Senior Gymnast recognized with Enberg Scholar Athlete Award


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Senior gymnast Taylor Noonan is the recipient for the Central Michigan University 2014 Dick Enberg Scholar Athlete of the Year Award. Noonan, seen above, performs her routine on the balance beam against Maryland on Jan. 10 at McGuirk Arena.

Senior gymnast Taylor Noonan was given the Central Michigan University 2014 Dick Enberg Scholar Athlete of the Year Award on Wednesday.

The honor is presented annually to a student-athlete entering his or her senior season.

It is named for the CMU alum and sports broadcasting legend who has long championed academic achievement among student-athletes.

“When they came in and announced that I’d won I was shocked, so it was a nice surprise,” Noonan said. “It was announced in front of the team and my coaches so it was nice to share with all of them.”

The designation has given Noonan confidence heading into the 2014 season, which begins later this semester.

“I work really hard in the gym but I probably work harder in the classroom,”Noonan said. 

“I have to really work hard at my school work so I take a lot of pride in school. I have higher expectations (for myself) in the classroom than in the gym.”

A native of Broomfield, Colo., the general biology major has maintained a 3.62 grade point average in her collegiate career.

“It’s nice when I get recognized for athletics, but this is one of the first honors I’ve gotten for academics,” she said

Head coach Jerry Reighard said he has enjoyed watching Noonan develop as a person and player.

“Taylor has been an absolute joy to coach,” Reighard said. “She came here as a freshman and really lit this place up with her personality and her gymnastics. To see Taylor mature into the young woman she has grown to be is a very gratifying feeling.”

Reighard will be entering his 30th season as head coach. He led the Chippewas to the MAC Championship in each of the last five seasons.

“The award is so special. Everybody in the United States knows who Dick Enberg is and (the award) is going to be an eye-catcher that she can use for the rest of her life.”

Noonan is the second member of the Chippewa’s gymnastics team to earn the Enberg award. The first was Kristin Teubner in 2011.

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