The finalists for the 2015 AAI Award, given annually to the nation’s top senior gymnast, have been named. The winner will be announced at the NCAA Championships next month in Fort Worth, Texas. The AAI Award is considered to be the highest honor in the sport, equivalent to college football's Heisman Trophy. The nominees are; Sachi Sugiyama (Michigan), Erica Brewer (Oklahoma), Rheagan Courville (LSU), Georgia Dabritz (Utah), Kytra Hunter (Florida) and Samantha Peszek (UCLA).  

 

Sachi Sugiyama (Michigan)- Sugiyama has blossomed into one of the nation's top gymnasts this season, setting or tying career highs on three events and in the all-around. Sugiyama is currently ranked third in the Big Ten and seventh nationally in the all-around (39.500 RQS). She is also tied for 11th nationally on floor exercise (9.920) and tied for 15th on vault (9.915). She has won or tied for 11 individual event titles this season -- seven of them on vault -- and has seven top-two finishes in the all-around, including four first-place finishes. Further showcasing her improvement as a gymnast, Sugiyama is averaging nearly four-and-a-half tenths higher in the all-around this year (39.395) than she did as a freshman in 2012 (38.957), which was the last and only time she performed regularly on all four events.  Credit- (Michigan Athletics/MGoBlue.com).  Read her full biography here

 

Erica Brewer (Oklahoma)- This season Brewer has continued to prove that she is one to count on for the Sooners.  Last year Brewer helped her team win their first National Championship.  This season Brewer earned her first perfect 10 on beam, and the first by any gymnast on beam this season.  Brewer is ranked in the top 25 on both bars and beam this season.  Brewer is a four-time NCAA All-American, two-time NACGC All-American, two-time All-Big 12 selection and two-time top-10 NCAA individual finisher. Her energy and work ethic is very contagious to those around her, and that shows every week on the completion floor. Read her full biography here

 

Rheagan Courville (LSU)-  Courville has been a key gymnast to the recent rise and success of LSU Gymnastics.  Courville has set some very impressive career highs throughout her career at LSU.  She is a Two-time NCAA National Champion, 16-time All-American, three-time SEC Champion, three-time All-SEC Performer, two-time Central Region Gymnast of the Year and three-time SEC Academic Honor Roll member.  Courville is one consistent competitor as she has been ranked in the Top 10 in the final all-around rankings every season of her career so far: currently No. 7 as a senior, No. 2 as a junior in 2014, No. 7 in 2013, No. 8 in 2012.  Read her full biography here

Georgia Dabritz (Utah)-  Dabritz isn’t done impressing with her beautiful lines and consistency, as she is having her best season yet!  Dabritz has scored a perfect 10 on vault (1), bars (5) and floor (1) in her career.  She is a 10-time All-American (5 at NCAA Championships, 5 regular season) , NCAA First-Team All-America (AA), 3-time NCAA Regional Champion and 4-time Pac-12 Champion.  Dabritz has shown that consistency is the way go to go hitting 130-139 routines so far in her career. Read her full biography here

 

Kytra Hunter (Florida)- Hunter has been a key competitor and leader to Florida’s two National Championships.  Hunter has continued to improve and impress this season.  She owns four of the nation’s top 10 all-around totals of 2015 (No. 2: 39.75 – twice; No. 9: 39.675 – twice).  Hunter is a eleven-Time NCAA All-American, Seven-Time NACGC Regular Season All-American, 2012 NCAA Champion (AA, VT), 2012 SEC Freshman of the Year and 2012 Honda Award winner as top collegiate gymnast.  Hunter has set many records at Florida and is looking to set even more before her career is over.  Read her full biography here

 

Samantha Peszek (UCLA)-  Peszek decided to come back to UCLA for her fifth year and she hasn’t looked back.  Peszek has remained a strong competitor for the Bruins and been a key competitor throughout her entire career.  This season Peszek is averaging 9.89 or higher on three events and posting season-highs of 9.95 or better on all four events. She has posted scores of 9.85 or higher on all but 3 routines she has competed and 9.9 or better on 19 of her 32 routines. She is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation on beam, No. 8 on vault and No. 15 on bars.  Peszek is a 10-Time All-American, 2014 NCAA All-American (1st team AA, UB; 2nd team V, FX), 2014 NACGC/W All-American (1st team BB; 2nd team UB), 2012 NCAA All-American (1st team BB; 2nd team UB), 2011 NCAA All-American (1st team BB, 2nd team V), 4-Time NCAA Regional Champion, 2014 AA, UB, BB Champion, 2012 V Champion, 2014 Pac-12 Conference BB Champion and 2011 NCAA BB Champion.  Read her full biography here 



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