University of California, Los Angeles, Athletics
Samantha Peszek Named AAI Award Finalist
March 19, 2015 | Gymnastics
Peszek has been a valued leader and competitor for UCLA since arriving to Westwood in 2011. She won the NCAA balance beam title as a freshman the Pac-12 beam title as a junior and has captured 10 All-America honors, four Scholastic All-America awards and 12 Pac-12 weekly awards, including seven Pac-12 Gymnast of the Week honors. Peszek scored a perfect 10 on uneven bars in 2014 and has career-best marks of 9.95 on vault, beam and floor.
Peszek, who redshirted in 2013 after rupturing her Achilles tendon, came back for her fifth season in 2015 and has posted big scores for the Bruins every meet. She averages 9.89 or higher on three events and posted season-highs of 9.95 or better on all four events. She has earned scores of 9.85 or higher on all but three routines she has competed and 9.9 or better on 19 of her 32 routines. She leads the team with 16 victories out of a possible 36 and is currently ranked No. 2 in the nation on beam, No. 8 on vault and No. 15 on bars.
“Samantha Peszek is the quintessential NCAA student-athlete,” said UCLA head coach Valorie Kondos Field. “Her commitment to excellence in all areas of her life is evident in the impressive GPA that she has maintained throughout her UCLA career and in her individual standings in the NCAA. She will leave a lasting legacy at UCLA and in NCAA Gymnastics.”
Joining Peszek as finalists are Erica Brewer from Oklahoma, Rheagan Courville from LSU, Georgia Dabritz from Utah, Kytra Hunter from Florida and Sachi Sugiyama from Michigan. UCLA has had four AAI Award winners: Vanessa Zamarripa in 2013, Jamie Dantzscher in 2004, Mohini Bhardwaj in 2001 and Donna Kemp in 1984.
Players Mentioned
