Iowa, Michigan State, Minnesota and Rutgers receive weekly women’s gymnastics awards

• After returning to the Hawkeye lineup from injury, he claimed two podiums against Ohio State in Columbus
• He hit 9,850 on bars and helped the Hawkeyes to a season-best event with 49,200 overall
• Earned a career-high 9.925 on floor to take second place and a season-high 9.900 on beam to anchor the lineup and share second place
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree receives her first Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award of her career
• Last Iowa Gymnast of the Week: Melissa Zurawski (January 30, 2017)

Tri-Gymnast and Freshman of the Week
Nikki Smith, Michigan State
Fr.—West Bloomfield, Michigan—North Farmington

• Twice on top of the podium to help the Spartans defeat rival Michigan 197,200-196,975 in what was the Wolverines’ first Big Ten dual meeting loss since Jan. 27, 2018
• Captured the vault title with a career-high 9,950, finished third all-time at Michigan State, and contributed to the Spartans’ record-breaking team total of 49,400 for the event
• Added 9,850 on parallel bars, 9,825 on beam and 9,900 on floor to take home the all-around title with a score of 39,525 and secure the Spartans’ first win over the Wolverines since February 3, 2007
• Earned her first career Big Ten Gymnast of the Week and her first career Freshman of the Week honors
• Last Michigan State Gymnast of the Week: Skyla Schulte (March 8, 2022)
• Last Michigan State Freshman of the Week: Skyla Schulte (March 14, 2022)

Tri Gymnast of the Week
Hannah Joyner, Rutgers
Sr.—Waldorf, Md.—Braden River

• On January 21, she finished in the top five in all of her events, highlighted by a trio of event titles, in the Scarlet Knights vs. Illinois duel
• Broke a 10-year-old all-around program record at 39,525 and took home the title
• Captured the titles on beam (9.900) and beam (9.925) while finishing fourth on vault (9.825) and floor (9.875).
• The two-time Academic All-Big Ten honoree receives her first Big Ten Gymnast of the Week award of her career
• This is the first Rutgers Gymnast of the Week honoree in program history

Event Specialist of the Week
Mya Hooten, Minnesota
Jr. – Woodbury, Minnesota – Chanhassen High School

• Scored a 9,900 or better in the Gophers’ win against Penn State on Jan. 21 to finish on the top podium in all three of their events
• Posted 9,900 on vault, 9,925 on beam and 9,950 on floor and steadily improved as the Gophers won their Big Ten opener
• National sixth on floor (9.925 average), 12th on vault (9.900) and 20th on parallel bars (9.892)
• The Academic All-Big Ten honoree earns her fifth career as Big Ten event specialist of the week and her first of the season
• Final Minnesota Event Specialist of the Week: Mya Hooten (March 14, 2022)

2023 Big Ten Gymnast of the Week
11th January

G: Sierra Brooks, Sr., ME
E: Natalie Wojcik, Gr., ME
Q: Payton Harris, OSU

January 18th

G: Abby Heiskell, Gr., ME
E: Natalie Wojcik, Gr., ME
Q: Seria Johnson, MINN

January 24th

G: Adeline Kenlin, Jr., IOWA
G: Nikki Smith, Fr., MSU
G: Hannah Joyner, Sr., RU
E: Mya Hooten, Jr., MINN
Q: Nikki Smith, MSU