Dusti Russell Captures Big Ten Weekly Award

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1/17/2011 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics

University of Minnesota freshman gymnast Dusti Russell garnered the team’s first Big Ten Freshman of the Week honors. Russell led Minnesota to its highest score of the season (195.325) and a win over No. 18 Iowa on Saturday evening. With the result, Minnesota moved up to No. 14 in the national rankings this week.

Russell finished third in the all-around with a score of 38.925 after finishing first in the floor exercise (9.875) and second on the balance beam (9.825). The newcomer also posted scores of 9.675 on the bars and 9.550 on the vault. Her score of 9.875 on floor is the best by a Minnesota gymnast on any event this season. Russell is currently ranked No. 21 in the nation on balance beam, and has been Minnesota’s top scorer on both beam and floor at each competition so far this season.

The Big Ten Freshman of the Week Award was implemented in the 2010 season, and Russell is Minnesota’s first winner of the award.