Jessica Wallander Named Women's Gymnastics MVP
5/7/2015 12:00:00 AM | Women's Gymnastics
USAF ACADEMY, Colo. - Senior Jessica Wallander was named the MVP of the 2015 Air Force women's gymnastics team, head coach Doug Day announced at the squad's annual post-season awards banquet. The MVP was one of four awards handed out on Wednesday night.
Wallander had a tremendous senior season in 2015, claiming three USAG All-America awards (vault, uneven bars, floor exercise), two all-conference accolades (vault, uneven bars) and nine first-place finishes. She competed on the vault in all 14 meets, including the NCAA Regional Championships and USAG Event Finals, registering a season-best 9.875 at the Denver Triangular. She also competed on the uneven bars and floor exercise during 13 competitions, including a regional appearance on the uneven bars and a USAG Finals appearance on the floor. The senior recorded a career-best score of 9.825 on the floor exercise twice, while adding a season-high 9.775 on the uneven bars in three meets. Wallander, who holds the Academy's all-time vault record of 9.925, finished her USAFA career with one conference title (2013 vault), nine all-MPSF selections and eight USAG All-America awards.
Senior Kim McRobbie earned the team's Most Improved Award, while Jamie Lewis received the squad's Outstanding Freshman Award.
McRobbie accounted for career-high marks in every event as a mainstay of the all-around lineup during her final campaign. The senior competed in the all-around during every team competition, as well the NCAA Regionals. Maintaining a team-best average of 38.000, McRobbie collected personal-best scores on the vault (9.700, vs Seattle Pacific), uneven bars (9.750, at MPSF Championships), balance beam (9.725, vs SPU), floor exercise (9.725, three times) and all-around (38.700, at Seattle Pacific). She was a two-time all-MPSF selection, earning league honors on the balance beam and all-around.
In her first season with the Falcons, Lewis competed in the all-around during nine meets, including the NCAA Regional Championships. Backed by a career-best score of 38.700 at Seattle Pacific, Lewis ranked second on the team with a 37.800 average. She competed on the vault, uneven bars and floor exercise in every team competition and was one of just two Falcons to surpass the 9.8-mark on the vault. A consistent member of Air Force's vault lineup, Lewis posted either a 9.725 or 9.750 in eight of 10 regular-season meets, while adding a 9.825 on that apparatus at Denver's triangular meet.
Sophomore Annie Graft rounded out the Falcons' list of award winners, as she received the Courage Award. After missing her freshman year with an ACL injury and overcoming five different surgeries, Graft battled back to become a significant contributor on the Falcons' balance beam lineup. She specialized in that event during every team competition and the NCAA Regional Championships. Highlighted by a team-high score of 9.800 at Seattle Pacific, Graft ranked second on the team with a 9.463 average. She picked up one event title on the season, winning the beam during Air Force's victory over TWU.
Day also announced that Shannen Kelly and Sarah Neumann would serve as co-captains for the upcoming 2016 women's gymnastics season.
Players Mentioned
