Parsons Named Honda Award Finalist

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Salt Lake City, Utah? Nebraska junior Emily Parsons is one of four finalists for the 2007 Gymnastics Honda Sports Award, the Board of the Collegiate Women’s Sports Awards announced Friday. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Parsons, the 2007 South Central Regional Gymnast of the Year and 2007 Big 12 Co-Gymnast of the Year, led <?xml:namespace prefix="u1"?>Nebraska to a 26-12 record and the school’s ninth Super Six Finals appearance this season. A nine-time All-American, Parsons shattered the school record for individual event titles with a total of 85 crowns over three years through the NCAA West Regional. The St. Charles, Mo., native took four Big 12 event championships last month, finishing first in the all-around, vault, beam and floor.

 

Parsons is joined by three other college gymnastics All-Americans in Georgia’s Courtney Kupets, UCLA’s Tasha Schwikert and IowaState’s Janet Anson. Parsons looks to become just the second Husker to earn the gymnastics honor, joining Heather Brink, who earned the award in 2000.

 

American Honda will donate $1,000 to the women’s athletic fund of each nominee’s university, while the winner will receive a $5,000 donation. The award, which is voted upon by college administrators around the country, will be announced in early May. The gymnastics winner will become a nominee for the Honda-Broderick Cup awarded annually to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year.