Oct. 5, 2009
NORMAL, Ill. -
Former Illinois State student-athlete and gymnastics head coach, Jill Hollembeak was named a "World Acrobatic Legend" by the World Acrobatics Society, during its annual convention Sept. 24 in Las Vegas.
The convention was held, appropriately, at the Circus Circus Hotel and inducted 11 other acrobats into the organizations hall of fame.
"Overall, this was such a humbling experience," Hollembeak said. "To look back on everyone who has helped me throughout my life was amazing. It still hasn't hit me."
The World Acrobatics Society honors all aerial sports, which involve aerial rotation and balancing of the body. Alongside Hollembeak, who was inducted for tumbling, artistic gymnasts Joe Koyts and Valeri Liukin, acrobatic gymnast Yevgeni Marchenko, and tumbler Jon Beck were members of the induction class.
A former Illinois State gymnast, Hollembeak was a two-time Academic All-American and NCAA qualifier. She was also named Athlete of the Year in 1990. Hollembeak went on to coach gymnastics at ISU for five years, until 2001. In her final season, she was named NCAA Gymnastics Coach of the Year.
Hollembeak remained at ISU as assistant director of the Karin Bone Athletic Study Center and as an academic advisor until 2004. She is currently working at DePaul, as the assistant director for athletic academic advising.
GoRedbirds.com: Your online source for Illinois State Athletics, tickets, TRC gifts, multimedia, Redbird merchandise, photos and more.
