Thompson Named ISU Team MVP

AMES, Iowa?Senior Jasmine Thompson received the Janet Anson ?Key' Gymnast of the Year award at the Iowa State gymnastics team banquet this past weekend.

The award is given to ISU's most outstanding gymnast and is named after Anson, an eight-time All-America recipient and current volunteer assistant coach with the Cyclones.

Thompson competed in the all-around for every Iowa State meet in 2009. The McDonald, Ohio, native was the Big 12 co-champion on beam, named to the All-Big 12 Championship beam team, a member of the All-Big 12 floor team and received first-team Academic All-Big 12 honors for the third-consecutive year. Thompson had the Cyclone season-best scores on balance beam (9.900) and the all-around (39.300), while sharing top honors on floor exercise (9.900).

"Jasmine was our only all-arounder all season, and we relied on her experience every meet,” Iowa State head coach Jay Ronayne said. “She was indispensable and clearly exemplified the toughness we expect from all of our gymnasts."

Michelle Browning received the ISU Freshman of the Year award. The Houston, Texas, native competed on floor and vault in every Cyclone meet. Browning tied for the Iowa State team high tally on floor at 9.900, while scoring near team highs on both balance beam (9.875) and vault (9.850).

Ceilia Maccani and Jody McKellar shared the Most Improved Gymnast award. The Racine, Wis. native, Maccani was the Big 12 co-champion on uneven bars, shared Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week honors (Feb. 3), was a member of the All-Big 12 Championship bars team and was named to the Academic All-Big 12 first team for the third-consecutive year. Maccani led Iowa State on bars in 2009, notching a team high 9.925 which ties for the fourth-highest bars score in ISU history. Maccani received the Most Improved Gymnast award for the second-consecutive year.

McKellar proved to be a key gymnast for the Cyclones in 2009. The Calgary, Alberta, native competed in the all-around for the first time in her career during the campaign and went on to win the all-around title at Nebraska. McKellar was a member of the Cyclone vault lineup for every ISU meet, while also competing regularly on uneven bars and balance beam.

Ashley Kent received the Taking the Lead award for her outstanding leadership. Kent, an ISU co-captain, competed on balance beam and uneven bars in every Iowa State meet and was a first-team Academic All-Big 12 honoree.

Players Mentioned

Michelle Browning

Michelle Browning

Ashley Kent

Ashley Kent

Ashley Kent

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Ceilia Maccani

Jody McKellar

Jody McKellar

Jody McKellar

Jasmine Thompson

Jasmine Thompson

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