May 28, 2008

FULLERTON, CA - Freshman Alaina Baker was named the gymnast of the year and five other Cal State Fullerton gymnasts were also honored as the Titans closed out their year with their annual postseason awards banquet.

Baker, who was also named the most inspirational gymnast and was named the team's best performer on floor, competed all-around in every meet in 2008, earning a berth to the NCAA Regionals as an individual and finishing seventh in the all-around competition. She was also an All-Western Athletic Conference honoree on floor and in the all-around at the conference championships.

Freshman Taylor Miller and junior Jessica Tait were named the most improved gymnasts while sophomore Jessica Merriam was honored with the team's academic excellence award.

Other event honors went to freshman Maddie Steinauer on vault, Britni Echeverria on bars, and Tait on beam.

Seven Titans were also honored as Academic All-WAC selections for 2008, continuing a strong tradition of excellence in the classroom under second-year head coach Jill Hicks.

Tait and fellow junior Alana Mouery were honored by the conference for the second consecutive year as were seniors Amanda Van Horn and Melissa Schafer. Merriam along with sophomores Kori Underhill and Shannon Kawada earned their first career Academic All-WAC honors.

Since Hicks arrived on campus, 12 Titan gymnasts have been named to the WAC academic honor roll a total of 20 times.