— Sophie Schriever (dailyiowan.com)

“She is such an amazing teammate, she brings the energy every single day and is such a hard worker. She really tries to be herself both in the gym and out of the gym, which is so inspiring.”

— Aurélie Tran, Second-year Gymhawks team member (dailyiowan.com)

“At the beginning of the year, she was like, 'I'm really good at gymnastics, I can do this, I can do this,' and just overthinking it at times. The biggest thing for her is just calming herself down and settling in, which have been things we have worked on with her over the past few meets.”

— Jen Llewellyn, Head Coach, University of Iowa Gymhawks (dailyiowan.com)

“She has such a strong work ethic and passion for gymnastics in life; she is one of the most enthusiastic and energetic people coming into the gym every day. She just does it in a way that is not cocky, not arrogant, but humble, which really helps the team's morale and energy.”

— Jen Llewellyn, Head Coach, University of Iowa Gymhawks (dailyiowan.com)

What’s next

Schriever will look to continue her strong performances as the Gymhawks approach the midpoint of their season. With her sights set on the Big Ten Freshman of the Year award, she will aim to maintain her high scoring averages and help lead Iowa to success in upcoming meets.

The takeaway

Sophie Schriever's impressive debut season with the Iowa Gymhawks showcases the program's ability to develop young talent. Her combination of skill, work ethic, and team-first mentality have made her an invaluable asset, and her early success suggests a bright future both for Schriever and the Gymhawks as a whole.