Jan. 26, 2016 DAVIS, Calif. - Senior Dani Judal garnered Gymnast of the Week accolades while freshman Kara Jones snared a Newcomer of the Week nod, as UC Davis led the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation weekly awards for women's gymnastics, as announced by the conference office Tuesday.
This marks the second straight week that an Aggie has claimed at least one MPSF weekly honor.
Katy Nogaki won Specialist of the Week distinction on January 18. For Judal, an Antelope, California native and alumna of Byers Roseville, it marks her fourth overall award: she won Gymnast of the Week twice in 2015, plus Specialist of the Week once as a sophomore.
Both gymnasts helped UC Davis score a season-high 194.750 on Friday's road meet at Brigham Young. Judal posted a 9.800 on balance beam to boost the Aggies to a 48.950 in the event, then added a 9.750 on floor exercise and a team-leading 9.775 on bars. Friday's meet marked the school record-holder's first official lineup appearance on beam for 2016.
Jones, previously of Petaluma High School and Edge Gymnastics Club, recovered from a fall on beam to post a season-best 9.750 on floor exercise and 9.625 on vault.
Judal and Jones were among 14 season- or career-best performances in Friday's meet. Sophomores Alexis Brown, Miranda Holder, Amanda Presswood and Rachel Kreager; juniors Yonni Michovska and Katy Nogaki, and senior Stephanie Stamates each hit such highs. Stamates, who scored 9.850 on beam and 9.825 on floor, was a finalist for MPSF Specialist of the Week.
UC Davis returns to action for a dual meet at Sacramento State on Friday. Meet time is 7 p.m. at the Nest.
