Bradley-Doppes and Huffaker Receive North Central Region Awards
Huffaker named North Central Region Gymnast of the Year

DENVER — Junior Heather Huffaker (DeSoto, Texas) was voted Gymnast of the Year by head coaches in the North Central Region, one of two North Central Region awards won by the University of Denver. DU Athletics Director Peg Bradley-Doppes was also honored, winning the Administrator of the Year award with 35 votes.

Huffaker has won nine individual event titles and seven all-around titles this season and leads the Pioneer gymnastics team in average on vault (9.865) and is second on beam (9.65) and floor exercise (9.825). Last year, Huffaker was the sole representative for the Pioneers at nationals and the first Denver gymnast in history to qualify as an individual competitor for NCAA Nationals in back-to-back seasons.

Assistant coach for the Pioneers John Figueroa was just one vote shy of winning Assistant Coach of the Year.

The Pioneers will make their eighth consecutive appearance at the North Central Regional Championships this Saturday in Ames, Iowa. The competition begins at 5 p.m. MDT.