April 5, 2006

Norman, Okla. - University of Illinois senior men's gymnast Justin Spring was awarded the 2006 Nissen-Emery Award Wednesday night at the Collegiate Gymnastics Association Banquet in Norman, Okla. The Nissen-Emery Award is given annually to the nation's outstanding senior gymnast and is considered the most coveted award in collegiate gymnastics.

"It's amazing to be a part of the tradition of the award and to be a part of the greats that have won the award in the past," Spring said. "While I was up at the podium I looked down and saw all my teammates and I realized that I owe so much of my success to my coaches and my team for always being there. They are the guys that you go through the struggle with in the gym. You have to suck it up when there are things you don't want to do and that's what this sport is about - you do that together with your teammates. That's what NCAA gymnastics is all about. It brings out the aspect of the team in the sport so well. That's why I love college gymnastics and I wouldn't have rather spent it on any other team than the University of Illinois."

Spring, a Burke, Va., native, was one of seven other finalists for the award, joining Chad Buczek of Penn State, Nate Downs of Stanford, Jamie Henderson of Oklahoma, Ramon Jackson of William and Mary, Michael Reavis of Iowa and Gerry Signorelli of Michigan.

Spring, the 2006 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, joins David Zeddies as the only Illini to ever receive what is considered the "Heisman Trophy" of college gymnastics. Zeddies won the award in 1989, the last time Illinois won the NCAA team championship.

At this year's Big Ten Championships, Spring became Illinois' first Big Ten all-around champion since Dominick Minicucci earned the recognition in 1988. Spring claimed the parallel bars title in addition to a second place finish on high bar, third on vault and fourth on floor exercise. Earlier this season, Spring returned from a knee injury to set the school record on parallel bars, his fourth school record (FX, VT, HB).

The seven-time All-American was the 2005 Visa U.S. Championships high bar champion, 2005 Winter Cup high bar champion, 2005 NCAA parallel bars champion and the 2005 American Cup high bar silver medalist. His success is not limited to just the national scene, Spring placed 10th on high bar and 12th on parallel bars at the 2005 World Championships in Melbourne, Australia as part of the six-man U.S. World team. In 2004, Spring captured the NCAA high bar championship and went on to receive the University of Illinois Dike Eddleman Athlete of the Year award, presented to the school's top male and female athlete.

Spring also excels outside of the gym, as he was a George Huff Award recipient last season, which is given to student-athletes that maintain above a 3.0 grade point average for the school year. In addition, he is the team's health advocate and a member of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee.

"It is an award that Justin is very deserving of," head coach Yoshi Hayasaki said. "If you look at what he has done in his career there is no question that he has done more than any of the candidates. He has not even reached his prime yet and he is still continuing to raise his bar. He certainly deserves to win."

The Nissen Award is named in honor of George Nissen, a three-time NCAA Champion at the University of Iowa, for his contributions to the sport, and for Dr. Bob Emery, the 1969 recipient of the Nissen Award.

In addition to gymnastics excellence, the winner also must fulfill the following requirements: He must be an example of good sportsmanship and fair play. He must maintain a high standard of scholarship throughout his college career. The award is inscribed with the motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially and morally."