University of Minnesota Athletics
Carabajal and Russell Named All-Big Ten
3/20/2009 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
Carabajal has been an all around competitor for the Gophers this season, and is currently ranked No. 3 in the Big Ten in the all around. She earned her personal best all around score against Iowa on March 14, a 39.375. Carabajal is Minnesota’s top scorer on vault this season, earning a 9.925 to put herself in third place on Minnesota’s all-time top vaulters list. She also owns the team’s top balance beam score of the season with a 9.95, and is tied for second place on the team’s all-time top performers list. Carabajal is tied with Russell for the top floor exercise score of the season, earning a 9.95 in the final meet of the regular season. Carabajal has won five all around titles this year, and has six balance beam titles. The Albuquerque, N.M., native has been named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week twice this season. Carabajal earned her third All-Big Ten honores. She was a first-team All-Big Ten honoree in 2008, and was a second-team All-Big Ten award winner in 2007.
Russell is also an all around performer, and owns the team’s top all around score of the season with a 39.45. She is ranked fourth among Minnesota’s all-time top performers in the all around, and is currently ranked fifth in the Big Ten in the all around. Russell is tied with Carabajal for the top floor exercise score of the season, earning a 9.95 in the final meet of the regular season. Russell has been a top performer for the Gophers on bars this season, earning four event wins on bars. She has been Minnesota’s top scorer on bars at six meets this season. The Maplewood, Minn., native has been Minnesota’s top performer on floor at six meets this year, and has finished in first place on floor three times this season. The All-Big Ten honor is the first of Russell’s career.
The conference also honored gymnasts from each team with the Sportsmanship Award, and Minnesota's honoree is senior Jade Beattie. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. These seven student-athletes are now candidates for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.
Carabajal, Russell, Beattie, and their teammates will compete in the Big Ten Championships tomorrow afternoon in Champaign, Ill. The conference meet will begin at 2 p.m. central and will be telecast live on the Big Ten Network.
