Season End Banquet Puts Bow on 2015
CORVALLIS, Ore. – The Oregon State gymnastics program brought the 2015 season to an official close Friday evening with the team, staff, family and friends at its end of season banquet. The event served as a time to recognize the accomplishments of the past season and to say farewell to its five seniors.
Senior Chelsea Tang and sophomore Madeline Gardiner were selected as the program’s Gymnasts of the Year. Tang performed in the all-around four times in 2015 saving the best for last when she tallied a 39.350 at NCAA Championships to earn All-America second team honors in the all-around as well as on the balance beam. Along the way, Tang established career-bests on uneven bars (9.925), beam (9.925) and floor exercise (9.950). Gardiner competed in the all-around for the Beavers 10 times in 2015 posting a career-best score of 39.450 in back-to-back meets in March. She recorded personal-best scores on vault (9.900), bars (9.875) and beam (9.925) during the season. Gardiner concluded the season by scoring 9.900 on the beam at NCAA Championships semifinals to earn All-America First Team honors for the second straight year. She tied her career-high of 9.925 on beam at Event Finals to finish third overall.
Risa Perez was awarded the Newcomer of the Year. Perez, who transferred from Arizona State in the fall, performed in OSU’s balance beam and floor exercise lineups in 12 out of 13 meets in 2015. She established career-marks on both events and won three event titles, two on floor and one on beam, hitting 23 out of 24 routines. Along the way, Perez’s smile and infectious personality captured the attention of Beaver Nation making her a fan favorite and highlight of every meet.
Junior Erika Aufiero and senior Taylor Keeker were chosen as the Beavers’ Specialists of the Year. Aufiero and Keeker each performed in the vault and uneven bars lineups in all 13 meets combining to hit 51 out of 53 routines in 2015. Both earned Pac-12 All-Conference second team accolades on the vault. Aufiero, who tallied new career-high marks of 9.925 on both events, scored 9.900 at NCAA Championships to earn first team All-America honors on the bars. Keeker also scored new personal-best of 9.925 on vault and 9.850 on bars during the season.
Sophomores Megan Jimenez and Taylor Ricci were chosen as the Most Improved Gymnast in 2015. Jimenez competed on vault 13 meets for the Beavers hitting all of them. Ricci cracked the vault lineup for the first time in her career scoring a season-best of 9.850. Both gymnasts were thrust into the floor exercise lineup at NCAA Championships when injuries struck during the postseason. Combined the duo hit all 22 of their routines this season.
Sophomore Kaytianna McMillan received the Joy Selig Award, an award that goes to the gymnast who most distinguishes herself academically and athletically and exemplifies courage and leadership, both on and off the competition floor. McMillan, who battled injuries throughout her freshman season in 2014, came back this year looking to build on a solid foundation. She returned to the bars and beam lineup in week two and was added to the floor lineup at the beginning of February. In March, McMillan entered the vault lineup for the first time in her career scoring 39.400 in her first career all-around appearance. During the 2015 campaign, McMillan set career-best scores on three events and became just the ninth gymnast in OSU history to record a 9.900 on all four events during her career.
Kailie Ponto received the Most Inspirational Award, an honor voted on by the team, for the second straight season. A year ago, Ponto garnered the same award after showing her resiliency working her way into the competitive lineup for the first time in her career midway through her junior season. This year, Ponto’s season ended prematurely after suffering a knee injury during her fourth floor routine of the season. Despite the setback, Ponto, a senior, remained a positive and supportive influence for her teammates.
Sophomores Silvia Colussi-Pelaez was named as the team’s Academic MVP after posting a 4.0 grade point average during the 2014-15 academic year. On the athletic side of things, the sophomore transfer performed in all 13 meets hitting all 18 of her routines.
Leadership awards were received by Aufiero, Keeker, Ponto and Katelyn Ohlrich. The foursome was recognized for their contributions as team captains and work with OSU’s Student-Athlete Advisory Council (SAAC).
