Florida Orley Szmuch Finalist for AAI Award

Seniors Orley Szmuch (above) and Erinn Dooley were recognized in Saturday's NCAA Championships awards brunch.

Florida Orley Szmuch Finalist for AAI Award

Saturday, April 23, 2005 | Gymnastics

AUBURN, Ala. – Florida's Orley Szmuch was among the finalists for the 2005 AAI Award, presented annually to the nation's top collegiate senior gymnast.

Nebraska's Richelle Simpson was named the 2005 AAI Award recipient at the NCAA Championships brunch held Saturday morning on the Auburn University campus. Florida's Anita Botnen is the only Gator to receive the AAI Award (1988).

During her Gator career, Szmuch earned four All-America honors and won 36 event titles, including three NCAA Regional wins (2002 & 2004 vault, 2005 bars). The 2002 Southeastern Conference Freshman of the Year, Szmuch also is active in the Gainesville area, receiving the Office of Student Like Community Service Award as the female Gator who did the most community service in the 2003-04 academic year.

The 2005 All-Americans were also honored at Saturday's brunch. Senior Erinn Dooley claimed her seventh All-America honor of her career, earning 2005 All-America second-team balance beam recognition.