WEST POINT, N.Y. – The nine finalists for the 2014 College Gymnastics Association Nissen-Emery Award, considered the Heisman Trophy of Gymnastics, were announced Wednesday.

This year’s finalists are California’s Donothan Bailey, Minnesota’s Zack Chase, Oklahoma’s Presten Ellsworth, Penn State’s Adrian Evans, William & Mary’s Landon Funiciello, Michigan’s Sam Mikulak, Ohio State’s Michael Newburger, Stanford’s Chris Turner and Army’s Kip Webber.

Those in the running include NCAA All-Americans, academic All-Americans, USA Gymnastics Collegiate All-Americans, national champions, scholar athletes, conference champions and National Team members

This year’s winner will be announced at the University of Michigan during the CGA Awards Banquet which is being held at the Jack Roth Stadium Club on Wednesday, April 9, at 8 p.m. ET, in Ann Arbor, Mich., the site for this year’s NCAA Championships.

The highest honor in collegiate gymnastics, the Nissen-Emery award has been presented annually since 1966 to an outstanding senior collegiate gymnast based on his achievement, sportsmanship and academic excellence.

The original Nissen Award was named in honor of George Nissen, a former NCAA champion, for his contributions to men’s gymnastics. The award was re-named the Nissen-Emery Award in 1998 to honor Dr. Robert Emery, a Penn State graduate, who won the Nissen Award in 1969.

College gymnastics head coaches all across the nation are requested each year to submit nominations for the award. Gymnasts receiving a 50% vote of confidence from the head coaches are then placed on a final ballot and voted upon by the coaches, team captains, Honorary Lifetime Members, and conference judges. The award is inscribed with the motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially and morally."

2014 Nissen-Emery Award Finalists:
Donothan Bailey (California)
Zack Chase (Minnesota)
Presten Ellsworth (Oklahoma)
Adrian Evans (Penn State)
Landon Funiciello (William & Mary)
Sam Mikulak (Michigan)
Michael Newburger (Ohio State)
Chris Turner (Stanford)
Kip Webber (Army)