Husker Gymnasts Honored For Achievements

Lincoln - Four members of the Nebraska women's gymnastics team were honored for their achievements throughout the 2002 season, Head Coach Dan Kendig announced Tuesday. Sophomore Richelle Simpson was named Newcomer of the Year and also won the Hawkinson award as the most valuable gymnast, sophomore Libby Landgraf and junior A.J. Lamb shared Most Improved Gymnast honors and senior Laura Goss earned the Inspirational award given by the Nebraska Gymnastics Booster Club.

A transfer from Penn State, Simpson stepped in and made an immediate impact setting school records on the balance beam (9.975) and floor exercise (9.975), and earning second-team All-America honors on vault, beam, bars and the all-around. The 2002 Northeast Region and Big 12 Conference floor co-champion, Simpson competed on every event in every meet for the Huskers in 2002, averaging 39.20 in the all-around, which included a career-high 39.575 at the Big 12 Championships, a mark that ranks seventh all-time at Nebraska.

A three-event gymnast, Landgraf earned the Most Improved award for the second consecutive year after setting career highs on every event, including twice earning a 9.925 on vault, the highest mark by any Husker on the event. She also tied her career high on floor (9.90) against Penn State on March 3, and posted her highest mark on bars (9.90) at the NCAA Preliminaries to earn second-team All-America honors. Meanwhile Lamb, who was limited to beam and floor in 2001 because of a back injury, competed all-around in every meet this season and qualified for the NCAA Individual Event Finals on vault and bars. The 2002 NCAA Northeast Region and Big 12 Conference vault co-champion, Lamb, a three-time All-American was only the second Husker to record a 9.925 on vault and twice posted a 9.95 on floor.

After overcoming kidney failure in early November, Goss rebounded to competed on the balance beam in every meet her final season. She matched her personal best on beam in the Huskers' season opener before posting a career-high 9.95 in the Masters Classic, becoming just the second Husker to record that mark as a senior.

Nebraska is already looking forward to next season after finishing 2002 with a 23-8 final record and the Big 12 Conference and Northeast Regional crowns. The Huskers will have nine All-Americans on their roster in 2003 and will play host to the 2003 NCAA Championships April 24-26. In addition, NU will regain the services of Alecia Ingram, the 2001 Big 12 Newcomer and Gymnast of the Year. Ingram underwent shoulder surgery in late November and took a redshirt year.