BTN.com staff, March 24, 2012

In its first attempt, Nebraska won the Big Ten Women?s Gymnastics Championships title on Saturday night. The Huskers tallied a team score of 197.100, while Ohio State followed in second place (196.225) and Minnesota finished third (195.950). Michigan took fourth place (195.875), followed by Illinois in fifth (195.850), Penn State in sixth (195.700), Iowa in seventh (195.425) and Michigan State in eighth (194.675).
The Huskers? Emily Wong won the all-around competition, finishing with a combined score of 39.600. Wong also tied for the balance beam and floor exercise titles to help Nebraska to the championship. Wong tied with Illinois? Kelsey Joannides for the balance beam title with matching scores of 9.900 and tied with teammates Jessie DeZiel and Lora Evenstad for the floor exercise title with scores of 9.900. Evenstad also took home the bars crown with a mark of 9.925, while Michigan?s Sachi Sugiyama won the vault title with a score of 9.950.
 
The conference?s individual awards were also given out following the championships. Penn State?s Sharaya Musser was named Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, earning the third such award for the Nittany Lions in the last four seasons. DeZiel took home Freshman of the Year laurels, while Nebraska head coach Dan Kendig received Coach of the Year accolades.
 
Eleven student-athletes were named to the All-Championship Team, as Illinois? Joannides, Iowa?s Emma Stevenson, Michigan?s Sugiyama and Joanna Sampson, Minnesota?s Amber Hammerschmidt, Nebraska?s DeZiel, Evenstad, Wong, Janelle Giblin and Jamie Schleppenbach, and Penn State?s Musser received recognition for their performance at the championships.
 
BIG TEN INDIVIDUAL AWARDS
Gymnast of the Year: Sharaya Musser, PSU
Freshman of the Year: Jessie DeZiel, NEB
Coach of the Year: Dan Kendig, NEB
 
BIG TEN ALL-CHAMPIONSHIPS TEAM
Kelsey Joannides, ILL
Emma Stevenson, IOWA
Joanna Sampson, MICH
Sachi Sugiyama, MICH
Amber Hammerschmidt, MINN
Jessie DeZiel, NEB
Lora Evenstad, NEB
Janelle Giblin, NEB
Jamie Schleppenbach, NEB
Emily Wong, NEB