Issue link: https://catalog.e-digitaleditions.com/i/922043
145 B eing a good student and a good athlete can be challenging, but for the University of Iowa men's gymnastics team, finding a balance between both is rewarding in the end. "Very rarely, if ever, does a gymnast's athletic performance outshine what they are doing in the classroom," said Iowa head coach JD Reive. "ey mirror each other incredibly well. at is why my captains and best students are my most consistent athletes." Discovering and maintaining this balance can be difficult, especially for the freshmen, but team co- captain Austin Hodges and sophomore Josh Zeal have figured it out. Hodges, a senior health and human physiology major, earned his third straight College Gymnastics Association All-American Scholar honor in July, while competing in every competition last season. His academic and athletic achievements during his three years at Iowa are a big reason he was voted team co-captain this season. "It's crucial to have a captain like Austin, who excels both in the classroom and at the gym," said Reive. "To be able to look at him and see him studying health and human physiology, being on the Dean's List every semester, and being one of our most consistent athletes is important for the other gymnasts. On the outside, he makes it look easy, but he has time management and a discipline and structure to how he spends his days that lends itself well to success everywhere." "I hope to portray that we're not here to just do gymnastics," said Hodges. "We are student- athletes for a reason. Being a good student is just as important. I want my teammates to find the balance I did with school and gymnastics because it makes everything easier. I enjoy working hard and succeeding in both because that's what we're here to do." Zeal, a biomedical engineering major, competed in eight meets for the Hawkeyes last season. He was named a CGA All-American Scholar in July — a big accomplishment for an underclassmen. "Josh is a great example of having no dip in the process," said Reive. "He comes in as an excellent student and maintains that status even as things pick up. He is in a challenging major. You never worry about Josh. He comes in and out of practice to go to class. He gets his work done. at is what we expect out of our kids. e bar is not lowered, we pull everybody up to that bar. at is what I want them to do. Having these guys sit there and tell the team they can do it has a big impact and influence on what they're doing." Learning to balance academic and athletic endeavors is about more than just their time at Iowa. Reive instills these skills in his gymnasts now, so they will be prepared when they go into the professional world. e Hawkeyes open the season on Jan. 13 at the Windy City Invitational in Chicago. e competition begins at 7:30 p.m. (CT).