March 29, 2005

Chicago, Ill.- Senior Jennifer O'Neil, who was named the Midwest Independent Conference's Co-Athlete of the Year at last Friday's MIC Championship meet, was honored for her performance at the title tilt by being named the Midwest Independent Gymnast of the Week for the period ending March 28th.

O'Neil placed second in the all-around with a score of 38.975 to help the Flames capture their fourth consecutive Midwest Independent championship. The Hull, Quebec native placed second on vault with a season-best 9.825, took sixth on uneven bars with a 9.675 and placed tenth on balance beam with a 9.8.

The honor for O'Neil is her first of the year and the fourth for the Flames in 2005, the most of any conference school. Jackie Jaworowicz won the inaugural honor on January 31st, Veronique Meunier took the award on February 14th, and Alyson Cacciatore garnered the weekly recognition on March 15th.

The foundation of the Flames' 2005 success thanks to her quiet consistency, O'Neil shared the conference's first-ever Athlete of the Year award with Southeast Missouri State's Tara Boldt and claimed all-conference honors on vault and in the all-around.

O'Neil will close her career as an individual all-arounder at the 2005 NCAA South Central Regional. Jackie Jaworwicz will also compete in the all-around, while Meunier and Jessie Jaworowicz will compete on vault and beam, respectively.