2011 Nissen-Emery Award Finalists

2011 Nissen-Emery Award Finalists

Mar 24, 2011 by FloGymnastics Admin
2011 Nissen-Emery Award Finalists
Since 1966, men's college gymnastics' highest honor, the Nissen Award, has been presented annually to that year's outstanding senior collegiate gymnast. The Nissen-Emery Award honors the collegiate senior gymnast who has established an outstanding record of achievement during his college career, is an example of good sportsmanship and fair play, and has maintained a high standard of scholarship throughout his college career.
 
College gymnastics coaches, student athletes and accredited college gymnastics judges across the nation submit nominations for the award each year. Gymnasts receiving the highest number of nominations are then placed on a final ballot and voted upon by those same coaches, athletes and judges. The award presentation is held annually at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships.

The finalists for the 2011 Nissen-Emery Award have been announced. Below are the 2011 Finalists for this prestigious award, equivalent to the Heisman trophy in football and the Honda Award for women's NCAA gymnastics. Past winners of the Nissen-Emery Award include Peter Kormann, Kurt Thomas, Bart Conner, Jim Hartung, Peter Vidmar, John Roethlisberger, Blaine Wilson, Dan Gill, Justin Spring, and Jonathan Horton. One of these seven men will be added to this list in April:


Tim Gentry, Stanford University
Major: Aeronautics & Aerospace Engineering
4 Time All-American (2010: 3rd on Rings, 4th on Vault; 2009: 4th on Rings 3rd on Vault)
USA Senior National Team 2009-2010 
Competed in Toyota Cup for the United States
8th All Around at 2011 Winter Cup
2nd place on Rings at 2010 Winter Cup & 5th All Around
Stanford Men's Gymnastics Team Captain in both 2010 and 2011, voted on by teammates
Lead the team to: 2nd place finish 2008, 1st place finish 2009, 2nd place finish 2010 at the NCAA Championships
Has done volunteer work on charity events benefiting local needs (OICW, a job training resource center for unemployed and homeless members of the Bay Area community and events benefiting Camp Kesem, a free summer camp in the Sierra Nevada Mountains for children whose parents have cancer.

Brandon Wynn, Ohio State University
Member of the 2010 4th place World Championship team. Posted a team-high 15.533 on rings and placed 10th overall in the world in rings qualification. 
3rd All-Around and 1st on rings at the 2010 Visa Championships in Hartford
Member or the U.S. Men's Senior National team
2010 Big Ten, NCAA, and USA Championships Still Rings Champion
2 time NCAA All-American (8th place in All-Around 2009, 1st place Rings 2010)
Three-time All Big Ten Team 2008, 2009, 2010 

Bryan Del Castillo, University of California Berkeley
MAJOR: Economics
7th All-Around and qualified to the US Senior National Team at the 2010 Visa Championships.
Represented the United States at the 2010 Pan American Games & placed 6th on pommel horse.
4th all-around at the 2010 NCAA Championships. 
Member of the US Junior National Team from 2001 to 2006.
3 time NCAA All-American (all-around, floor exercise, and high bar) 
Earned the highest cumulative GPA of anyone on the Men's Gymnastics Team at Cal after his junior year. Currently holds a 3.54.

Kyle Bunthuwong, University of California Berkeley
MAJOR: Sociology
Member of the USA Senior National Team from 2009-2010
4th all-around at 2009 Visa Championships.
6th all-around at the 2009 Winter Cup Challenge. 
Represented the United States internationally at the DTB World Cup in Germany.
Named the MVP of the Cal team after his freshman season. 
Received the Keeney-Frey award as a junior. This award goes to the most inspirational gymnast and is decided by the team. 
His teammates voted him to be their co-captain in his senior year. 
Involved in UC Berkeley's Student Athlete Advisory Committee (Bear
SAAC). Kyle headed Bear SAAC's "Go Green Initiative" in which he lead multiple projects to help make UC Berkeley's campus more environmentally friendly.

Daniel Ribeiro, University of Illinois 
MAJOR: Management
USA National Champion on Pommel Horse in 2010 
NCAA Champion on Pommel Horse in 2009
Alternate for USA World Championships Team in 2009
Former member of USA Senior National team
2-time NCAA All American
Big Ten Champion on Pommel Horse in both 2010 and 2008. 
First-Team All-Big Ten (2010 and 2008)  
CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete (2010 and 2009)

Steven Legendre, University of Oklahoma 
MAJOR: Multidisaplinary Studies
2009 NCAA All Around Champion
6-time NCAA Individual Event National Champion 2008: Floor & Vault, 2009: Floor, Vault, & All Around, 2010: Floor
9 Time NCAA All-American 2008: FX, V, HB, 2009: FX, V, AA, 2010: FX, V, AA
USA Gymnastics Senior National Team Member since 2008
Member of the 2009 and 2010 USA World Championships Teams. Helped Team USA to 4th place in the 2010 team final.
World Championships Floor Finalist in 2009 & 2010
2010 Pacific Rim Championships: 1st-Team; 3rd-FX; 4th-VT; 10th-AA  
2008 Toyota Cup: 3rd-VT; 5th-FX; 6th-PB, HB
MPSF Individual Event Conference Champion 2010: FX 2009: V 2008: FX
2008 NCAA Team Championship Member
2009, 2010 NCAA Academic All-American -- Second Team
Four Year Mentor at Cleveland Elementary School 

Chris Cameron, University of Michigan
MAJOR: General Studies
2010 NCAA All-Around Champion
Member of 2010 USA World Championships. Helped Team USA to 4th place in the team final.
2010 Big Ten All-Around & Floor Champion
2010 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year  
5-time NCAA All-American (all-around, rings, and parallel bars in 2010) (Floor and pommel horse in 2009)
Member of the USA Senior National Team since 2009 
2010 Pacific Rim pommel horse Champion and second on floor exercise

View complete bios here
The winner will be announced at the men's NCAA Championships in Columbus, OH April 15-17.

Who do YOU think should win this year's award? 

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