University of Minnesota Athletics
Players Mentioned
Minnesota Earns Record-Breaking 11 NCAA All-American Honors
4/16/2021 10:00:00 PM | Gymnastics
At the conclusion of Friday's competition at the 2021 NCAA Championship Semifinal, the University of Minnesota made program history with 11 total All-American honors. Each event's top four finishers by session earned All-American honors, while second team All-American distinctions were awarded to student-athletes finishing in fifth through eighth places (including ties).
"We are so excited for our team and the way they finished the night, but also the representation with the All-American honors," head coach Jenny Hansen said. "It is a program record with this many honors and we are so excited for our athletes to showcase themselves on the national stage. It proves how great our team is, and this is an incredible honor. I am so excited for our program and the distinction they earned tonight."
Ona Loper led the way for the Gophers with All-American honors on vault and in the all-around, along with second-team All-American honors on floor. "It was super exciting to finally be able to put all four events together today," Loper said. "At the start of the year, I had a career-high, so to end the year with another career-high was super exciting. I couldn't have done it without this team. They put a lot of trust in me and that has built my confidence throughout the year."
Lexy Ramler earned All-American recognition on beam, while also recording second-team honors on bars, vault and in the all-around. "I was so grateful to share this opportunity at Nationals with my amazing team this year," Ramler said. "We have all worked so hard this season and have accomplished so much together.
Freshman Mya Hooten continued to impress in her first collegiate season, with All-American honors on floor and second-team honors on vault. "I used to dream about moments like this, and I can hardly put into words what this means," Hooten said. "I was so excited to compete at Nationals and it was a day I will never forget."
Mary Korlin-Downs had an impressive beam routine for the Gophers and was awarded the first All-American honor of her career on beam. "I wasn't expecting this, but I am so glad I took the opportunity of the sixth year," Korlin-Downs said. "I felt a lot more confident this past year and I think that led to building up my scores all season to get to Nationals. Today was super rewarding and a great way to go out. I could not ask for a better way to go out."
Maddie Quarles rounds out the honors as second-team All-American on vault. "This is honestly crazy, but it feels really good," Quarles said. "I was really happy with my vault today. During the middle of the season I regressed a bit, so it was great to have one of my best landings today. Nationals was incredible."