Jake Schonig Earns USAG Outstanding Senior Award
3/28/2009 12:00:00 AM | Men's Gymnastics
March 28, 2009
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Air Force senior Jake Schonig was named the Outstanding Senior Gymnast at the conclusion of the USA Gymnastics Collegiate Championship, which were held March 27-28 in Williamsburg, Va. Schonig successfully defended his national title on the still rings, as the Falcons' men's gymnastics team finished third in the team standings.
The annual award is presented in recognition of athletic ability, scholastic achievement, dedication and devotion to the sport.
Schonig, a Nissen-Emery Award finalist, won his second USAG title in the still rings this afternoon, while claiming his third USAG All-America certificate. Schonig, who matched his career-best total 15.650 during yesterday's preliminary round, is ranked second on the program's all-time list. His stellar career becomes even more impressive when it is mentioned that he didn't start competing in gymnastics until entering the Academy as a freshman.
It is the third straight year that an Air Force gymnast has won the division's top award, as Kurt Antonio and Greg Stine won the awards in 2007 and 2008, respectively. Additionally, Jerry Michael Cline (1994) and Aaron Jackson (2003) have also won the Outstanding Senior Gymnast Award for Air Force.
