CGA Release

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -  University of Illinois senior gymnast Alex Diab was announced Monday evening as one of the eight finalists for the 2019 Nissen-Emery Award, awarded annually to the top senior male gymnast in the NCAA. 

"I'm extremely honored to be named a finalist for the Nissen Emery Award," said Diab. "I have always looked up to the gymnasts who have won the award in the past and I am humbled to be considered one of the top gymnasts in the country alongside the other outstanding finalists."

Diab has become one of the most decorated Illini gymnasts in program history, registering 38 career event titles, including an Illinois program-record 25 titles on still rings. The 2018 Still Rings National Champion is a four-time all-american and is the only three-time Big Ten Still Rings champion in Illinois men's gymnastics history. Diab has been honored as a first-team All-Big Ten honoree three times throughout his career and was named the team's MVP following the 2017 season. The Glen Ellyn, Ill., native also holds the Illini program's top scores on both floor exercise (15.000) and still rings (15.200) under the current men's gymnastics scoring system.

In addition to Diab, Grant Breckenridge (Stanford), Jacopo Gliozzi (William & Mary), Vitali Kan (Minnesota), Justin Karstadt (Minnesota), Yul Moldauer (Oklahoma), Anton Stephenson (Nebraska) and Alec Yoder (Ohio State) were named finalists.

Past Illini Award Winners

David Zeddies - 1989
Justin Spring - 2006
Luke Stannard - 2010
Paul Ruggeri - 2012

Up Next

The Illini will head to Norman, Oklahoma, to take on the four-time defending champion Oklahoma Sooners. Meet competition is set for March 9, at 4 p.m. CT. 

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