March 19, 2004

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. - Bowling Green State University senior Melissa Popovich has been named Mid-American Conference Gymnast of the Year according to a vote by the league coaches. She also shared MAC Senior Gymnast of the Year with Kent State's Jessie James.

The senior from Medina, Ohio, posted all-around marks of 39-plus seven times this season and tabbed the second-best all-around score in BGSU history, 39.525. Popovich also tallied a 9.925 on the balance beam in 2004, which ties for the top beam score in school record books. In addition, the BGSU team captain ranks second in Falcon records with her scores on the vault (9.9), bars (9.9) and floor (9.95), all of which were set this season. She was also a four-time MAC Gymnast or Co-Gymnast of the Week in 2004.

Popovich joins Marny Oestreng as the only two Falcons to ever be named Gymnast of the Year. Oestreng received the award in 1999.

The MAC Gymnastics Championship is slated to begin Friday at 6 p.m. at Rose Arena on the campus of Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan.