Gymnasts of the Week Feb. 23-March 1, 2015 Awards are given by conference offices Big Ten Conference Lindsay Mable, Minnesota Earned her tenth consecutive all-around title and also won three event titles Placed first on the floor (9.950), vault (9.900) and beam (9.900) and finished second on the bars (9.900) en route to an all-around score of 39.650 Tied her season record of 25 event titles Event Talia Chiarelli, Michigan Recorded a first-place score of 9.975 on the floor exercise in No. 5 Michigan s dual meet against North Carolina State Tied for first on the beam (9.900) and placed third on the vault (9.875) Set a career-high mark on the floor exercise and tied a career-best mark on the beam Freshman of the Week Grace Williams, Nebraska Recorded an all-around score of 39.375 at the Masters Classic Earned a career-best 9.900 on the bars and tallied a 9.875 on the floor exercise Big 12 Conference Haley Scaman, Oklahoma Scaman posted 9.925 across the board on vault, bars and floor in Oklahoma s win over Illinois this past week. She won the bars title outright and tied for top honors on both vault and floor in the meet. The Riverside, Ill., native recorded a new season-high on bars with her 9.925 performance while pacing No. 1 Oklahoma to scores of 49.400 or better on vault, bars and floor. Scaman is ranked in the top-five nationally as an individual on both vault and floor, and in the top seven on floor. Her efforts have aided OU to a No. 1 national ranking overall and No. 1 rankings on both bars and floor. Haley Sorenson, Oklahoma Sorenson tied for second on the balance beam in Oklahoma s win over Illinois with a career-high 9.925, shattering her previous career-best of 9.9 set in early February. She has earned three scores of 9.9-plus since Jan. 31 in her first season of competing on beam for OU. The senior helped the Sooners to a season-best performance on balance beam of 49.575 and broke into the national rankings this week for the first time in her career on any event, tying for 18th in the country on beam. Newcomer of the Week Brenna Dowell, Oklahoma Dowell tied for the event title on vault vs. Illinois with a career-high score of 9.925, finished second on floor and tied for second on uneven bars. She earned three scores of 9.875 or better in Oklahoma s win and is now ranked in the top seven nationally on both bars and floor. The freshman is tied for No. 22 in the country on vault while helping the Sooners maintain the No. 1 team ranking for the eigth consectutive week.
East Atlantic Gymnastics League Cami Drouin-Allaire, George Washington The Shoreham, New York, native won the vault title for the fifth consecutive week as the George Washington gymnastics team totaled 193.725 in a dual-meet at Kent State on Sunday afternoon. Drouin-Allaire scored 9.875 on the vault to win the event and was also GW's top performer on floor exercise, claiming fourth place with a score of 9.85. She added 9.675 on uneven bars (T- 6th) and 9.70 on balance beam (T-6th). Vicki Vesecky, Towson Sophomore Vicki Vesecky of Towson (Leesburg, Virginia) was honored as EAGL Specialist of the Week on March 3rd. In Towson s third-place quad meet finish, Vesecky earned the secondhighest Tiger score on bars and tied her career-high for the event with a 9.825. Her score tied her for fifth for the event. She was one of three Towson athletes to post career-high scores in the competition. Rookie of the Week Kaitlynn Hedelund, North Carolina For the all-around competition in North Carolina s third-place quad meet finish, Hedelund tied for first with a score of 38.950. Hedelund finished in the top eight in three out of the four rotations. On the uneven bars, she scored a 9.725, taking fifth place among all competitors. Hedelund tied for eighth on vault and beam, notching scores of 9.725 and 9.750, respectively. In addition, she scored a 9.750 on floor, tying for thirteenth. Eastern College Athletic Conference Division I Brittany Stover, William & Mary Stover placed second in all-around with the program s third-highest score in school history, a 39.125, against Cornell University and University of Bridgeport last week. The junior also earned a second place finish on vault (9.750) and tied for third on bars and beam. Her 9.800 score on bars marked a season-high, while her 9.775 mark on beam matched her season-best. Stover also equaled her season-high score of 9.800 on floor. Rookie of the Week Courtney Spitzer, Cornell Spitzer topped the field on beam against the College of William & Mary and University of Bridgeport with a personal-best score of 9.825. Her score on beam places her fifth all-time in Cornell history and finished as the top score in the ECAC this week. Camilla Opperman, Yale Opperman registered a 9.825 on floor exercise to finish fourth in a competitive meet against Towson University, Michigan State University and Rutgers University. The Amsterdam native tied her career-high, while also helping the Bulldogs to a season-high score on floor exercise (48.60).
Coaches Choice Brooke Williams, Brown Williams, a consistent competitor on floor exercise and vault for the Bears, showed confidence and strength in competing her layout Yurchenko full for the first time in her career. The sophomore from Washington earned a career-high score of 9.65 against Texas Women s University and the University of Maryland to help the Bears to their second-highest score of the season. Eastern College Athletic Conference Division II Majesta Valentine, West Chester Valentine matched her all-around school record with a 38.775 score to take home a first place finish in a tri-meet with Southern Connecticut State University and Ursinus College. The sophomore also earned a first place finish on beam (9.525), tied for first on vault (9.775) and placed second on floor exercise (9.775). The Rams defeated Southern Connecticut State and Ursinus to take home the team title at the Pink Invitational. Rookie of the Week Kasey Kilmurray, Southern Connecticut State Kilmurray placed second on bars at the Pink Invitational. The Owls rookie posted a score of 9.575 in the event. Jenny Kaufman, Southern Connecticut State Kaufman tied for the top spot on vault with a score of 9.775 at the Pink Invitational. The senior also competed on floor exercise, earning a 9.5 score. Co-Coaches Choice Cassandra Ringer, West Chester Ringer completed one of her best performances of the year on beam, placing second in the event at the Pink Invitational. The fifth-year senior captain s score of 9.6 helped the Rams capture the team title at the tri-meet. Caitlin Perry, Bridgeport Perry, the Purple Knights senior captain, continues to perform well week-after-week. In a tri-meet against Cornell University and the College of William & Mary, Perry posted a 9.875 score on floor exercise and a 9.475 on vault. The senior leads the team by example, keeping her composure against tough scoring. Mid American Conference Jordan Hardison, Kent State Sophomore Jordan Hardison helped the Golden Flashes (5-6) defeat a very talented George Washington (13-3-1) team, 195.700-193.725, on Sunday, March 1st in the Flip for the Cure event in the M.A.C. Center. Hardison finished in third on floor, tied for third on beam and tied for fifth on vault. She had a 9.875 on floor, 9.750 on beam and a 9.775 on vault as the Golden Flashes turned in scores of 49.225 on floor, 48.775 on beam and 49.025 on vault.
Rachel Stypinski, Kent State Freshman Rachel Stypinski continues her dominance on the balance beam and the floor exercise. Stypinski took home first place on both the beam and floor on Sunday, March 1st in the Flip for the Cure event in the M.A.C. Center as the Golden Flashes (5-6) defeated a very talented George Washington (13-3-1) team 195.700 to 193.725. Stypinski tied her personal-best on the balance beam with a 9.900 and turned in a 9.925 on floor. Midwest Independent Conference Valeri, Ingui, Lindenwood Ingui earned Gymnasts of the Week honors for the third time this season, and helped the Lady Lions win that honor for the fifth straight week. Ingui won the all-around title at the Lindenwood Quad Meet last weekend with a 39.000. It was the second time in her career that she recorded a 39 or higher. Her individual scores for the meet were a 9.625 on the vault, a 9.775 on the bars and beam, and a 9.825 on the floor. She finished in the top five in every event except the vault, and she had top-ten program marks on the floor and all-around. Kierstin Sokolowski, Lindenwood Sokolowski won her third MIC weekly award of the year, and picked up the accolade for the first time. She won the vault competition at the Lindenwood Quad Meet with a score of 9.9. That score set a program record for the vault, and was just the second 9.9 in Lindenwood history for any event. She was one of just three gymnasts to score a 9.8 or higher on the vault. Sokolowski has now won the vault competition in four meets this year, including the last three events that Lindenwood has competed in. Mountain Pacific Sports Federation M'rcy Matsunami, Alaska-Anchorage Alaska-Anchorage junior M rcy Matsunami (Omaha, NE) earns this honor for a 2015-high third time, following an incredible two-meet home series against Centenary (Feb. 27-Mar. 1). She combined for at least a share of seven titles through the two dual wins. Matsunami had two of UAA s top-four all-arounds in school history, including the No. 2 score of 39.025. She matched the fifth-best bars score (9.825) and 12th-best beam score (9.800) at UAA with career-highs in Sunday s narrow victory. Matsunami also helped UAA to a school-record 48.650 total on beam Sunday, while the team total of 192.750 ranked seventh on the all-time Seawolf list. Kendra Daniels, Alaska-Anchorage Alaska-Anchorage freshman Kendra Daniels (Veneta, OR) equaled the fourth-best balance beam score in Seawolves history, recording 9.825 in a tight dual win vs. Centenary (Mar. 1). The routine was pivotal towards the UAA record-setting beam total of 48.650. Newcomer of the Week Alexis Brown, UC Davis UC Davis freshman Alexis Brown (Huntington Beach, CA) became the 10th Aggie and just the second freshman in program history to break the 39-point barrier in the all-around, winning
Friday s tri-meet against Sacramento State and No. 27 Central Michigan (39.125). She won the balance beam outright at 9.800, and tied for the meet title on floor (9.825). Additionally, she scored a 9.825 on vault to help UC Davis to a team and conference-record 49.175 in the event. The Aggies won the triangular with a 194.725 total. Mountain Rim Gymnastics Championship Julia Ross, Denver Ross was the top eligible all-around performer for the week, winning the title with a 39.375 during Friday s meet at Southern Utah. It was Ross first collegiate all-around appearance and her first since her sophomore year of high school. She also tied for second on vault (9.925) and beam (9.800). Co-Specialists of the Week Rachel Fielitz, Denver Fielitz scored a 9.925 to tie with Ross on vault and match the highest individual score for an eligible conference gymnast. The score tied Fielitz s career high on the event and helped the Pioneers tie the second-highest vaulting score in program history (49.425). Brittney Jensen, Southern Utah Jensen tied her career best with a 9.925 on vault as the Thunderbirds rode the opening 49.325 team score on vault to a 196.475 victory over Denver (196.100) and Utah State (195.100). Jensen returned on floor and scored a 9.875 to finish tied for second on the event. Ann Stockwell, Boise State Stockwell earned her first weekly honor after posting a 9.925 on vault at home against BYU on Friday night, helping the Broncos to a 196.275-194.750 win over the Cougars. She recorded her best vault on the night the team honored those who are battling women's cancers including her mother, Mary Stockwell. The rookie from Newcastle, Calif., became the first Bronco freshman to earn the MRGC weekly accolade. Pac-12 Conference Samantha Peszek, UCLA UCLA redshirt senior Samantha Peszek earned gymnast of the week honors for the third time this season after her performance in No. 8 UCLA s road win over Arizona State on Feb. 28. Peszek tied for first place on the vault with a career-high-tying score of 9.95, marking her fourth vault title of the year and helping the Bruins earn their highest vault score of the season. Pezek also earned second place finishes on beam (9.925) and bars (9.9). Nationally, she is currently the ranked 13th on vault, 11th on bars, and fifth on beam. Georgia Dabritz, Utah Utah senior Georgia Dabritz earned Special Performance of the Week honors for the second week in a row for her performance in the No. 4 Utes victory at No. 15 Oregon State. Dabritz picked up her 20th win of the season after victories on bars (9.95) and floor (9.925) to help the Utes win in Corvallis for the first time since 2009. Dabritz is currently ranked second in the nation on vault, first on bars, and fifth on the floor.
Freshman/Newcomer of the Week Peng-Peng Lee, UCLA UCLA redshirt sophomore Christine Peng-Peng Lee, who missed competition the last two seasons due to injuries, earned Newcomer of the Week honors for the second week in a row this week. In the Bruins meet with Arizona State, Lee won the bars for the fifth time this season, scoring her second-consecutive 9.95 on the event as UCLA totaled its second-highest bars score of the year. Additionally, Lee tied for third on both the beam (9.85) and the vault (9.875), marking her career-best vault score. She now ranks fifth in the nation on the bars. Southeastern Conference Caitlin Atkinson, Auburn Atkinson won her fifth straight all-around title with a program record 39.675 to help lead Auburn to its program-record team score of 197.750. Her 9.975 on floor earned her the event title and was the second-highest individual floor score in school history and led Auburn to its second-highest floor team total ever. She is currently ranked in the top-25 individually in four events: ranked 15th nationally in all-around, 22nd on vault, 22nd on bars and 18th on beam. Her floor and all-around titles gives her 41 event titles in her three-year career. MJ Rott, Auburn Rott earned her third event title this season and eighth total event title by tying her own school record of 9.975 in the vault (2014 at LSU), helping Auburn to its sixth-highest vault total ever with a 49.375. She also helped Auburn to its second-highest floor total ever of 49.550 with her careerhigh 9.950, the third-highest score in school history. Freshman of the Week Kennedy Baker, Florida Baker competed in three events, turning in a 9.9 or better. Her collegiate-best 9.95 shared the evening vault title with fellow freshman Alex McMurtry. She also shared the evening s balance beam title at 9.9. Both the vault and beam wins are the first of her collegiate career and brings her season total of event wins to four. Baker shared second on floor at 9.95. Each of her last four floor routines have scored a 9.95 (twice) or 9.975 (twice). Wisconsin Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Specialist Ali Berry, UW-La Crosse Berry captured the balance beam (9.600) and floor exercise (9.650) in helping lead UW-La Crosse to the team title in the UW-La Crosse Triangular on Feb. 27. She also placed second in the vault (9.525). Her score of 9.600 on the balance beam tied a career-high. All-Around Krystal Walker, UW-Oshkosh Walker won the all-around competition and shared the top ranking in the floor exercise during UW-Oshkosh's 189.65-186.95 loss to UW-Whitewater on Feb. 28. She compiled a season-best 38.275 points in the all-around competition to defeat three other gymnasts. She also recorded a season-high 9.775 points in the floor exercise to share first place with UW-Whitewater's Lewa
Evans and Steffi Heuer. Walker completed her performance with a second-place score of 9.575 on the balance beam, a third-place value of 9.475 on the vault and a sixth-place figure of 9.45 on the uneven bars. Her scores on the uneven bars and vault were also season highs.