Furney A Finalist For Nissen Emery Award

March 11, 2003

NORMAN, Okla. - Oklahoma senior Daniel Furney was announced as a finalist for the top honor in collegiate men's gymnastics, the Nissen Emery Award on Tuesday afternoon. The winner of the award will be announced prior to the 2003 NCAA Championships in Philadelphia, Pa. Four Sooners have won the award with the most recent being Todd Bishop in 1999. David Johnston was a finalist for the award last year.

"I am extremely excited to be a included in the group of gymnasts nominated as finalist," said Furney. "OU has a long tradition of finalists and Nissen award winners. Hopefully I will be able to add to that list."

Furney is the only NCAA gymnast to be ranked in the top 20 on every event (including the all-around), while also being ranked No. 1 in the all-around and vault. Furney is also the only Mountain Pacific Sports Federation gymnast to be ranked in the top eight on every event (including the all-around). Last weekend, in a triangular meet with Ohio State and Stanford, Furney set a NCAA record with an all-time best of 56.350 in the all-around.

The list of finalist includes recent opponents Raj Bhavsar (Ohio State) and Marshall Erwin (Stanford), along with Clay Strother (Minnesota), Cody Moore (California), Kevin Donohue (Penn State), Cameron Schick (Iowa) and Aaron Jackson (Air Force Academy).

US Olympic legend Bart Conner(1981), Jarrod Hanks (1991) and Dan Fink (1998) also won the award during their time in Norman.

"I think Daniel Furney is a tremendous candidate for the Nissen Emery Award," said OU Head Coach Mark Williams. "His four years stand out there with the accomplishments of Dan Fink, Todd Bishop, Jarrod Hanks and Bart Conner. I think he is as worthy as the other Oklahoma Nissen Emery Award winners. He ranks up with all time greats at Oklahoma by he has accomplished as a team leader, team captain, the number of All-America honors he's received and by being a part of a national championship team."

The award is voted on by NCAA Head Coaches, NCAA judges and team captains. The voting process will be concluded March 31, which is two days after conference finals.

For more information on Furney's candidacy for the Nissen Emery Award, visit Sooner Awards

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Furney A Finalist For Nissen Emery Award

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