UCLA's Madison Kocian named Pac-12 Women's Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year
SAN FRANCISCO – UCLA’s Madison Kocian was named the Pac-12 Gymnastics Scholar-Athlete of the Year, the Conference office announced today. The award, which is presented in each of the 24 sports the Conference sponsors, was established to honor collegiate student-athletes who are standouts both academically and in their sports discipline.
Kocian is majoring in Psychology and currently holds a 3.842 cumulative grade-point average. She is a three-time WCGA Scholastic All-American. Kocian was named to the Pac-12 All-Academic first team (2019) and second-team (2018). She is a two-time member of UCLA’s All-Academic team. Additionally, she has been named to the UCLA Athletic Director’s Honor Roll every quarter. Kocian has had a remarkable gymnastics career, becoming the first Olympic gold medalist ever to compete in NCAA Women's Gymnastics. She is just one of two women who have won NCAA, World and Olympic championships. In 2016, Kocian claimed an Olympic gold medal for her team performance, and a silver medal on the uneven bars. She holds three World Championship gold medals (two team, one uneven bars). Kocian is a UCLA record-holder on uneven bars having earned a pair of 10s. She holds career-highs of 39.625 in the all-around, 10.0 on uneven bars, 9.95 on balance beam and floor exercise, 9.875 on vault. Kocian has been an exceptional performer for the Bruins both in competition and in the classroom.
In order to be eligible for the Pac-12 Scholar-Athlete of the Year award, student-athletes must be a senior (in athletics eligibility) on track to receive a degree, have a cumulative grade point average of 3.0 or higher, participate in at least 50% of the scheduled contests in the sport and have a minimum of one year in residence at the institution. Each Pac-12 institution may nominate one individual per sport, and the winners are selected by a committee of Pac-12 staff members at the conclusion of each sport’s regular season. The athletic accomplishments of the nominees are a consideration in the voting for the award.
A Scholar-Athlete of the Year will be named in each of the Pac-12’s 24 sponsored sports: baseball, men’s basketball, women’s basketball, beach volleyball, men’s cross country, women’s cross country, football, men’s golf, women’s golf, women’s gymnastics, women’s lacrosse, men’s rowing, women’s rowing, men’s soccer, women’s soccer, softball, men’s swimming & diving, women’s swimming & diving, men’s tennis, women’s tennis, men’s track & field, women’s track & field, women’s volleyball, and wrestling. The award was first established during the 2007-08 academic year.
Also Nominated: Maddi Leydin, Arizona; Jessica Ginn, Arizona State; Rachael Mastrangelo, California; Halli Briscoe, Oregon State; Kaylee Cole, Stanford; Missy Reinstadtler, Utah; Michaela Nelson, Washington
Previous Gymnastics Scholar-Athletes of the Year
Year Scholar-Athlete School
2019 Anne Kuhm ASU
2018 Christine Peng-Peng Lee UCLA
2017 Madeline Gardiner OSU
2016 Breanna Hughes UTAH
2015 Georgia Dabritz UTAH
2014 Alicia Asturias CAL
2013 Stephanie McGregor OSU
2012 Stephanie McAllister UTAH
2011 Mary Atkinson ASU
2010 Carly Janiga Stanford
2009 Ariana Berlin UCLA
2008 Karin Wurm Arizona