Coleman, Iakounina Garner All-Conference Recognition
3/24/2006 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
March 24, 2006
PARK RIDGE, Ill. - The 2006 All-Big Ten gymnastics teams were announced at the championships banquet, hosted by Michigan State at the LaSalle Bank Club. Spartan juniors Kristen Coleman and Victoria Iakounina were among the honorees, Friday evening. Coleman was named to the Big Ten first-team, while Iakounina garnered second-team honors for the second time in her MSU career. Senior Sarah Alexander was recognized as MSU's team-sportsmanship award winner.
Coleman has been the team's most consistent all-around gymnast this season. The junior from Cornwall, Ont., has reached the podium in all-around competition eight times, including four first-place finishes. Coleman posted a career-high 39.300 to claim the all-around title in a March 5 meet at Northern Illinois. Coleman enters Saturday's Big Ten Championship ranked fifth in the Big Ten in the all-around, with a Regional Qualifying Score of 38.945, and tied for sixth on uneven bars with an RQS of 9.825.
Illinois' Cara Pomeroy, Michigan's Lindsey Bruck, Jenny Deiley and Tatjana Thuener-Rego, Minnesota's Laura Johnson, Ohio State's Maalika Moore-Thomas and Penn State's Lisa Clark, Meredith Hoover and Jennifer Orlando also received first-team honors.
Iakounina was the Big Ten freshman of the year in 2004 and also garnered conference second-team honors that season. In 2006, the junior has grown into an all-around competitor for Michigan State. Iakounina has posted four individual-event titles and one all-around title this season in addition to numerous other top-three finishes. The Dumfries, Va., native boasts an all-around RQS of 38.635, to rank 10th in the Big Ten, and a vault RQS of 9.815, good enough to tie for fifth-place.
Illinois' Julie Crall, Iowa's Liz Grajewski, Michigan's Becca Clauson, Nellie Kippley, Katie Lieberman, Carol McNamara and Lauren Mirkovich, Ohio State's Brittany Brown and Penn State's Aslynn Satterfield were also selected to the second team.
Alexander, a three-time Michigan State captain and a three-time All-Big Ten selection was unable to compete on bars this season due to an abdominal strain. The Kernersville, N.C., native has battled back, posting three event titles in the Spartans last three meets.
Illinois' Melissa Singer, Iowa's Liz Grajewski, Michigan's Nellie Kippley, Minnesota's Maria Opsahl, Ohio State's Emily Sineway and Penn State's Stephanie Sullivan were also honored by the Big Ten for their sportsman-like efforts in and away from the gym.
The 27 All-Conference selections and their teams will collide at Michigan State's Jenison Field House, Saturday evening at 6 p.m., to compete for the 2006 Big Ten Championship.
2006 Women's Gymnastics First Team All-Conference
Lindsey Bruck - MichiganLisa Clark - Penn StateKristin Coleman - Michigan StateJenny Deiley - MichiganMeredith Hoover - Penn StateLaura Johnson - MinnesotaMaalika Moore-Thomas - Ohio StateJennifer Orlando - Penn StateCara Pomeroy - IllinoisTatjana Thuener-Rego - Michigan
2006 Women's Gymnastics Second Team All-Conference
Brittany Brown - Ohio StateBecca Clauson - MichiganJulie Crall - IllinoisLiz Grajewski - IowaVictoria Iakounina - Michigan StateNellie Kippley - MichiganKatie Lieberman - MichiganCarol McNamara - MichiganLauren Mirkovich - MichiganAslynn Satterfield - Penn State
2006 Women's Gymnastics Sportsmanship Honorees
Illinois -- Melissa SingerIowa -- Liz GrajewskiMichigan -- Nellie KippleyMichigan State - Sarah AlexanderMinnesota -- Maria OpsahlOhio State -- Emily SinewayPenn State -- Stephanie Sullivan
Players Mentioned
