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Wickus Finds Home at Iowa By Jessa Hansen U "Maya's personality lightens the atmosphere," said UI head coach Larissa Libby. "She is the one that you can always hear, and she's the one that gets the team charged up. This year Maya has learned to relax a little bit and enjoy her role as a team leader. She makes sure that the team is successful at the end of the day." During that time, Wickus has succeeded in lowering But that's what happened, and Wickus is glad it did. her own competition anxiety. If she struggled with that "Being at Iowa has taught me that I can succeed in both in the past, nobody would know it now. athletics and academics," she said. "After my freshman "Maya figured out she can trust herself, which is a huge year at Auburn, I looked at universities that had a balance of school and sports. I also wanted to be closer stepping stone," said Libby. "She's always had the talent to do the skills. I don't think until this year she trusted to home, and Iowa fit the mold." herself in every circumstance that she can make it happen." Though the transition wasn't easy, Wickus found her role within the team and became a fierce competitor on In competition this season, Wickus has been the vault and uneven bars. picture of reliability, hitting 100 percent of her routines. On March 15, she placed third on bars with a career"The transition was difficult because it was like best 9.875 in a meet with Southern Utah, San Jose State freshman year all over again," Wickus said. "Trying to and Ball State. adjust to the different schedule and new community was tough, especially because there's a big focus on So far in 2013, Wickus' most memorable moment has academics here. After Thanksgiving break, I found been clinching the Iowa Corn Cy-Hawk Series for Iowa where I fit in and realized this is a great place for me." on Senior Night against Iowa State on March 8. While Wickus has been one of the steadiest "Senior Night was unforgettable," said Wickus. "We contributors this season on vault and bars, she's were off to a slow start this season, but we built also known for her lively personality. Whatever the steadily. We set ambitious goals, and on Senior Night situation, Wickus has a knack for lowering the stress we accomplished two of them. We stayed undefeated level and helping give her teammates the confidence at home, and earned that 196-plus score. When I saw needed to thrive. niversity of Iowa senior Maya Wickus's collegiate career didn't go as expected. The Port Washington, Wis., native never thought she would transfer from Auburn University after one year. Becoming a leader on the University of Iowa women's gymnastics team was not part of the plan. 19