Parsons Named Regional Gymnast of the Year

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? Senior Emily Parsons was honored as the South Central Regional Co-Gymnast of the Year for the third consecutive season, sharing the award with Oklahoma’s Kiara Redmond-Sturms and Allison Buckley of Illinois, the NACGC announced on Saturday. Parsons previously won the accolade in 2006 and 2007 and has also captured eight NCAA regional event titles over her career.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Parsons, a nine-time All-American at Nebraska, becomes the first Husker to win the award three times in a career. Nebraska has had four athletes win seven regional awards in program history, as Courtney Brown (1999), Heather Brink (2000) and Richelle Simpson (2003, 2005) were presented with the honors.

 

Parsons, a native of St. Charles, Mo., has achieved great success in her four seasons at Nebraska, capturing seven Big 12 event crowns and being named 2007 Big 12 Co-Gymnast of the Year. During her career, Parsons has run away with a total of 114 event crowns.

 

The award is annually voted on by head coaches in the South Central Region, which includes Nebraska, Oklahoma, Arizona State, Missouri, Arizona, Arkansas, Illinois-Champaign, Illinois-Chicago, Northern Illinois, Southeast Missouri State, Texas Woman's University and IllinoisState.