UCLA's Tiana Sumanasekera has been named the Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Week, sharing the award with Minnesota's Arianna Ostrum. Sumanasekera has won the award a conference-best four times this year.
Sumanasekera won two events to help No. 5 UCLA defeat No. 10 Stanford on the road, 197.775-197.425, in front of a record-setting sold-out crowd of 7,024. The team score was UCLA's second-highest of the season and its highest on the road. Sumanasekera tied for first on balance beam with a career-high-tying 9.950, earning a perfect 10 from one of the two judges. She also tied for first on floor exercise with a 9.925, matching her career-best score. Sumanasekera's beam win was the first of her career, and her floor victory was her second. She now ranks tied for second on the team with 12 scores of 9.9 or higher.
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week: Jan. 6 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 13 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 20 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 27 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 3 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 10 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 17 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 24 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; March 3 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA & Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota; March 10 – Nikki Smith, Michigan State.
Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week: Jan. 6 – Ciena Alipio, UCLA; Jan. 13 – Carly Bauman, Michigan; Jan. 20 – Ciena Alipio, UCLA; Jan. 27 – Sophia Diaz, Michigan; Feb. 3 – Ciena Alipio, UCLA & Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Feb. 10 - Carly Bauman, Michigan & Nya Kraus, Nebraska; Feb. 17 - Sophie Parenti, Michigan & Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Feb. 24 – Olivia Zsarmani, Michigan State; March 3 – Jahzara Ranger, Michigan & Jordyn Lyden, Minnesota; March 10 - JJ Coleman, Ohio State & Emily Leese, Rutgers.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Jan. 6 – Tiana Sumansekera, UCLA; Jan. 13 – Quincy Walters, Michigan; Jan. 20 – Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA; Jan. 27 – Lacie Saltzmann, Minnesota; Feb. 3 – Tiana Sumanasekera, UCLA; Feb. 10 – Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA; Feb. 17 – Tiana Sumanasekera, UCLA; Feb. 24 – Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA & Daisy Bowles, Iowa; March 3 – Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota; March 10 – Tiana Sumanasekera, UCLA & Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota.
Sumanasekera won two events to help No. 5 UCLA defeat No. 10 Stanford on the road, 197.775-197.425, in front of a record-setting sold-out crowd of 7,024. The team score was UCLA's second-highest of the season and its highest on the road. Sumanasekera tied for first on balance beam with a career-high-tying 9.950, earning a perfect 10 from one of the two judges. She also tied for first on floor exercise with a 9.925, matching her career-best score. Sumanasekera's beam win was the first of her career, and her floor victory was her second. She now ranks tied for second on the team with 12 scores of 9.9 or higher.
Big Ten Gymnast of the Week: Jan. 6 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 13 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 20 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Jan. 27 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 3 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 10 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 17 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; Feb. 24 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA; March 3 – Jordan Chiles, UCLA & Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota; March 10 – Nikki Smith, Michigan State.
Big Ten Event Specialist of the Week: Jan. 6 – Ciena Alipio, UCLA; Jan. 13 – Carly Bauman, Michigan; Jan. 20 – Ciena Alipio, UCLA; Jan. 27 – Sophia Diaz, Michigan; Feb. 3 – Ciena Alipio, UCLA & Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Feb. 10 - Carly Bauman, Michigan & Nya Kraus, Nebraska; Feb. 17 - Sophie Parenti, Michigan & Sage Kellerman, Michigan State; Feb. 24 – Olivia Zsarmani, Michigan State; March 3 – Jahzara Ranger, Michigan & Jordyn Lyden, Minnesota; March 10 - JJ Coleman, Ohio State & Emily Leese, Rutgers.
Big Ten Freshman of the Week: Jan. 6 – Tiana Sumansekera, UCLA; Jan. 13 – Quincy Walters, Michigan; Jan. 20 – Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA; Jan. 27 – Lacie Saltzmann, Minnesota; Feb. 3 – Tiana Sumanasekera, UCLA; Feb. 10 – Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA; Feb. 17 – Tiana Sumanasekera, UCLA; Feb. 24 – Ashlee Sullivan, UCLA & Daisy Bowles, Iowa; March 3 – Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota; March 10 – Tiana Sumanasekera, UCLA & Arianna Ostrum, Minnesota.