W&M Gymnast Selected as Finalist for Outstanding Senior Gymnast Award

Senior All-American Ramon Jackson one of Seven Selected to Nissen-Emery Watch List

03/15/06 4:00PM

Williamsburg, VA - Senior two-time All-American and 2004 NCAA Parallel Bar Champion, Ramon Jackson (Orlando, FL) has been named as one of seven national finalists for the prestig-ious Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the nation’s top senior collegiate gymnast.

Established in 1966, the Nissen-Emery Award is considered the "Heisman Trophy" of men's gymnastics. It is college gymnastics' highest honor and presented at the NCAA Gymnastics Championships. The award honors the collegiate senior gymnast who has established an outstanding record of achievement in gymnastics, good sportsmanship, fair play, and scholarship throughout his collegiate career. A polling of a national panel of judges, coaches and competi-tors will decide the eventual winner.

Jackson, who is ranked fourth nationally on the parallel bars with a season average of 9.200, is the fifth Tribe gymnast to be named as a finalist; as he joins the exclusive company of David Williams (1992), Se-bronzik Wright (1995), Scott McCall (1997) and Jamie Northrup (2004).

This past weekend, Jackson claimed a pair of Virginia State Championships, on the rings and parallel bars. Jackson will enter this weekend’s action, at James Madison, ranked 10th nationally on the rings, with an av-erage score of 9.300. Jackson has lead the team in total points scored the past three seasons, including 2006, and has turned in the squad’s top score on three of the six events.