Women's Gymnasts of the Week – Jan. 23-29, 2023

Gymnast of the Week
Sierra Brooks – Michigan

• Won her second all-around title of the season, scoring a 39.725 with four scores of 9.900 or higher in the Wolverines’ victory against Ohio State on Jan. 28
• Finished second on all four individual events with scores of 9.950 (vault), 9.900 (bars), 9.950 (beam) and 9.925 (floor)
• Ranks third nationally on vault (9.937 average), sixth on floor (9.931), 24th on bars (9.894) and 24th in the all-around (39.356)
• The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns her fourth career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award and her second of the season

Co-Event Specialists of the Week
Linda Zivat – Iowa

• Recorded a pair of top-five finishes to help the Hawkeyes tie Minnesota on Jan. 27
• Notched a career-high and near-perfect 9.975 on vault to assist the Hawkeyes to a season-high team vault total of 49.375, the fifth-best event score in program history and the senior’s third vault title of the season
• Added a 9.875 on floor for fifth place to secure the tie following a three-tenth deficit going into the final rotation
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree collects her first career Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week honor

Naomi Morrison – Michigan

• Finished at the top of the podium on two of her events in Michigan’s victory against Ohio State on Jan. 28
• Executed a near perfect vault, earning a 10 from one judge and tying her career-best with a score of 9.975 to take home the event crown
• Scored a 9.950 on the floor to win the event and a 9.850 on bars to tie for seventh place
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree collects her first career Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week honor

Mya Hooten – Minnesota

• Collected a trio of podium finishes to help the Gophers to a team score of 196.875, tying Iowa on Jan. 27
• Scored 9.900 on vault (2nd), 9.875 on bars (T1) and 9.975 on floor, earning a perfect 10 from one judge, and tying for the event title
• Ranks fifth nationally on floor (9.938 average), 14th on vault (9.900) and 27th on bars (9.888)
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree collects her sixth career Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week honor and her second in as many weeks

Freshman of the Week
Nikki Smith – Michigan State

• Captured a trio of podium finishes to help the Spartans to victory at Maryland on Jan. 29
• Finished second in the all-around with a total of 39.350, helping Michigan State post its best road score of the season (196.950)
• Scored a 9.800 on vault (6th), a 9.800 on bars (10th), a career-high 9.850 on beam (3rd) and a career-high 9.900 on floor to win the event title outright
• Earns her second career Freshman of the Week award and second in as many weeks

Gymnast of the Week
Jordan Bowers – Oklahoma
Bowers won her first all-around title this season and the second of her career with a total score of 39.700 in the dual meet at Denver. The sophomore posted a season-high 9.950 on the floor exercise and matched a season-high 9.950 on bars. Her score on floor was the best in the Conference during the week. Bowers then scored a 9.900 in both the vault and beam. It was the first time in her career that she scored a 9.900 or better on all four apparatus. Bowers leads the Big 12 in all-around with a 39.625 average and ranks nationally in the top 10 in three events.

Specialist of the Week
Olivia Trautman – Oklahoma
Trautman posted a career-tying 9.950 on the balance beam in her first meet this season. Her score contributed to Oklahoma’s third-best total of 49.725 on the event and its overall score of 198.425. After its meet at Denver, the Sooners now hold the best overall score in the nation and remain undefeated at 6-0. Trautman holds the top spot in the Big 12 in beam and ranks second nationally. The senior earned her eighth career weekly accolade and her first since the 2019 season.

Newcomer of the Week
Kiley Rorich – Denver
Rorich made her debut for Denver and competed on uneven bars. The freshman co-led the Pioneers’ lineup with a 9.900 and helped Denver register a season-best 49.400 in the event. Denver posted a season-high overall score of 197.425 in the conference meet against Oklahoma. Rorich is the third Pioneer to receive a weekly award this season.

Gymnast of the Week
Hallie Copperwheat – Pittsburgh
Copperwheat placed first and set a new career high on beam (9.950) with one judge giving a 10.000. In addition, the sophomore’s bars routine scored a 9.825, helping the team to a score of 48.750. The Leighton Buzzard, England native also competed in the all around, earning first place with a score of 39.350.

Specialist of the Week
Chloe Negrete – NC State
Negrete tied for first place on beam with a 9.900, matching the score of Olympic Gold Medalist Sunisa Lee. The senior also finished first or tied for first among members of NC State’s roster on vault, beam and floor. In addition, the Frisco, Texas native recorded a second-straight 9.900 on beam, matching her season high.

Co-Rookies of the Week
Kaya Forbes – North Carolina
Forbes won floor with a 9.875 at the meet against Yale and UW-Stout, winning an event outright for the first time. In the meet against George Washington, the freshman finished second on both floor (9.900) and vault (9.850). In addition, the Gonzalez, La. native has not scored below a 9.800 and is one of only four freshmen in the EAGL to have recorded at least one mark of 9.900 this season.

Isabella Minervini – Towson
Minervini placed first overall on bars with a 9.900, helping the team record the second-highest score in Towson history on that event. In addition, the freshman competed in the floor lineup for the first time, earning a score of 9.875, which was tied for the second highest score for the team on that event.

Gymnast of the Week
Sarah Wilson – Yale
Sarah scored a career high all-around score of 38.925 in a try meet at UNC. She has been a steady and reliable competitor for Yale throughout the season so far. On bars and beam she was Yale’s top score of the event with a 9.8 and a 9.675 respectively. Wilson also posted a 9.7 on vault and a 9.75 on floor. She has been consistent all season long and is a trusted member in all four lineups for the Bulldogs.

Specialist of the Week
Joanna Chambers – Bridgeport
Joanna continues to be a standout for thee Knights on bars and beam. Anchoring both events, Joanna consistently leads her team with her confidence and a positive attitude. She is a leader by example, in and out of the gym. She continues to build on her scores each week, earning career-highs in back to back meets. This week she posted a career high 9.8 on vault and tied her career high on bars with a 9.75, placing 1st on both events in a quad meet at Brown.

Newcomer of the Week
Mikayla Burton – Cornell
Mikayla had her personal best performance at home vs. LIU, hitting a beautiful front aerial – side aerial flight series on beam, scoring a 9.775. She has gorgeous lines, continues to improve each week and has really settled into the beam lineup as a first year. Her performance helped the Big Red score a season high 48.775 on beam.

Gymnast of the Week
Hannah Ruthberg – Ball State
Junior Hannah Ruthberg turned in her best all-around performance of the season, tying the seventh-best score in program history, with a 39.275 to help the Cardinals sweep Pitt, Southeast Missouri, and Fisk in Sunday’s Ball State Quad. Her performance was led by a career-best beam score of 9.875. She added a season-best 9.825 on bars, a 9.800 on floor, and a 9.775 on vault. With all four of her scores counting in the competition, Ruthberg played a big role in helping the Cardinals secure the third-best team score in program history, at 196.300, and move to 10-4 in head-to-head action this season.

Specialist of the Week
Natalie Hamp – Northern Illinois
On a double meet weekend for NIU, Natalie Hamp continued to lead the way for the Huskie bars squad with scores of 9.900 on her specialty in both meets. She added two more first place finishes and helped the Huskies to three wins. Hamp improved her season average on bars to 9.880.

Gymnast of the Week
Lydia Webb – SEMO
The junior from Wylie, Texas, competed in the All-Around category for SEMO on both Friday against Texas Woman’s and on Sunday at the Ball State Quad Meet. She registered a 39.250 Friday night, followed by a 37.550 on Sunday afternoon. Friday night she registered a 9.850 on Bars and Floor for her highest scores of the evening for SEMO. Sunday, Webb continued her impressive Bars routine sticking a 9.775 at the Ball State Quad meet.

Performance of the Week
Maddie Griffith – Texas Woman’s
A senior from Naperville, Illinois, Griffith scored a 9.750 or higher on both the vault and uneven bars at the Pioneers’ two meets this past week. On vault against Southeast Missouri State (SEMO) on Jan. 27, Griffith soared to lead the Pioneers with a career-high 9.850. Also at SEMO, Griffith led TWU on bars with a 9.800. Aiding in leading the Pioneers to their season-high of a 194.350 at Lindenwood, Griffith scored a 9.750 on vault and bars. The honor represents Griffith’s second of her career.

Newcomer of the Week
Amy Foret – Centenary
Foret continued the impressive start to her rookie season by winning the All-Around competition in the Ladies’ victory over Hamline on Saturday evening in their home opener. Foret earned a 37.350 highlighted by a victory on floor with a season-best 9.825 score – the highest by a Centenary gymnast all season in the event. She also finished fourth on vault with a 9.475.

Coaches’ Choice Award
Steelie King – Texas Woman’s
After missing the start of the season with an injury, junior King returned to the beam lineup this week. King debuted in the exhibition spot against SEMO. Then, she returned to the lineup in the anchor spot for the Pioneers on Sunday, Jan. 29 at Lindenwood. King becomes the second Pioneer to receive this award this season.

Gymnast of the Week
Emma Morgenthaler – Sacramento State
Sacramento State redshirt-sophomore Emma Morgenthaler (Bellingham, WA) tied for first-place in the all-around with a 39.150 against Alaska-Anchorage (Jan. 27). She shared first on vault (9.80) and was second on beam (career-best 9.825) and floor (9.825) to help the Hornets to a season-high 195.100 team total. Two days later at San Jose State, Morgenthaler scored at least 9.750 in her final three events. Her floor score of 9.825 placed her second in the meet while her vault of 9.750 landed her in third. This is the fourth career MPSF weekly award for Morgenthaler, though first as gymnast of the week.

Specialist of the Week
Emma Milne – San Jose State
San Jose State senior Emma Milne (Barrie, Ontario, Canada) tied her school and MPSF record on the balance beam with a 9.925, as the Spartans won a home tri-meet over Sacramento State and UW-La Crosse (Jan. 29). Milne also posted the seventh-best-tying uneven bars mark in the conference record book, with a first-place 9.925. The Spartan bars team scored 49.325, tying for the second-highest in school history and third in the MPSF. This is the 11th career MPSF weekly award for Milne, including three consecutively.

Freshman of the Week
Sarah Lutrel – Sacramento State
Sacramento State freshman Sarah Lutrel (Citrus Heights, CA) set or tied her career-best in all four events as well as the all-around against UAA (Jan. 27). Lutrel opened with a 9.800 on floor to tie for first-place, scored 9.725 to tie for second on bars, won beam (9.850) and was third on floor (9.775). Her all-around total of 39.150 tied for first. She then totaled 39.075 to place second at San Jose State, highlighted by a 9.925 on beam which tied the all-time MPSF record and tied for second in school history. Lutrel’s score helped the team produce its third highest program beam score and sixth-best in the MPSF with a 49.225. This is Lutrel’s second MPSF weekly award this year.

Gymnast of the Week
Karley McClain – Southern Utah
McClain who last Friday scored a 39.100 has been the sole recipient of the Gymnast of the week award from the MRGC. Her performances this season have included some impressive scores on the various events and unrivaled consistency in the conference. McClain has scored 9.900 or better in each of the last four meets with her floor routine. She has averaged 39.310, ranking her 29th in the country and second in the North Central region. Her average 9.900 score on the floor has her currently ranked 23rd in the event nationally.

Specialists of the Week
Vault – Allix Mason, BYU; Kylie Eaquinto, BYU; Emily Lopez, Boise State
Uneven Bars – Emily Lopez, Boise State; Courtney Blackson, Boise State
Balance Beam – Emma Loyim, Boise State; Adriana Popp, Boise State; Sofi Sullivan, Utah State; Elease Rollins, BYU
Floor Exercise – Karley McClain – Southern Utah

Specialist of the Week
Christina Wygonik – Springfield
Christina has been a key member of the floor lineup this season and hit for a career-high mark of 9.7750 to finish as the runner-up in the event in a meet that featured the top three-ranked teams in the NCGA East Region.

Gymnast of the Week
Jade Carey – Oregon State

• Earns the honor for the third consecutive week after collecting six individual titles and an all-around title in leading No. 12 Oregon State to a win over Rutgers (197.275-194.150) and a tie with No. 5 UCLA (197.275-197.275) in the Beavers’ conference opener.
• Against the Scarlet Knights on Friday night in Gill Coliseum, Carey won the vault (9.900), the bars (9.950) and the beam (9.975) as OSU downed Rutgers in its final non-conference dual.
• The Olympic Gold Medalist was even better Sunday against the Bruins, winning her third all-around title (39.775) of the season to help the Beavers record their highest score at UCLA in program history (197.275).
• Collected three more event titles on the weekend, winning the vault (9.950), the beam (9.925) and the floor (9.975) and finishing second in the bars (9.925).
• Has now won 60 individual events titles in her career and 13 all-around titles.
• Carey leads the country on vault (9.940) and is tied for second in the all-around (39.675) and the floor (9.944).
• This is her sixth career Gymnast of the Week honor (third in 2023).

Specialist of the Week
eMjae Frazier – California

• The freshman won two event titles to help No. 7 California best its Bay Area rival No. 24 Stanford (197.525-196.075) and improve to 8-0 on the season.
• On the first rotation, won the vault with a career-high 9.95 then earned a share of the floor title after posting a 9.925 in the event; Added a 9.875 on the beam to tie for fourth.
• Has now won three different events in the three meets she has competed in to start her collegiate career.
• Her performance contributed to the Bears matching their season-high team score and ninth-best score in program history.

Freshman/Newcomer of the Week
Selena Harris – UCLA

• Picks up the award for the fourth straight week after helping No. 5 UCLA rally in the final rotation to tie No. 12 Oregon State in the Conference home-opener for the Bruins.
• Posted her fourth 39.5+ all-around score in as many meets to finish third overall (39.650).
• Recorded three 9.925s to finish tied for second in vault and bars and fourth on the floor; Added a 9.875 to finish tied for fourth on the beam.
• Her vault and floor scores contributed to season-high team totals in the events (49.4 on vault; 49.625 on the floor).
• The freshman has scored a 9.9 or higher on 14 of 16 routines she has competed in to begin her collegiate career.
• Has competed in the all-around in all four meets this year, averaging 39.650 to rank fourth overall in the country; Ranks tied for seventh on vault (9.919) and tied for sixth on bars (9.931).
• Harris is the second Pac-12 gymnast since the freshman/newcomer award was introduced in 2013 to earn the honor in four or more straight weeks, joining Cal’s Toni-Ann Williams, who did it five straight weeks in 2015.

Coaches’ Choice
Elizabeth LaRusso – Arizona

• After graduating high school early and missing the majority of last season due to injuries, LaRusso is thriving for Arizona this season, breaking into the lineup in three events – vault, bars and floor.
• Against rival Arizona State last weekend, set career highs on vault (9.80), bars (9.775) and on floor (9.85) to finish tied for sixth, tied for fifth and tied for fifth, respectively.
• Her performance helped the GymCats to their highest team score of the year (196.475).

Gymnast of the Week
Raena Worley – Kentucky
Worley, a senior from Christiansburg, Va., earned her 15th all-around title and third of the 2023 campaign with a 39.675 in the win over No. 13 Alabama. Worley recorded a season-best 9.95 on floor to earn a share of the event title. She tied for second on beam with a 9.95, which tied her season and career high marks. Worley also tied her season best on vault (9.85) and posted a season-high score on bars (9.925) to help the Wildcats register a program-best team score of 197.825 in the victory over the Crimson Tide.

Specialist of the Week
Trinity Thomas – Florida
Thomas, a graduate student from York, Pa., won at least a share of her three events in the win over No. 17 Georgia. Thomas opened the meet with a 10.0 on vault, making her the nation’s only gymnast ever with at least four 10.0s on each apparatus. She shared the event title on bars with teammate Leanne Wong with a 9.975 as well as the event title on floor with teammate Victoria Nguyen with a 9.925. Thomas now leads the Gators this season with 12 event titles.

Freshman of the Week
Lauren Williams – Arkansas
Williams, a freshman from Rogers, Ark., earned two podium finishes to help the Gymbacks record a program-high score of 197.475 in the win over No. 8 LSU. Williams finished second on floor with a career-high 9.925 to help her squad post the second highest team score in program history of 49.575. She also registered a career-high 9.925 on vault, good for third place.

All-Around
Danielle Dudziak – UW-Whitewater
In her first time competing in the all-around in collegiate competition, Dudziak (Fr., Lorain, Ohio/Amherst Steele) helped the Warhawks register a top-20 team total (191.350) in the program record book at the University of New Hampshire Quadrangular on Jan. 29. She opened the competition with a 9.625 on the floor exercise before posting a 9.425 on the vault. Dudziak added a 9.525 on the uneven parallel bars and capped the competition with an 8.875 on the balance beam for an all-around total of 37.450.

Specialist
Olivia Jahnke – Gustavus Adolphus
Jahnke (So., Hanover, Minn./Buffalo) led the Gusties in their dual meet against UW-Eau Claire on 27. She was the highest placing Gustie and highest placing athlete on both the balance beam and floor exercise. On the balance beam, Jahnke tied for first place with a career high of 9.5. Jahnke’s 9.5 is her third career-high this season, having set a new high in three of the Gusties’ four meets. In the floor exercise, Jahnke took home her first career win in the event with a 9.425. Jahnke’s effort led the Gusties to a huge improvement on their team score, totaling 183.75 against UW-Eau Claire. The team score was a season high.