Three Former Huskers Make Big 12 Anniversary Team

Dallas ? Former <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska gymnasts Richelle Simpson, Heather Brink and Julie Houk were named to the Big 12 Conference 10th Anniversary Team, the league office announced Wednesday. Selected by the Big 12’s head coaches, gymnasts were categorized by event and must have been an event winner at a Big 12 Championship in the last 10 seasons.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Simpson, a nine-time All-American, was included on the team three times for her efforts in the all-around, balance beam and floor exercise. She claimed all-around titles in 2003 and 2005, along with floor and beam crowns in 2002, 2003 and 2005, while also being honored as a 12-time All-Big 12 selection in her Husker career. The 2003 NCAA all-around and floor exercise champion, Simpson led Nebraska to a first-ever No. 1 national ranking in 2005 and a sixth-place finish at the 2005 NCAA Championships. With her outstanding accomplishments, the Huskers won Big 12 team championships in three of the last four seasons.

 

Brink, the 2000 NCAA all-around and vault champion, was honored on the Big 12 Anniversary Team on vault. Brink won seven conference titles in four years at Nebraska, including vault crowns in 1998 and 2000, as well as the all-around (1998 and 1999), uneven bars (1997 and 1998) and floor (1999 and 2000). For her efforts, she was selected as the Honda Award winner for gymnastics in 2000 and closed her collegiate career with 11 All-America awards.

 

Houk is Nebraska’s final conference team honoree. A four-time All-American, she captured Big 12 titles on bars in 2000 and 2003. Houk, who earned second-team All-America awards as a freshman and sophomore, also finished 10th and ninth in the NCAA Individual Event Finals in 2002 and 2003, respectively. As one of the finest Husker competitors on bars in school history, Houk was part of three Big 12 Championship teams at Nebraska.

 

Anniversary teams are being chosen this year for each conference sport during 2005-06 in celebration of the Big 12’s 10th anniversary season.

 

No. 11 Nebraska will host the Big 12 Gymnastics Championship this Saturday, March 25 at the BobDevaneySportsCenter at 7 p.m. No. 4 Iowa State, No. 6 Oklahoma and No. 13 Missouri will join the Huskers in the quest for the 2006 Big 12 team title. NU is the defending conference champion and owns a league-leading seven crowns. IowaState and Oklahoma have each earned one.

  

Big 12 Gymnastics 10th Anniversary Team

                             

Event                       Gymnast, School                            Event Winner

All-Around               Richelle Simpson, Nebraska      2003, 05

Floor Exercise        Richelle Simpson, Nebraska      2002, 03, 05

Vault                         Heather Brink, Nebraska              1998, 2000

Uneven Bars          Julie Houk, Nebraska                    2000, 03

Balance Beam       Richelle Simpson, Nebraska      2002, 03, 05