April 29, 2007
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IOWA CITY – The Iowa men’s gymnastics team celebrated its 2007 season Sunday night with the team’s annual Dr. C. E. Obermann Awards Banquet.
After breaking his own record three times this season, senior Jacques Bouchard holds the school record on rings, a 9.725, attained at the Big Ten Individual Championships. His score also won him the event, making him the Big Ten champion on rings and qualified him for the all-Big Ten team. Bouchard, a four-time letterwinner, was a nominee for the Nissen-Emery Award, or the Heisman Trophy of gymnastics. The pre-med major’s other awards include the academic all-Big Ten team, academic excellence and the Robert F. Ray Faculty Representation Award, the award for outstanding academic excellence, athletic excellence and leadership. Bouchard’s other accolades include the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award for Iowa gymnastics and the Dr. C. E. Obermann Outstanding Senior Award.
Junior Jacob Becker was honored with the N.R. Holzaepfel Most Valuable Team Member award. The three-time letterwinner was named an all-American on pommel horse, and holds the school record (9.4) in the event. Becker was also honored with the team’s Biggest Contributor Award and named to the 2006-07 academic all-Big Ten.
Other members of the 2006-07 academic all-Big Ten team include senior Bryan Bourland, junior Tom Buese, senior Drew Ignoto and sophomore Diego Mercado-Austin.
Sophomore Geoff Reins was recognized as Iowa’s Best Competitor at the NCAAs after being named an NCAA all-American on vault. Reins is a two-time letterwinner and this is the second consecutive year he has earned the title of NCAA all-American.
Sophomore Diego Mercado-Austin, a two-time letterwinner, was awarded the Most Inspirational Performance at the Big Tens. Freshman Reid Urbain was named the team’s most improved athlete and is a first-time letterwinner for Iowa. The Coaches Appreciation Award went to freshman Jonathan Buese.
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