Morgan Named Nissen-Emery Award Finalist – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/2/2000 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
March 2, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State’s Michael Morgan (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio) has been named as one of 10 finalists for the prestigious Nissen-Emery Award. The honor is given annually to the outstanding senior male collegiate gymnast in the nation. The winner will be announced at a pre-meet press conference held March 29 in Iowa City, Iowa before the NCAA Championships.
“I’m excited that once again one of our athletes is on the ballot for this honor,” Ohio State head coach Miles Avery said. “It is an outstanding accomplishment for both our program and for Michael Morgan.”
Morgan was a member of the 1996 national championship team and earned All-America and all-Big Ten honors as a junior in 1998. After missing last season with a wrist injury, he has returned to form this season. He currently ranks fourth nationally in the floor exercise, fifth in the vault and 11th in the all-around. Morgan earned Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honors earlier this year after helping the Buckeyes to their comeback win over Michigan and Illinois with a then-career high in the all-around.
“It’s definitely a great honor to be on the list,” Morgan said. “It’s a pretty good field this year. It would be nice to come home with the award but I’m more concerned with coming home with having a good NCAA Championship meet both for myself and for the team.”
The other gymnasts on the ballot are: Jose “Lalo” Haro (Michigan), Jason Katsampes (Stanford), Jeff Lavallee (Massachusetts), Huy Ly (Oklahoma), Michael Moran (Temple), Travis Romagnoli (Illinois), Brandon Stefaniak (Penn State), Todd Strada (Iowa) and Guard Young (Brigham Young).
Three Buckeyes have claimed the award in the program’s history – Mike Racanelli in 1990, Kip Simons in 1994 and Blaine Wilson in 1997.
The No. 2 Buckeyes (13-1) will next compete at the Big Ten Championships, March 17-18 in East Lansing, Mich. The NCAA Championships, held in Iowa City, Iowa, will begin with the national qualifier March 30. The team finals will be March 31 followed by the individual finals April 1.
–GO BUCKS!–
