Shanahan Named 2010 Nissen-Emery Award Finalist

Lincoln, Neb. - Nebraska senior Kyle Shanahan was announced as one of eight finalists for the 2010 Nissen-Emery award, as announced by the Nissen-Emery award committee on Wednesday evening. Since 1966, the Nissen-Emery Award, which is college gymnastics' highest honor, has been presented annually to that year's oustanding senior collegiate gymnast. Shanahan becomes the 19th Nebraska gymnast to earn prestigious finalist honors. 

Shanahan joins a talented group of award finalists, including Jon Buese (Iowa), David Chan (Michigan), Aaron Fortunato (Minnesota), Derek Gygax (William & Mary), Nick Noone (Stanford), Luke Stannard (Illinois) and Andrew Stover (UIC). 

Shanahan has been a steady competitor for NU since his freshman season. He has captured one floor exercise event title, four high bar titles and four all-around titles throughout his Husker career. He has also captured multiple top-three finishes each season on floor, horse, rings, parallel bars, high bar and in the all-around.

Despite fighting a knee injury throughout the 2009 season, Shanahan worked his way back into the lineup just in time for the 2009 NCAA Championships, where he became an all-around finalist. He captured an 11th-place finish overall.

Most recently, he became just the third Nebraska gymnast to make the Winter Cup finals, as he earned a score of 162.60 over two rounds for 23rd place in the all-around competition. Shanahan also earned 22nd on still rings and high bar.

Shanahan has also captured numerous Nebraska gymnastics awards since his freshman season, including the 2009 Nebraska Inspiration Award, the 2009 Most Valuable Athlete Award, the 2008 Nebraska Perseverance Award and the 2007 Nebraska Newcomer of the Year Award.

In addition to his gymnastics honors, Shanahan celebrates success in the classroom. As a finance major, Shanahan is a two-time Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Academic All-Conference honoree in 2008 and 2009 and has been named to the Big 12 Commissioner’s Honor Roll four times. In 2009, Shanahan earned prestigious College Gymnastics All-America Scholar-Athlete accolades for his performance in the classroom. He earned a spot on the 2009 College of Business Dean’s List and was chosen to represent UNL at the Oxford University study abroad program in 2008 for his GPA of 3.0 and higher and his athletic and leadership accomplishments. 

Often described as the "Heisman Trophy" of gymnastics, the Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto:  "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally." The winner of the prestigious award will be announced during the 2010 NCAA Championship banquet. Nebraska has three previous Nissen-Emery award winners, including NU Assistant Coach Jim Hartung (1982), Wes Suter (1986) and Tom Schlesinger (1988).