Bruck, Curtis Highlight Award Winners at Banquet
5/3/2008 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan women's gymnastics team announced the winners of its season-end awards at the program's banquet Saturday afternoon (May 3) at the Junge Family Champions Center. The team celebrated its student-athletes, coaches, support staff and fans after a season in which the team came one win shy of a perfect campaign, captured the program's 16th Big Ten Conference title and advanced to its 16th consecutive NCAA Championships.
The program awarded the Most Valuable Performer accolade to the team's two all-around competitors, fifth-year senior Lindsey Bruck(Marietta, N.Y./Marcellus) and sophomore Sarah Curtis(Reno, Nev./Reno). Bruck was named NCAA Northeast Region and Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, while Curtis was an All-Big Ten first team performer and won the uneven bars title at the 2008 Big Ten Championships.
Senior Megan Moore(Rochester Hills, Mich./Rochester Adams) took home the Most Improved Award, while sophomores Jordan Sexton(Weddington, N.C./Weddington) and Kelsey Knutson(Ames, Iowa/Ames) shared the Coaches Award. Freshman Kari Pearce(Ann Arbor, Mich./Huron) was named the Unsung Hero Award winner, and Knutson was honored with the 10.0 Club Spirit Award.
The program added three new awards for the 2008 season -- the Leadership Award, Newcomer of the Year, and the Scholar Athlete Award. For outstanding leadership on and off the floor, Bruck and senior Nellie Kippley(St. Cloud, Minn./Tech) shared the Leadership Award, while freshman Kylee Botterman(New Lenox, Ill./Lincoln-Way Central) was the inaugural winner of the Newcomer of the Year award. For posting the team's highest grade point average, Moore was named the first recipient of the Scholar Athlete Award.
The program also announced that Curtis will be the 2008-09 recipient of the Donald R. Shepherd Scholarship for Women's Gymnastics, while Knutson will be the recipient of the 2008-09 Donald R. Shepherd Women's Gymnastics Spirit Scholarship.
Contact: Richard Retyi (734) 763-4423
Players Mentioned
