Pomeroy and Crall Honored By Big Ten
Pomeroy garners second-straight first team accolade

EAST LANSING, Mich. – The Big Ten office announced the 2006 Women’s Gymnastics All-Conference teams Friday night at the Big Ten Championships banquet. Junior Cara Pomeroy and freshman Julie Crall represented the Fighting Illini, as Pomeroy was honored with her second-straight first team honor and Crall was named to the conference’s second team.

Pomeroy, who is the only Illini gymnast to ever record a perfect 10.0 (2004 South Central Regionals on bars), has hit 30 of 31 routines this season and has recorded 10 individual event titles on the season. Six times this season the Ottawa, Ontario native put up a showing with two or more top-three finishes.

"The award is well deserved," head coach Bob Starkell said. "Cara is an individual that works extremely hard and has the mindset to excel in the sport of gymnastics. She is the perfect example of what it means to represent the University of Illinois."

In her freshman season as an Illini, Crall has developed into a gymnast that Starkell and his staff can rely on for a strong performance. Crall has had three meets where she has put up two or more top-three finishes. Her two individual event titles came on bars. Both titles came with a personal-best score of 9.875.

"It’s nice that my peers noticed how much Julie has excelled this season," said Starkell. "She has had a phenomenal freshman season while having to battle through injury. Julie has the grace, finesse and ability to perform in a way judges enjoy watching."

Along with Pomeroy and Crall’s achievements, junior Melissa Singer and one gymnast from each conference team were named honorees for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. The student-athletes chosen are individuals who have distinguished themselves through sportsmanship and ethical behavior. In addition, the student-athletes must be in good academic standing and have demonstrated good citizenship outside of the sports-competition setting. Singer is now a candidate for the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award, as the conference office will honor one male and one female student-athlete from each institution at the end of the school year.

Illinois and their conference rivals kick off the Big Ten Championships at 6 p.m. ET/5 p.m. CT on Saturday at the Jenison Fieldhouse on the campus of Michigan State University.

Individual awards, including the Gymnast, Freshman and Coach of the Year, will be released following the Big Ten Championships

The complete list of the 2006 All-Big Ten Teams and Sportsmanship Honorees:

First Team

Cara Pomeroy, Illinois

Lindsey Bruck, Michigan

Jenny Diley, Michigan

Tatjana Thener-Rego, Michigan

Kristin Coleman, Michigan State

Laura Johnson, Minnesota

Maalika Moore-Thomas, Ohio State

Lisa Clark, Penn State

Meredith Hoover, Penn State

Jennifer Orlando, Penn State

Second Team

Julie Crall, Illinois

Liz Grajewski, Iowa

Becca Clauson, Michigan

Nellie Kipple, Michigan

Katie Lieberman, Michigan

Carol McNamara, Michigan

Lauren Mirkovich, Michigan

Victoria Iakounina, Michigan State

Brittany Brown, Ohio State

Aslynn Satterfield, Penn State

Sportsmanship Honorees

Melissa Singer, Illinois

Liz Grajewski, Iowa

Nellie Kippley, Michigan

Sarah Alexander, Michigan State

Maria Opsahl, Minnesota

Emily Sineway, Ohio State

Stephanie Sullivan, Penn State