Gymnast of the Week awards are given by conference offices. More will be added throughout the week as they become available.
Gymnast of the Week
Emily Shepard – NC State
Shepard claimed her sixth all-around crown with a score of 39.525 as NC State hosted Iowa State, Northern Illinois and Temple for its Pink Meet. The 39.525 is tied for the sixth-highest all-around score in program history. Shepard tabbed the 49th and 50th scores of 9.9+ in her career on Saturday, finishing in a tie for first place on bars and floor with a 9.950 and 9.925, respectively. The native of Olathe, Kansas, recorded a pair of 9.825 marks on vault and floor, helping push the Wolfpack to its fifth score of 197+ in program history with a 197.000 in the quad meet victory.
Specialist of the Week
Katya Edwards – NC State
Edwards registered a new career high in just her fourth routine this season for the Wolfpack, tying for first place on floor with a 9.925. The Oakton, Virginia, native matched Shepard to record the first podium finish of her career, with the sophomore recording scores of 9.825 or higher in each of the last four meets.
Newcomer of the Week
Katie Harper – NC State
Harper set a new career high on bars with a 9.950 during NC State’s second rotation of the quad meet while tabbing a 9.800 on beam. The Columbus, Ohio, native’s score on bars tied her for first place with Shepard in the event, marking the seventh podium finish of her career. The freshman additionally picked up a 9.800 on beam – her third-straight score of 9.8+ on the apparatus.
Gymnast of the Week
Sierra Brooks – Michigan
Event Specialist of the Week
Nikki Smith – Michigan State
Freshman of the Week
Lyden Saltness – Illinois
Co-Gymnasts of the Week
Jessica Hutchinson – Denver
Hutchinson tallied an all-around score of 39.725 during a home meet against San Jose State, Lindenwood and Air Force. The physiology in health & disease major claimed event titles in the all-around, bars and floor. Her highlight of the meet was earning a perfect 10 on her floor routine, the third in her career and second time this season. Hutchinson has won the event in eight consecutive meets which marked her as the first Pioneer in program history to win at least a share of the gold medal in every meet they’ve competed in a single season. This is the third weekly award for the senior during the 2024 season.
Ragan Smith – Oklahoma
Smith garnered her first Gymnast of the Week honor this season and the third of her career following a weekend of record-setting performances. During the Sooners’ home meet on Friday night against Michigan, she recorded her third consecutive 10.000 on the balance beam before she added another perfect score during a quad meet at Texas Woman’s on Sunday. As the nation’s leader in beam this season, the three-time Academic All-Big 12 selection has procured eight unblemished balance beam performances in her career to claim the most in the event in OU history while tying for the most career perfect-10s on any event. Participating in other events during the weekend, Smith achieved a 9.900 in bars at both meets while scoring a 9.925 and a 9.85 on floor.
Specialist of the Week
Momoko Iwai – Denver
Iwai set two career highs during Denver’s quad meet last week. She served as the lead-off for the Pioneers’ beam lineup and registered a personal best 9.975, which is the highest score posted in program history from the first competitor in any beam rotation. The international business major then set another career-high with her floor performance scoring a 9.950. During the meet, she placed first on beam and tied for second on floor. Iwai’s score helped Denver tally a 49.675 on floor and an overall score of 198.025, both sitting as the second-best in program history. This is her second career Big 12 gymnastics award.
Newcomer of the Week
Madison Ulrich – Denver
Revealing an updated floor routine last week, Ulrich tagged a 9.925 to match her season-high and earned a second-place finish. Instead of a double tuck for her first tumbling pass, she incorporated a double layout. The five-time Newcomer of the Week also procured a 9.925 on bars while scoring a 9.825 on vault and a 9.800 on beam. She placed second behind teammate Jessica Hutchinson with a final all-around score of 39.475. It was the sixth time this season the freshman has garnered a podium finish after competing in all four events.
Gymnast of the Week
Kendall Whitman – George Washington
At the Maryland Quad meet on March 1, Whitman placed first overall on floor with a 9.925 which marks her fifth win of the season on the event. The senior has scored 9.900 or higher on floor at every meet this season so far. She ranks first in EAGL on the event with a 9.915 NQS and 29th in the country. At the Maryland quad she posted scores of 9.825 on vault and beam as well.
Specialist of the Week
Elise Tisler – Towson
At the Penn State quad meet on March 1, Tisler set a new career high of 9.975 on vault to place first overall and help the team log a season high and highest road score of 49.325. Her 9.975 ranks second in program history for Towson. Currently the junior ranks first in EAGL and 21st in the NCAA on vault with a 9.895 NQS. She has also led the Tigers to be ranked 15th in the nation on the event. Tisler logged scores of 9.850 and 9.825 on floor at the Penn State quad and WVU quad (March 3). This season so far, Elise has picked up four individual first place finishes on vault and two on floor.
Rookie of the Week
Maya Peters – George Washington
At the Maryland quad, Peters matched her career high 9.925 on beam for a first place finish. She has logged scores of 9.850 or higher on beam at the last three meets, two of which were 9.925s. The freshman is tied for second in EAGL with a 9.830 NQS.
Gymnast of the Week
Madeline Frazier – William & Mary
Despite some major setbacks and last minute routine changes, Madeline Frazier has pushed her way into the Tribe floor lineup and has proven to be a solid competitor. Her 9.7 at Maryland was the team’s second highest score of the night on floor. Not only did Frazier hit floor, she also did an amazing beam routine. She earned a 9.825 on that event and was the Tribe’s highest scorer. She has proved to her coaches that she can handle the pressure like a veteran.
Specialist of the Week
Hanna Barry – Bridgeport
Barry continues to be a clutch beam anchor performer for the Purple Knights. At their home meet, Hannah earned her second best score of the season, placing 1st with a 9.85, and rounded out the team’s highest beam score of the season. Barry is a detail-oriented beam worker, spending extra time on small touches to improve her confidence each week.
Newcomer of the Week
Sarah Wilson – Yale
Wilson had an outstanding meet at her Senior Night earning her three new career highs. Her career highs included a 9.9 on bars, a 9.85 on floor, and a huge 39.25 in the all around. Her 9.9 on bars tied for the 3rd highest bar score in Yale history which also helped the team bar score tie the 9th highest program record of 48.825. Her floor score helped tie the team’s 7th highest floor score with a 49.075. Her all around score was not only the 4th highest individual all around score in team history, but also helped tie the 6th highest team score of 195.025 for the Bulldogs making that the first time Yale has has scored more than two 195+ in one season… all on her birthday!
Gymnast of the Week
Raisa Boris – Eastern Michigan
Boris’ career-high 39.525 all-around score is good for second in EMU program history, behind Natalie Hashimoto’s 39.725 (2000). The Eagles have yet to see a gymnast hit anything close to Boris’ score since the 2021 season when Jada Rondeau scored a 39.475. Individually, Boris showed major improvement on the uneven bars as she earned a near-perfect 9.900 score, good for the senior’s personal best. Additionally, Boris tied for first place in the floor event with three Golden Flashes, all securing 9.900 scores. The tie for first place marked the senior’s sixth season top finish in the event. Finally, her 9.900 on beam equaled Boris’ career-high which she previously set in a home dual including Ball State University, Western Michigan University, and UW-Oshkosh, Jan. 28, 2022.
Co-Specialists of the Week
Karlie Franz – Kent State
Karlie Franz earned a pair of podium finishes during Kent State’s double meet weekend. On Friday at Ohio State’s All-Ohio Meet, the graduate student scored a 9.875 on floor to finish tied for third. On Sunday against Eastern Michigan, Franz won her fifth floor title of the season after tying for first with a 9.900 as the Flashes posted a 197.200 total, the second-highest score in program history. Franz leads the conference on floor with a 9.910 NQS.
Halle Faulkner – Western Michigan
Halle Faulkner took first place on vault, posting a new career-high score of 9.900. Faulkner’s score helped the Broncos post the second-highest team vault score in program history at 49.200. The score also helped move her up to seventh in the MAC in the event.
Gymnast of the Week
Steelie King – Texas Woman’s
King competed in three events for the Pioneers at the quad meet in Kitty Magee Arena on Sunday: vault, beam and floor. In all three events, she scored a 9.800 or higher. To open the meet on vault, King scored a 9.825 on vault, which helped lead TWU to a season high event score on vault of a 49.150. Then, on beam, King topped the Pioneer leader board and scored a season high 9.875, which placed sixth at the meet. Her score also helped lead TWU to a season high event score of 49.100.
Performance of the Week
Alana Laster – Illinois State
The Cape Coral, Florida, native competed on floor and vault for the Redbirds against Nebraska, North Carolina and Southeast Missouri State and put together one of the best performances of her career on the mat. Laster shined with a career-high score of 9.925 on the floor to tie for first place on the event with a pair of Nebraska gymnasts. In addition to her personal best on the floor, Laster also added a top 5 finish on vault with a 9.825 to tie for fourth place overall.
Newcomer of the Week
Reese Baechle – Lindenwood
Baechle was tabbed as the MIC Newcomer of the Week after her performances on Sunday. She had one of her best weekends in a Lindenwood uniform after posting three scores of 9.800. Starting off on vault, Baechle had her second best score of the season finishing in 12th place with a 9.800. She then followed that with her best performance of the weekend with a 9.850 on bars. Not only was she tied for sixth but it was a new personal best during that event. Her floor routine of 9.825 was also her second best score of the season and she had the third best score of the Lions on floor.
Coaches’ Choice Award
Hannah Moon – Lindenwood
Moon took home the Coaches Choice Award, voted on by the MIC coaches, after her routines last weekend in Denver. Moon competed in three events posting a meet-high score of 9.775 on bars which tied her season-high. She also posted scores of 9.600 on beam and 9.575 on floor. She becomes the second Lion this season to take home the Coaches Choice Award.
Gymnast of the Week
Niya Randolph – Southern Utah
Southern Utah freshman Niya Randolph (Las Vegas, NV) tallied a 39.200 all-around, highlighted by a first-place and career-high 9.925 on the floor, in the home win over No. 32 Iowa State (Feb. 26). She also contributed a 9.875 bars routine toward the T-birds’ all-time top-10 MPSF total of 196.500. Randolph then took the top spot on the floor (9.875) and tied for first on the vault (9.80), en route to a winning 39.250 all-around at No. 27 BYU (Mar. 1). This is the fifth career MPSF weekly award for Randolph.
Specialist of the Week
Kennedi McClain – Southern Utah
Southern Utah sophomore Kennedi McClain (South Jordan, UT) earned a 9.90 on the beam and added an important 9.775 on the vault to help the Flippin’ Birds to an MPSF all-time top-10 total and a winning 196.500 over No. 32 Iowa State (Feb. 26). McClain then scored a 9.80 on beam, leading to a 49.125 team event total at No. 27 BYU (Mar. 1). This is the second career MPSF weekly award for McClain.
Freshman of the Week
Alyssa Fernandez – Southern Utah
Southern Utah freshman Alyssa Fernandez (Litchfield Park, AZ) put on a solid floor routine which scored 9.80, but it was the beam where she shone the brightest with 9.90, to help the Flippin’ Birds to an MPSF all-time top-10 total and a winning 196.500 over No. 32 Iowa State (Feb. 26). Fernandez also scored a first-place-tying 9.875 to help the SUU beam squad to a 49.125 total at No. 27 BYU (Mar. 1). This is the second career MPSF weekly award for Fernandez.
Gymnast and Freshman of the Week
Maggie Slife – Air Force
Vault – Jaudai Lopes, San José State
Uneven Bars – Emily Lopez, Boise State
Balance Beam – Adriana Popp, Boise State; Jada Mazury, San José State
Floor Exercise – Courtney Blackson, Boise State; Emma Loyim, Boise State; Jada Mazury, San José State
All-Around Gymnast of the Week
Kelsey Gates – Rhode Island College
Gates tied with Tucker to place second on floor (9.900), which equaled her previous high-mark, was fifth in the all-around (38.450), 14th on bars (9.525), tied for 15th on beam (9.575) and tied for 21st on vault (9.450).
Specialist of the Week
Emma Tucker – Rhode Island College
Tucker tied for second on floor (9.900), tied for fourth on beam (9.725) and finished ninth on vault (9.725). Tucker became the third Anchorwoman in program history, and the second this season, to post a 9.900 on floor in a meet.
Gymnast of the Week
eMjae Frazier – California
Specialist of the Week
Elena Deets – Arizona
Freshman/Newcomer of the Week
Kyen Mayhew – California
Coaches’ Choice
Emma Strom – Arizona
Gymnast of the Week
Haleigh Bryant – LSU
LSU’s Haleigh Bryant, a senior from Cornelius, N.C., collected her sixth all-around title this year with her season-high score of 39.850 in the win over No. 9 Alabama. Bryant earned a 10.0 on floor for her third perfect score on the event and the 14th of her collegiate career. She finished the meet with event titles in the all-around, vault (9.95), bars (9.975) and floor and claimed a share of second place on beam (9.925) to help the Tigers produce their eighth ranked victory this season.
Specialist of the Week
Makenzie Wilson – Kentucky
Wilson, a junior from Clinton, Tenn., recorded her second 10.0 on vault against No. 5 Florida in the Wildcats’ final home meet of the 2024 season. Wilson’s score in the anchor position pushed UK past the Gators in the first rotation, posting a 49.500 to tie the third-best vault score in program history. She won the event title on vault and posted a 9.925 on floor, tying for sixth place in the event.
Freshman of the Week
Anya Pilgrim – Florida
Pilgrim, a freshman from Germantown, Md., finished second in the all-around with a score of 39.675 in the win at No. 6 Kentucky. Pilgrim earned a share of first place on the floor exercise with her 10.0 and a share of second place on the balance beam with a 9.95. She also recorded a 9.90 on the uneven bars and a 9.825 on vault to record to highest all-around score among the nation’s freshmen this season.
All-Around
Emily Buffington – UW-Oshkosh
Buffington scored 38.150 all-around points on Feb. 29, in the Titans’ triangular win over UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout at the Kolf Sports Center. She registered 9.725 on both the uneven bars and floor exercise, scored a 9.450 on the vault and totaled 9.250 points on the balance beam. The Titans scored 193.225 points in the victory.
Specialist
Reanna McGibboney – UW-Oshkosh
McGibboney recorded a score of at least 9.650 on all three events she competed in during the Titans’ triangular win over UW-La Crosse and UW-Stout on Feb. 29, at Kolf Sports Center. She recorded 9.650-point finishes in the vault and uneven bars to start the meet and capped it off with 9.750 points in the floor exercise.
