University of Minnesota Athletics
Jake Lee Earns Most Valuable Gymnast Award At Team Reception
5/4/2007 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
Senior Jake Lee highlighted the 2007 Gopher Men’s Gymnastics Awards Reception as the recipient of the Most Valuable Gymnast Award for the second straight year.
Lee finished his collegiate career with two All-American citations, which he earned at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Lee finished sixth in the all-around and fourth on the parallel bars at NCAAs. He also finished third in the all-around at the 2007 Big Ten Championships, earning All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year.
Sophomore Kit Beikmann was presented with the Outstanding Accomplishment Award for winning the Big Ten pommel horse title with his second-highest score of the year (9.125). Beikmann edged out Penn State's Casey Sandy, who was ranked first in the nation for the majority of the season. Beikmann would go on to post his highest score of the year (9.20) in the team finals at the NCAA Championships. That performance propelled Beikmann into the NCAA event finals, where he finished seventh, claiming his first All-American citation.
Junior Mitchell Mays earned the Most Improved Gymnast Award. Mays’ Tsukahara double back routine on vault was the signature move that earned him the highest score of his career (9.375) at the Big Ten Championships as he finished second overall. Mays’ scores on rings also improved dramatically as he posted a career best of 9.50 against Wisconsin. His 9.45 in the prelims at NCAAs helped the Gophers’ edge California for a place in the team finals.
Freshman Adam Reichow was presented with the Outstanding Championship Competitor Award for his performances at both the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships. Reichow made finals on floor exercise at the Big Ten and NCAA meets and also made the finals at the NCAAs on vault. He finished fifth on floor at the Big Ten meet and second overall in the NCAA Championship Finals. Reichow also finished sixth overall on vault at nationals, becoming a two-time All-American.
Junior Sergei Dmitriev received the Most Inspirational Award with an amazing turnaround on high bar at the NCAA Championships. Having struggled on high bar near the end of the season, Dmitriev nailed his set in preliminaries, scoring a career high 9.35. In the team finals the following night, Dmitriev converted his set again and stuck his dismount for a 9.30 and a place in the event finals. Not only did he make a strong showing on the high bar, but he also showed why he was ranked on parallel bars, posting a career high 9.50 in team finals.
The Outstanding Freshman Award was presented to both Andre Berry and Cole Storer. Berry was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and became a member of the All-Big Ten Team by virtue of his fifth place finish in the all-around at the Big Ten Championships. Berry also finished eighth in the all-around at NCAAs to earn All-America recognition. Storer qualified for finals at the Big Ten Championships on every event in which he competed (FX, V, HB). He then went on to post the second-highest score of the meet on floor exercise (9.65) in the team finals at NCAAs, earning a spot in the floor finals where he became an All-American with a sixth-place finish.
Freshman Colin McGuire was presented with the Lead Off Award for setting the pace on the floor exercise at the Big Ten Championships. McGuire posted his two highest scores of the year at the Big Ten Championships (9.25) and NCAA Team Finals (9.20). Freshman Aaron Fortunato earned the Coaches Appreciation Award for his diligence both inside and outside of the gym and Junior Steve Vuong took home the Most Improved Strength Award.
Twelve Gophers also earned Academic Excellence Awards, which are given to any gymnast with either a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above or a 3.0 in the first semester of this school year. Matt Altomari, Ali Aleiou, Eddie Campbell, Aaron Fortunato, Kevin Green, Michael Hillin, Cameron Lee, Jake Lee, Thomas O'Brien, Alex Quast, Adam Reichow and Kyle True all received the academic award.
GOPHER MEN’S GYMNASTICS 2007 TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Gymnast Award: Jake Lee
Outstanding Accomplishment Award: Kit Beikmann
Most Improved Gymnast: Mitchell Mays
Outstanding Championship Competitor Award: Adam Reichow
Most Improved Strength Award: Steve Vuong
Most Inspirational Award: Sergei Dmitriev
Lead Off Award: Colin McGuire
Coaches Appreciation Award: Aaron Fortunato
Outstanding Freshman Award: Andre Berry / Cole Storer
Lee finished his collegiate career with two All-American citations, which he earned at the 2007 NCAA Championships. Lee finished sixth in the all-around and fourth on the parallel bars at NCAAs. He also finished third in the all-around at the 2007 Big Ten Championships, earning All-Big Ten honors for the second straight year.
Sophomore Kit Beikmann was presented with the Outstanding Accomplishment Award for winning the Big Ten pommel horse title with his second-highest score of the year (9.125). Beikmann edged out Penn State's Casey Sandy, who was ranked first in the nation for the majority of the season. Beikmann would go on to post his highest score of the year (9.20) in the team finals at the NCAA Championships. That performance propelled Beikmann into the NCAA event finals, where he finished seventh, claiming his first All-American citation.
Junior Mitchell Mays earned the Most Improved Gymnast Award. Mays’ Tsukahara double back routine on vault was the signature move that earned him the highest score of his career (9.375) at the Big Ten Championships as he finished second overall. Mays’ scores on rings also improved dramatically as he posted a career best of 9.50 against Wisconsin. His 9.45 in the prelims at NCAAs helped the Gophers’ edge California for a place in the team finals.
Freshman Adam Reichow was presented with the Outstanding Championship Competitor Award for his performances at both the Big Ten Championships and the NCAA Championships. Reichow made finals on floor exercise at the Big Ten and NCAA meets and also made the finals at the NCAAs on vault. He finished fifth on floor at the Big Ten meet and second overall in the NCAA Championship Finals. Reichow also finished sixth overall on vault at nationals, becoming a two-time All-American.
Junior Sergei Dmitriev received the Most Inspirational Award with an amazing turnaround on high bar at the NCAA Championships. Having struggled on high bar near the end of the season, Dmitriev nailed his set in preliminaries, scoring a career high 9.35. In the team finals the following night, Dmitriev converted his set again and stuck his dismount for a 9.30 and a place in the event finals. Not only did he make a strong showing on the high bar, but he also showed why he was ranked on parallel bars, posting a career high 9.50 in team finals.
The Outstanding Freshman Award was presented to both Andre Berry and Cole Storer. Berry was the Big Ten Freshman of the Year and became a member of the All-Big Ten Team by virtue of his fifth place finish in the all-around at the Big Ten Championships. Berry also finished eighth in the all-around at NCAAs to earn All-America recognition. Storer qualified for finals at the Big Ten Championships on every event in which he competed (FX, V, HB). He then went on to post the second-highest score of the meet on floor exercise (9.65) in the team finals at NCAAs, earning a spot in the floor finals where he became an All-American with a sixth-place finish.
Freshman Colin McGuire was presented with the Lead Off Award for setting the pace on the floor exercise at the Big Ten Championships. McGuire posted his two highest scores of the year at the Big Ten Championships (9.25) and NCAA Team Finals (9.20). Freshman Aaron Fortunato earned the Coaches Appreciation Award for his diligence both inside and outside of the gym and Junior Steve Vuong took home the Most Improved Strength Award.
Twelve Gophers also earned Academic Excellence Awards, which are given to any gymnast with either a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above or a 3.0 in the first semester of this school year. Matt Altomari, Ali Aleiou, Eddie Campbell, Aaron Fortunato, Kevin Green, Michael Hillin, Cameron Lee, Jake Lee, Thomas O'Brien, Alex Quast, Adam Reichow and Kyle True all received the academic award.
GOPHER MEN’S GYMNASTICS 2007 TEAM AWARDS
Most Valuable Gymnast Award: Jake Lee
Outstanding Accomplishment Award: Kit Beikmann
Most Improved Gymnast: Mitchell Mays
Outstanding Championship Competitor Award: Adam Reichow
Most Improved Strength Award: Steve Vuong
Most Inspirational Award: Sergei Dmitriev
Lead Off Award: Colin McGuire
Coaches Appreciation Award: Aaron Fortunato
Outstanding Freshman Award: Andre Berry / Cole Storer
Players Mentioned
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/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
/ Men's Gymnastics
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