Gymnastics Big12Sports.com

OU, WVU Claim Weekly Gymnastics Honors

Taylor Spears (Oklahoma), Lauren Alexander (Oklahoma) and Jaida Lawrence (West Virginia) have earned the Big 12 weekly gymnastics awards for competition through March 18. Spears is the Gymnast of the Week recipient for the sixth time this season, tying the Conference record for most Gymnast of the Week awards in one season. Alexander and Lawrence are named Event Specialist of the Week and Newcomer of the Week, respectively. This is the second weekly recognition for the pair.

BIG 12 GYMNAST OF THE WEEK
Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr., Plano, Texas
Spears won her sixth all-around title of the year at No. 4 Alabama, earning a 39.450. Spears, the No. 1-ranked gymnast on beam in the nation, also took the individual beam title against the Crimson Tide, earning a 9.95.

BIG 12 EVENT SPECIALIST OF THE WEEK
Lauren Alexander, Oklahoma, So., Naperville, Ill.
Alexander scored a 9.9 on beam in front of 11,776 fans at No. 4 Alabama, finishing second overall at the meet. The sophomore is currently No. 7 in the country and No. 2 in the Big 12 on beam.

BIG 12 NEWCOMER OF THE WEEK
Jaida Lawrence, West Virginia, Fr., Rocky Hill, Conn.
Lawrence earned her sixth vault victory of the year with a career-best 9.9 showing against Maryland and Rutgers. The win was her third straight, and she has hit the career high four times this year. Lawrence also opened the bars lineup and finished seventh overall with a 9.725 score. It was the first time in her career she opened the bars lineup and was her best score earning a 9.75 on Feb. 24.

2013 GYMNASTICS WEEKLY AWARDS

Date Gymnast of the Week Event Specialist of the Week Newcomer of the Week
Jan. 8 Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr. Madison Mooring, Oklahoma, Jr. Haley Scaman, Oklahoma, Fr.
Jan. 15 Erica Brewer, Oklahoma, So. Brie Olson, Oklahoma, Sr. Jaida Lawrence, West Virginia, Fr.
    Alaska Richardson, West Virginia, Sr.  
Jan. 22 Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr. Haley Scaman, Oklahoma, Jr. Keeley Kmieciak, Oklahoma, Fr.
Jan. 29 Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr. Lara Albright, Oklahoma, Jr. Lauren Alexander, Oklahoma, So.
Feb. 5 Brie Olson, Oklahoma, Sr. Madison Mooring, Oklahoma, Jr. Haley Scaman, Oklahoma, Fr.
Feb. 12 Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr. Madison Mooring, Oklahoma, Jr. Keeley Kmieciak, Oklahoma, Fr.
Feb. 19 Brie Olson, Oklahoma, Sr. Alaska Richardson, West Virginia, Sr. Haley Scaman, Oklahoma, Fr.
Feb. 26 Brie Olson, Oklahoma, Sr. Maile'ana Kanewa, Oklahoma, Fr. Keeley Kmieciak, Oklahoma, Fr.
March 5 Hope Sloanhoffer, West Virginia, Jr. Alaska Richardson, West Virginia, Sr. Haley Saman, Oklahoma, Fr.
March 11 Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr. Michelle Shealy, Iowa State, Jr. Maile'ana Kanewa, Oklahoma, Fr.
March 19 Taylor Spears, Oklahoma, Jr. Lauren Alexander, Oklahoma, So. Jaida Lawrence, West Virginia, Fr.