AAI Award

AAI PROUDLY ANNOUNCES NATALIE WOJCIK AS THE 2022 AAI AWARD WINNER

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Jefferson, IA – April 12, 2022 – American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) proudly presented the AAI Award on a larger scale this year. AAI joined ESPN’s Gymnastics Countdown to crown this year’s 2022 AAI Award Winner. AAI has been presenting the AAI Award to the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the country for the last 40 years. Some people have stated it is the Heisman Trophy for Women’s gymnastics.

“I have been privileged to be a part of this award for almost 20 years,” said Lisa Ebersole, Marketing Manager for AAI. “To watch such a talented pool of athletes, go through the process of such a high caliber award and see the coach’s pride for them is truly inspiring.”

The AAI Award is a coach’s award in which AAI facilitates. Every year the head coaches are asked to submit a nomination for the candidate or candidates of their choice. This year 35 talented athletes were nominated! A number that should not go un-noticed and AAI congratulates all the athletes nominated.

After the nominations are in, coaches then vote to narrow the field to the top 6 athletes. A final vote is then cast to determine the overall winner.

The 2022 AAI Finalists were;

• Kyla Bryant – Stanford University
• Derrian Gobourne – Auburn University
• Lexi Graber – University of Alabama
• Ona Loper – University of Minnesota
• Trinity Thomas – University of Florida
• Natalie Wojcik – University of Michigan

Highlighting the Finalists and crowning the 2022 AAI Award Winner on the Gymnastics Countdown took the award to a new level this year. It gave the girls their moment in the spotlight to be honored for the accolade of being named an AAI Award Finalist.

Natalie Wojcik from the University of Michigan took home the 2022 AAI Award title.

“We are so honored to have Natalie selected for the most prestigious award in NCAA women’s gymnastics!” said coach Bev Plocki. “The 2022 AAI Award nominees and finalists are an amazing group of young women and athletes. Natalie truly exemplifies the term artistic gymnastics, and we are so proud and excited that she was selected as the 2022 AAI Award winner.”

AAI is proud to support NCAA Gymnastics and recognizes the achievements and dedication of all the AAI Award Finalists as well as all gymnasts within the sport.

AAI JOINS ESPNU’S GYMNASTICS COUNTDOWN TO CROWN THIS YEAR’S
2022 AAI AWARD WINNER!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Jefferson, IA – April 11, 2022 – ESPN’s Gymnastics Countdown is the network’s official Preview Show of the NCAA Gymnastics Championships, in format much like ESPN’s College Gameday. The show will contain interviews with all 8 Finalists’ Coaches, as well as the top gymnasts from each team. The hosts will break down each team’s strategies and provide the viewer with unique insights into the NCAA Championships.

The hosts for the Gymnastics Countdown are Shannon Miller – 2-time Olympic Champion; Sam Peszek – Olympic Silver Medalist/UCLA All-American; John Roethlisberger – 3-time US Olympian/Minnesota All-American; DD Breaux – Former LSU Head Gymnastics Coach and Jess Graba – US Women’s Olympic Gymnastics Coach/Olympic Coach of Sunisa Lee.

AAI will be highlighted within the segment focusing on the AAI Award. The hosts will each talk about AAI’s support and dedication to the sport of gymnastics and interview each of the 6 finalists awaiting the final moment to crown the 2022 AAI Award winner.

“This will be a shining moment for the AAI Brand,” said Lisa Ebersole, Marketing Manager for AAI. “Highlighting the AAI Award Finalists and crowning the 2022 AAI Award Winner on ESPNU’s Gymnastics Countdown definitely is taking the award to a new level. It gives the girls their moment in the spotlight to be honored for this prestige award.”

AAI has been presenting the AAI Award to the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the country for the last 40 years. Some people have stated it is the Heisman Trophy for Women’s gymnastics.

This year’s 2022 AAI Finalists are:

• Kyla Bryant – Stanford University
• Derrian Gobourne – Auburn University
• Lexi Graber – University of Alabama
• Ona Loper – University of Minnesota
• Trinity Thomas – University of Florida
• Natalie Wojcik – University of Michigan

The Gymnastics Championship can be found on ESPNU at(all times EST): 

• Wednesday 4/13     6:30pm – 7:30pm
• Wednesday 4/13 11:00pm – 12:00am
• Thursday     4/14   1:30am – 2:30am
• Thursday     4/14   7:00am – 8:00am
• Friday          4/15   11:00am – 12:00pm

AAI is proud to support NCAA Gymnastics and recognizes the achievements and dedication of all the AAI Award Finalists as well as all gymnasts within the sport.

2022 Nominees!

AAI has been presenting the AAI Award to the most outstanding senior female gymnast in the country for over the last 30+ years. Some people have stated it is the Heisman Trophy for Women’s gymnastics.

“I have been privileged to be a part of this award for over 15 years,” said Lisa Ebersole, Marketing Manager for AAI. “To watch such a talented pool of athletes, go through the process of such a high caliber award and see the coach’s pride for them is truly inspiring.”

The AAI Award is a coach’s award in which AAI facilitates. Every year the head coaches are asked to submit a nomination for the candidate or candidates of their choice. This year 34 talented athletes were nominated! A number that should not go un-noticed and AAI congratulates all the athletes nominated.

The 2022 AAI Nominees are:

• Audrey Barber – University of Maryland
• Alyssa Baumann – University of Florida
• Rachel Baumann – University of Georgia
• Alissa Bonsall – Penn State University
• Maya Bordas – University of California
• Rachel Borden – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
• Lauren Bridgens – Penn State University
• Kyla Bryant – Stanford University
• Ariana Castrence – Temple University
• Leah Clapper – University of Florida
• Kathryn Doran – University of Bridgeport
• Sami Durante – Louisiana State University
• Norah Flatley – UCLA
• Derrian Gobourne – Auburn University
• Isabel Goyco – Texas Woman’s University
• Lexi Graber – The University of Alabama
• Belle Huang – Rutgers University
• Cristal Isa – University of Utah
• Anna Kaziska – Southeast Missouri State University
• Ona Loper – University of Minnesota
• Colby Miller – Ohio State University
• Olivia Miller – University of Pittsburgh
• Emily Muhlenhaupt – Boise State University
• Maggie O’Hara – University of Arkansas
• Nya Reed – University of Florida
• Kynsee Roby – University of Nebraska
• Alexandria Ruiz – University of Denver
• Savannah Schoennherr – University of Florida
• Megan Skaggs – University of Florida
• Trinity Thomas – University of Florida
• Olivia Trautman – University of Oklahoma
• Sadie Miner-Van Tassell – Brigham Young University
• Drew Watson – Auburn University
• Natalie Wojcik – University of Michigan
• Kaitlyn Yanish – Oregon State University

AAI is proud to support NCAA Gymnastics and recognizes the achievements and dedication of all the AAI Award Finalists as well as all gymnasts within the sport.