Gymnastics: Postell passed over for Honda Award
Utah gymnastics fans will be disappointed to learn Ashley Postell was passed over for the most prestigious post-season award, the Honda Award for gymnastics. Georgia's Katie Heenan was named the recipient Monday. The honor goes to the top gymnast, but also includes academic success and leadership qualities in determining the award. More than 1,000 schools vote on the award.
Postell, Michigan's Lindsey Bruck and Stanford's Tabitha Yim were the other nominees. I'm a little surprised Postell didn't get it considering she finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the all-around, on the vault and balance beam and finished with 11 all-around wins this season to tie the school record.
However, I guess a couple factors hurt her in the voting. She didn't win the all-around at NCAAs (UCLA's Tasha Schwikert did) and she didn't win any event titles. She did finish with five All-American awards.
Heenan earned four All-American awards and was shut out in the individuals too, but I'm betting voters gave her some bonus points for leading Georgia to a fourth-straight title, and she had the benefit of putting a lot of conference accolades on her resume (such as the Gymnast of the Year after winning the all-around), which Postell doesn't get since Utah competes as an independent. Voters probably know Utah is in the Mountain West, but they may not understand the conference doesn't sponsor gymnastics.
It would be disappointing if voters gave the nod to Heenan for helping Georgia win the NCAA title, after all the award is supposed to go to the top gymnast, not the best gymnast on the winning team.
No one was better than Postell was this season from start to finish. She competed in nearly every meet in the all-around while Heenan did so only late in the season because of back problems.
One area that Heenan definitely trumped Postell was in academics where she has earned a couple SEC and national recognitions. She also volunteers with Special Olympics.
Postell has improved her academics and made the Dean's list last semester, but she didn't have the awards Heenan did.
Still, if I had a vote, I would have given it to Postell based on what she contributed to her team every meet, finishing the season with the 11 all-around wins and 47 individual wins.
She was named the Senior Gymnast of the Year on a vote by the NCAA gymnastics coaches at the NCAAs, I guess she will have to be happy with having that one.
Postell, Michigan's Lindsey Bruck and Stanford's Tabitha Yim were the other nominees. I'm a little surprised Postell didn't get it considering she finished the regular season ranked No. 1 in the all-around, on the vault and balance beam and finished with 11 all-around wins this season to tie the school record.
However, I guess a couple factors hurt her in the voting. She didn't win the all-around at NCAAs (UCLA's Tasha Schwikert did) and she didn't win any event titles. She did finish with five All-American awards.
Heenan earned four All-American awards and was shut out in the individuals too, but I'm betting voters gave her some bonus points for leading Georgia to a fourth-straight title, and she had the benefit of putting a lot of conference accolades on her resume (such as the Gymnast of the Year after winning the all-around), which Postell doesn't get since Utah competes as an independent. Voters probably know Utah is in the Mountain West, but they may not understand the conference doesn't sponsor gymnastics.
It would be disappointing if voters gave the nod to Heenan for helping Georgia win the NCAA title, after all the award is supposed to go to the top gymnast, not the best gymnast on the winning team.
No one was better than Postell was this season from start to finish. She competed in nearly every meet in the all-around while Heenan did so only late in the season because of back problems.
One area that Heenan definitely trumped Postell was in academics where she has earned a couple SEC and national recognitions. She also volunteers with Special Olympics.
Postell has improved her academics and made the Dean's list last semester, but she didn't have the awards Heenan did.
Still, if I had a vote, I would have given it to Postell based on what she contributed to her team every meet, finishing the season with the 11 all-around wins and 47 individual wins.
She was named the Senior Gymnast of the Year on a vote by the NCAA gymnastics coaches at the NCAAs, I guess she will have to be happy with having that one.
9:43 AM
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1 Comments:
Lya,
I was happy to learn that you know my daugher, PD.
Just proves what a small world we live in.
Love your articles and will read them with more interest now.
Lets visit at Starbucks when possible.
Best to you,
Roger Davis
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