Simpson Honored with NCAA Top Eight Award

Indianapolis, Ind. ? Former Nebraska gymnast Richelle Simpson was honored Saturday night as one of eight recipients of the 2005 NCAA Top Eight Award, earning one of collegiate athletics’ most prestigious honors and becoming the first NU female gymnast to garner the distinction. Simpson is Nebraska's NCAA-leading 15th athlete in school history to win the award, as volleyball player Nancy Metcalf was the last Husker honoree in 2002.

The NCAA Top Eight Award, which is the highest honor the association can bestow, recognizes senior student-athletes in intercollegiate athletics for their outstanding achievements in athletics, academics and leadership ability in community and campus activities.

“I can’t even describe how proud we are of Richelle and her achievement,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. “In realizing the number of people who are up for this award, for her to become one of the Top Eight Award winners is an incredible accomplishment for her, our team and the University of Nebraska.

 

“Richelle has meant so much to our program these last four years. By receiving the highest award the NCAA has to give, this just adds to her legacy as a Husker.”

The 2003 NCAA all-around and floor exercise champion, Simpson was a nine-time All-American gymnast at Nebraska. She was an eight-time conference champion, most recently during the 2005 season when she won the all-around, balance beam and floor exercise titles at the Big 12 Championships in Norman, Okla., and was honored as a 12-time All-Big 12 selection in her Husker career. In addition, Simpson, who was the NCAA South Central Regional Gymnast of the Year in 2003 and 2005, led the Huskers to a first-ever No. 1 ranking in 2005 and a sixth-place finish at the NCAA Championships in Auburn, Ala. With her outstanding leadership, NU won Big 12 team championships in three of the last four years.

While earning success in the gym, Simpson garnered numerous accolades in the classroom as well. The Toronto, Ontario, native was a second-team CoSIDA Academic All-American and first-team academic All-District VII honoree in 2005. As Nebraska’s first AAI American Award winner, Simpson earned prestigious postgraduate scholarships from both the NCAA and the Big 12 Conference. She was also the 2005 Nebraska Female Student-Athlete of the Year and was recognized as a three-time academic All-Big 12 team member. In addition, Simpson devoted considerable time to countless charitable organizations in the Lincoln community, serving as a volunteer with Safe Quarters, the TeamSpiritHospital program and was a guest speaker at schools for local youth. Simpson graduated with her bachelor’s degree in French and international studies this past May and left Nebraska with a 3.822 GPA.

The 2005 Top Eight Award winners were presented at the NCAA Honors Celebration during the annual NCAA Convention in Indianapolis. Simpson was joined by family and friends, as well as Kendig, whose 2006 Husker squad finished second (194.10) at last night's Super Six Challenge in Baton Rouge, La.

Nebraska’s All-Time NCAA Top Eight Award Winners

Randy Schleusener (Football, 1981)

Dave Rimington (Football, 1983)

Mark Traynowicz (Football, 1985)

Tom Schlesinger (Men’s Gymnastics, 1989)

Jake Young (Football, 1990)

Virginia Stahr (Volleyball, 1990)

Pat Tyrance (Football, 1991)

Patrick Kirksey (Men’s Gymnastics, 1991)

Janet Kruse (Volleyball, 1992)

Rob Zatechka (Football, 1994)

Trev Alberts (Football, 1994)

Aaron Graham (Football, 1996)

Grant Wistrom (Football, 1998)

Nancy Metcalf (Volleyball, 2002)

Richelle Simpson (Women’s Gymnastics, 2005)