University of Minnesota Athletics
Laura Johnson Named Team MVP at Awards Banquet
5/8/2006 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Johnson earned Team MVP honors for the third time in her career. As a freshman in 2003, Johnson shared the award with Alicia Opsahl. She also earned the distinction as a junior last season. Johnson is the fourth Gopher gymnast to win three Team MVP awards in her career, as MaryAnne Kelley, Mindy Knaeble, and Marie Roethlisberger also accomplished the feat.
The Mariam Award, named for former Gopher gymnast Marian Pourshoushtari, is given annually to the gymnast who does everything possible to be the best gymnast and person she can be. This year’s award recipient was Angela Walker, who overcame a knee injury to become one of the team’s top performers on the bars and beam. Walker has also achieved academically, earning Academic All-Big Ten honors as a neuroscience major.
Co-head coaches Jim and Meg Stephenson announced that Stephanie Funk has been voted to serve as team captain next year. Funk competed on the bars and beam in 2006, and had the team’s second-highest average score on bars.
Fourteen Gopher gymnasts earned letter awards: Jade Beattie, Carmelina Carabajal, Andy Cornelius, Stephanie Funk, Kelly Ganchan, Laura Johnson, Amanda Miles, Ashley Mutchler, Maria Opsahl, Rehana Russell, Ashley Stanton, Kelly Stout, Angela Walker, and Kim Womack.
Players Mentioned
