media source avatar
Big Ten CommunicationsPublished: 3/5/2024, Last updated: 3/5/2024
link picture
Copied!

Illinois, Michigan and Michigan State Earn Weekly Gymnastics Honors

Illini's Saltness, Wolverines' Brooks, and Spartans' Smith take home awards

Gymnast of the Week

Sierra Brooks, Michigan

Gr. – Plainfield, Ill. – Oswego East – Major: Business Analytics

  • Scored a 39.650 in the all-around against No. 1 Oklahoma

  • Went 9.900 or higher on three events, including earning a team best 9.950 on the uneven bars

  • Scored a 9.925 on floor, tying for a team best

  • Tied for a team best on the beam with a 9.900

  • Ranks sixth nationally in the all-around, third on the floor, 11th on the bars and 12th on the beam and vault

  • Leads the Big Ten in the all-around, bars, beam, while ranking second on the floor and third on the vault

  • Collects her sixth Gymnast of the Week honor this season

  • Last Michigan Gymnast of the Week: Sierra Brooks (Feb. 27, 2024)

Tri-Event Specialist of the Week

Nikki Smith, Michigan State

So. – West Bloomfield, Mich. – North Farmington – Major: Studio Art

  • Competed on vault and bars to help the Spartans to a win and earn their second best team score of the season

  • Scored a 10.000 on vault, her second 10.000 of the season, second on vault and third perfect score overall

  • Became the second Spartan gymnast to score multiple perfect scores in the same event and the second to score multiple 10.000s in the same season

  • Earned a 9.800 on bars

  • Collects her second Event Specialist of the Week honor this season

  • Last Michigan State Event Specialist of the Week: Nikki Smith (Feb. 27, 2024)

Freshman of the Week

Lyden Saltness, Illinois

Fr. – Stillwater, Minn. – Forest Lake – Major: Undeclared

  • Scored a 9.900 on bars to win the event title

  • Helped Illinois to a second place finish with a total score of 196.325 at the All-Ohio meet, and a first place finish over Bowling Green with a score of 196.125

  • Earns her second career Freshman of the Week award

  • Last Illinois Freshman of the Week: Lyden Saltness (Feb. 27, 2024)

2024 Big Ten Gymnasts of the Week

Jan. 9                 

G: Gabby Wilson, Gr., MICH

G: Payton Harris, So., OSU

E: Sage Kellerman, So., MSU

F: Jordyn Lyden, MINN

Jan. 16          

G: Sierra Brooks, MICH

E: Mya Hooten, MINN

E: Kinsey Davis, NEB

F: Courtney McCann, OSU

Jan. 23                 

G: Skyla Schulte, MSU

G: Payton Harris, OSU

E: Ella Hodges, OSU

F: Gabi Ortiz, MSU

Jan. 30        

G: Skyla Schulte, MSU

E: Mya Hooten, MINN

E: Nikki Smith, MSU

F: Eva Volpe, IOWA

F: Natalie Martin, MD

Feb. 6   

G: Sierra Brooks, MICH

G: Payton Harris, OSU

E: Sage Kellerman, MSU

E: Ella Hodges, OSU

F: Jordyn Lyden, MINN

F: MaKayla Tucker, MSU

Feb. 13

G: Mia Takekawa, ILL

G: Sierra Brooks, MICH

E: Mya Hooten, MINN

E: Kinsey Davis, NEB

F: Eva Volpe, IOWA

Feb. 20

G: Sierra Brooks, MICH

E: Sage Kellerman, MSU

E: Nicole Riccardi, OSU

F: Eva Volpe, IOWA

F: Kalea McElligott, PSU

Feb. 27

G: Sierra Brooks, MICH

E: Reyna Guggino, MICH

E: Nikki Smith, MSU

E: Mya Hooten, MINN

F: Lyden Saltness, ILL

March 5

G: Sierra Brooks, MICH

E: Nikki Smith, MSU

F: Lyden Saltness, ILL