DENVER – University of Denver gymnast Momoko Iwai was named the Big 12 Conference Event Specialist of the Week, the conference announced on Tuesday.
 
The DU sophomore made her return to the beam and floor lineups on February 12 after missing two of the previous three meets for Denver. She was a last-minute substitution into the beam lineup against West Virginia and scored a 9.875, placing third overall and helping ensure DU would not count a fall during the rotation.
 
She also competed on floor as one of three lineup changes for Denver when compared to its most recent lineup from February 5, adding a season-high 9.850 that was only a quarter tenth off her career best and tied her for second in the final event standings.
 
This is the first Big 12 weekly award Iwai's career, though she won a share of the Big 12 beam title in 2021 as a freshman. In total, Denver has captured four weekly awards from the Big 12 this season: junior Rosie Casali was Big 12 Gymnast of the Week for Week 2 while freshmen Mila Brusch (Week 2) and Kiley Rorich (Week 4) have each earned Big 12 Newcomer of the Week nods.
 
No. 10 Denver returns to away competition when it travels to Air Force with UC Davis on Friday, February 17, at 6 p.m. MT.
 
NCAA REGIONALS ARE COMING TO DENVER:
The University of Denver will host the 2023 NCAA Regional Gymnastics Championships on March 30 – April 2, 2023, in Magness Arena. All-session tickets are now on sale and can be purchased online or by calling 303-871-4625.

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