PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Senior Emily Leese of Rutgers gymnastics has been named a nominee for the 2024 American Athletic, Inc. (AAI) Award. The AAI Award is presented to the most outstanding collegiate senior female gymnast in the country, widely considered the Heisman Trophy of women's gymnastics.
 
Leese is the school record holder on vault with a 9.925, as well as a two-time NCAA Regional Championships qualifier in 2022 and 2023. Voted a team captain two years in a row, Leese already has eight event victories through eight meets in 2024.
 
Leese's 9.925 on floor at the New Hampshire quad meet tied a career high and is the senior's 12th overall 9.9+ (seventh on floor). Her 9.900 on vault during that same meet was her second of the season and fifth of her career. This meet marks the second time Leese has hit 9.9+ on vault and floor in her career (March 12, 2023). Leese is Rutgers' high scorer on vault and floor to start the season.
 
Out of the gym, Leese is a standout student with WCGA Scholastic All-America and Big Ten Distinguished Scholar accolades. In the community, Leese has leant her free time to participating in SAAC services events varying from creating exercise opportunities for kids with special needs to packaging lunch bags to donate to the university's food pantry.
 
Leese will graduate this spring with a degree in public health and plans to attend graduate school next fall.


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