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Hornbeek nabs top honor for gymnast

Senior Heidi Hornbeek became the first gymnast in UA history to win the American Athletes Incorporated American Award, which honors the top senior gymnast in the nation for excellence in academics and athletics.

"I was so shocked when I first found out," Hornbeek said. "I kept saying, 'It's got to be a mistake' because it was a huge surprise."

Hornbeek received the majority of votes to earn the award from coaches at different universities and colleges across the country. In her five years at Arizona, she has earned academic degrees in exercise physiology, general biology, and molecular and cellular biology.

She is also a six-time All-American, seven-time All-Pac-10 selection, three time All-Academic Pac-10 first team, and a three time member of the GTE Academic All-District VIII squad.

"I'm really thankful for the award," she said. "All of the hard work paid off."

Only two former UA gymnasts were finalists for the AAI award - Stacy Fowlkes in 1993 and Kristi Gunning in 1994.

"This is the greatest award bestowed on any gymnast, and we are all very proud of Heidi," Arizona head coach Bill Ryden said. "This is a big honor for her and for our program."

Teammate Randi Liljenquist, who finished tied for 18th at last week's NCAA Championships in Boise, Idaho, was also pleased to see Hornbeek honored.

"I think she deserved this award because she has accomplished so much in her career," she said. "She has set the standards for the U of A and all gymnasts to follow."

Hornbeek was scheduled to compete in the same meet, but had to pull out because of recurring back injuries. Now, she plans on aiming her focus solely on academics.

She intends on taking the Medical College Admissions Test in August, with hopes of attending a medical school in the future.

"I'm definitely going to miss gymnastics," Hornbeek said. "When I couldn't go to the NCAA Championships, it was a huge heart break. It was a big realization that I was done."