UCLA gymnast wins Honda award
By Eli Karon
May 5, 2003 9:00 p.m.
UCLA senior gymnast Onnie Willis was awarded the Honda Award for
the 2002-2003 season. The award is given annually to the best
collegiate gymnast in the nation.
In completing her career with a third NCAA national championship
in her four years of eligibility, Willis’ senior season has
been a dream come true. This year the Willis-led Bruins won the
Pac-10 conference and the National Championship.
To win the Honda Award, Willis beat out teammate Jamie
Dantzscher, Nebraska’s Richelle Simpson and Utah’s
Theresa Kulikowski. She adds this award to a trophy case that
includes the 2003 Pac-10 gymnast of the year and team title, the
2003 Regional Championship, and the 2003 National Championship.
Willis has also been a two-time Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar,
NACGC Scholastic All-American, Verizon Academic All-District and
Academic All-Pac-10 selection during her Bruin career.
She has also won first team All-American honors 16 times
throughout her career, a new UCLA record. Willis becomes just the
fourth Bruin gymnast to capture the prestigious award, joining
Sharon Shapiro (1980-1981), Jill Andrews (1989-1990) and Mohini
Bhardwaj (2000-2001).
“It’s an extremely prestigious award, and to be one
of the few UCLA gymnasts to receive it is really amazing,”
Willis said.
Willis’ award puts her in contention for the Honda
Broderick Cup, which honors the top female collegiate athlete. That
award will be presented June 23 in New York.
