April 23, 2010
UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. - Penn State women's gymnastics senior Brandi Personett (Katy, Texas) has been named one of four finalists for the 2009-10 Honda Sports Award to determine the top woman collegiate athlete in gymnastics. LSU's Susan Jackson, Stanford's Carly Janiga and Missouri's Sara Shire are the other three nominees.
After nationwide balloting, the Honda Award winner becomes a nominee for the Honda-Broderick Cup, given each year to the Collegiate Woman Athlete of the Year. American Honda Motor Co., Inc., which sponsors the program, donates $5,000 to each Honda Sports Award recipient school and $1,000 to the school of each nominee.
Personett, a four-time First Team All-Big Ten honoree, is one of five seniors on the Nittany Lion squad this season. She has been a major contributor from the start of her Penn State gymnastics career in 2007. The 2007 Big Ten Freshman of the Year and 2009 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, Personett is a five-time First Team All-American. She earned All-America status on beam in 2008, floor in 2009 and beam, floor and the all-around this season. Twice this season, Personett has scored a 10.0 on vault. She is the first Nittany Lion women's gymnast to score a 10.0 on vault since 2003.
Personett continues her quest to be named a national champion on Saturday, April 24 in the Individual Event Finals of the 2010 NCAA National Championships. She will compete on beam and floor. Meet action is set for 6 p.m. in Florida's Stephen C. O'Connell Center.