Karas Among Six Finalists for AAI Award Honoring Nation's Top Senior
3/18/2019 1:56:00 PM | Women's Gymnastics
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- Olivia Karas, a senior on the University of Michigan women's gymnastics team, has been named one of six finalists for the AAI Award.
The AAI Award is considered to be the Heisman Trophy of gymnastics and is given annually to the nation's top senior women's gymnast. Joining Karas as finalists are Alicia Boren of Florida, Brenna Dowell of Oklahoma, Sarah Finnegan of LSU, Katelyn Ohashi of UCLA, and Toni-Ann Williams of Cal.
In the 28-year history of the award, two Michigan gymnasts have received the AAI Award. Kylee Botterman was the most recent in 2011, and Beth Wymer claimed the honor in 1995. The last finalist for U-M was Nicole Artz in 2017.
Karas has had a terrific career at Michigan as a two-time NACGC/W All-American, the 2017 Big Ten champion on floor exercise, a two-time All-Big Ten selection, and the 2016 Big Ten Freshman of the Year. She has accumulated 39 event and all-around victories in her career.
Outside of the gym, Karas is majoring in communication with a minor in writing. She is a NACGC/W Scholastic All-American, a two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree, and a three-time U-M Academic Achievement Award recipient.
Karas has hosted a team video series titled "Behind the Block M" this season and writes for the South Campus Times, a student-athlete publication at Michigan.
The recipient of the AAI Award will be announced next month during the NCAA Championships reception in Fort Worth, Texas.
Players Mentioned
