Courtesy of University of Michigan Athletics.
CLEVELAND, Ohio – University of Michigan women’s gymnastics senior Kylee Botterman (New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) was named Michigan’s first-ever recipient of the AAI Award at the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Championships awards banquet Thursday (April 14) night at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Considered the sport’s equivalent of the Heisman Trophy, Botterman was chosen for the award as the top senior student-athlete in NCAA Division I women’s gymnastics. Two Wolverines have previously been finalists for the award – Janessa Grieco (2000-03) in 2003 and Elise Ray (2001-05) in 2005 – but no Michigan gymnast has ever won the honor.
The Big Ten and NCAA Northeast Regional Gymnast of the Year, Botterman has captained the Wolverines to Big Ten and regional team titles this season, earning 30 event titles in 12 meets, including 11 all-around titles. Botterman has won nearly half (46%) of the events she’s competed in this season and has placed first, second or third in 80% of the events this year. The two-time Big Ten and three-time Regional floor champion is looking to add to her five All-America titles this season and help the Wolverines capture their first national title.
Michigan competes in the first session of the NCAA Women’s Gymnastics Semifinals Friday (April 15) at noon with the top three teams in each semifinal advancing to Saturday’s (April 16) Super Six finals. The top four finishers on each event in both semifinal sessions compete for individual national titles on Sunday (April 17) at 1 p.m.