Kara Witgen Named Women's Gymnastics MVP

May 2, 2016

USAF ACADEMY, Colo. – Junior Kara Witgen was named the MVP of the 2016 Air Force women's gymnastics team, head coach Doug Day announced at the squad's annual post-season awards banquet, which was held over the weekend. The MVP was one of four awards handed out.

Witgen had a tremendous junior campaign in 2016, claiming all-conference second-team honors as the team leader on the vault, uneven bars, floor exercise all-around. Earning a share of 11 event titles, including five in the all-around, Witgen posted career-best marks on the vault (9.750), uneven bars (9.825) and all-around (39.050). After breaking the 39-point barrier for the first time in her career against a pair of nationally-ranked teams on March 6, she was honored as the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Gymnast of the Week – the program's first such award since 2014.

Sophomore Chelsea Grimison earned the team's Most Improved Award, while Mariana Murphy was honored as the team's Outstanding Freshman.

Grimison collected career-best marks in every event this year (vault: 9.625, uneven bars: 9.600, balance beam: 9.775, floor exercise: 9.675), while making her debut in the all-around (38.075). Grimison's 9.775 on the balance beam at Alaska was the third-highest score on the team in 2016. Murphy had a strong freshman season that culminated with USAG All-America honors on the uneven bars. Ranked second on the team on both the uneven bars and balance beam with matching marks of 9.800, she was also ranked third on the vault after scoring a 9.650 on four occasions.

Senior Sarah Neumann rounded out the Falcons' list of award winners, as she received the program's Courage Award. The Falcons' co-captain, who missed her freshman and junior seasons while recovering from two ACL surgeries, has had a successful senior season in her return to the lineup this year. Neumann, a second-team all-conference selection on the balance beam, tied for the team lead on her signature event after posting a career-best 9.850 at Alaska. The winner of three balance beam titles this season, Neumann also reached the 9.8 mark during her victory at the Texas Woman's Quadrangular. At the USAG Collegiate Nationals, she was honored with the Mari-Rae Soper Spirit Award, which recognizes a gymnast for their passion, dedication and dedication to the sport of gymnastics.