Illinois State University gymnast Michelle Huston received the Laurie Mabry Award on Wednesday night.
The Mabry Award is presented each year to an outstanding female athlete who has helped further women's participation in collegiate athletics and has achieved academic success.
Mabry, a former ISU women's athletic director and the first president of the Association of Intercollegiate Athletics for Women, was recognized as a pioneer in the field.
Huston, a senior from Naperville, Ill. and the newest Mabry Award recipient, has paved the way for the growing tradition and excellence of the Redbird gymnastics team. A five-year veteran of the team, Huston led the 2001 ISU gymnastics team to its' fourth-history NCAA Regional Championships berth. In doing so, Huston became first Redbird gymnast to qualify for four NCAA Regional Championships.
Huston was voted the MVP of the ISU gymnastics team in 1997 and 1998, and in 2001, Huston set the school record on floor exercise (9.950) en route to tying for the No. 1 ranking on floor exercise in the South Central region.
Academically, Huston earned all-state and all-conference honors in 2001 after making the AFNI Scholastic Honor Roll for the first time in her college career.
Head coach Jill Hollembeak, who calls Huston "a phenomenal athlete with competitiveness plus personality," attributes Huston's success to her commitment level.
"She is one of the most hard working, talented and enjoyable gymnasts to ever walk into our gymnasium," says Hollembeak. "I cannot say enough about her commitment level, athleticism, and the delightfulness of this young woman."
Huston will graduate from Illinois State this spring with a degree in Elementary Education, and will begin student teaching in the fall.
