University of Minnesota Athletics
Gophers Celebrate 2017 Season
4/30/2017 12:00:00 AM | Gymnastics
The University of Minnesota women's gymnastics program wrapped up the 2017 season with an annual banquet on Sunday. The event recognized team accomplishments and award winners, handed out by the Golden Gopher coaches.
Most Valuable Performer: Ciara Gardner
During her junior season, Gardner competed on all-around in all but one meet during the season. Gardner hit 45 of 47 routines, and won eight event titles. She notched personal records on all-around (39.400), vault (9.850), beam (9.900) and floor (9.900). Gardner was also named to the All-Big Ten Second Team and Big Ten All-Championships Team.
Most Improved: Bailie Holst
Holst emerged as an all-around competitor during her senior campaign, competing on all four events in every meet this season. She won seven event titles and set personal records on all-around (39.450), beam (9.850) and floor (9.900). Holst also matched her career high on vault with a 9.850. She was the team's top competitor on uneven bars, averaging an incredible 9.856. Holst was named to the All-Big Ten First Team for the second-straight year, and was named the Big Ten Co-Gymnast of the Week after her performance during the regular-season finale.
Mariam Award: Bailey Abernathy
This award is named after Mariam Pourshoushtari, a former Gopher gymnast who survived meningitis. Her perseverance is a testament to what it means to dedicate all of your personal resources and willpower to achieve something. This honor is given to the gymnast that the coaches believe has done everything they can to be their very best. Abernathy was one of the most consistent and strongest competitors for the Gophers on both vault and floor this season. She won eight event titles, was named Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week three times and was selected to the All-Big Ten Second Team. Abernathy recorded personal records on both of her events, scoring a 9.925 on vault and a 9.950 on floor. Her 9.950 on floor is tied for second all-time in program history.
Most Valuable Teammate(s): Bailey Abernathy, Bailie Holst, Kaitlin Rahon
This season, the team started a new award that was voted on weekly by each gymnast. At the end of the year, the weekly winners are tallied up for the Most Valuable Teammate Award. In its inaugural year, each member of the senior class tied one another - a true testament to their leadership.
In addition, seven gymnasts received their letter jackets: Rachel Cutler, Julia Huebert, Ivy Lu, Kristen Quaglia, Rachel Rowland, Selena Ung and Paige Williams. Student manager Lauren Redemann also was named a letterwinner for her three years of work with the team.
