MSU Gymnastics Names Award Winners At Annual Banquet
4/29/2002 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
April 29, 2002
EAST LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan State gymnastics team held its annual banquet Saturday, April 27 at the Holiday Inn South. The banquet included a master of ceremonies, dinner, award presentations, senior gag gifts to the team, senior ring presentation, videos of award winners, a highlight video, a bloopers video and comments from the coaches. It was a very exciting and fun evening.....one to remember for a long time!
Junior Christy Linder was named the team MVP for leading the Spartans to the NCAA Regional Championships. Linder posted several of MSU's top scores this season on vault, bars and floor, and as a result had the Spartans' top five all-around scores this year, including a 39.400 Jan. 11 that tied for second best in MSU history. Linder also received the Iron Woman Award for competing in the all-around in every meet this season.
Senior Meredith Reavill received the Spirit Award. Reavill was a co-captain, but competed as an exhibition performer only this season, until she stepped up at the NCAA Regionals. Reavill nailed her bars routine at the Regionals to scored 9.750, which tied for second best on the MSU squad that evening.
The Most Improved Gymnast award went to freshman Lauren Simpson. Simpson was not expected to be relied upon heavily this year, but she ended up being one of MSU's best and most consistent performers. Simpson was a fixture in the lineup on vault and floor, and also competed on occassion on beam and bars. Her best meet may have been March 2 vs. Ohio State when she scored career-bests of 9.875 on floor and 9.825 on vault.
The Coaches Award went to another freshman - Anna Hunsinger. Hunsinger was an all-around performer at seven of MSU's 12 meets, and performed more routines than anyone on the squad this season other than Linder. Her career-bests included scores of 9.875 on both bars and floor this season.
The team also recognized the seven members of the team who earned Academic All-Big 10 honors (Ilene Cohen, Julie Devaty, Dana Herr, Jane McIntosh, Meredith Reavill, Lindsay Trainham and Lindsey Voth), and the projected Academic All-Americans.