June 15, 2012

STANFORD, Calif. - Stanford senior gymnasts Alyssa Brown and Nicole Pechanec were among the winners at the Stanford Athletic Board awards luncheon Thursday at Burnham Pavilion.

Brown was among four winners of the Dick and Anne Gould Captain's Award, giving to those who exhibit uncommon leadership. She shared the award with men's basketball's Josh Owens, football's Michael Thomas, and swimming's Betsy Webb.

Pechanec was among three winners of the Pam Straithairn Award, giving to the female senior with the best competitive attitude. She shared the award with softball's Ashley Hansen and soccer's Kristy Zurmuhlen.

DICK AND ANNE GOULD CAPTAIN'S AWARD

Presented to the senior captain who has exhibited uncommon leadership to his/her team. This award is presented by Dick and Anne Gould in honor of their three "Captain Children": Karin (USC swimming), Rick (Stanford swimming) and Kim (Harvard volleyball).

Alyssa Brown - Gymnastics
Earned Second Team All-America honors on vault ... captured NCAA Regional vault title ... though limited to one event most of the season, started in three events during the NCAA Super Six final and led Stanford to a fourth-place finish and its highest-ever score in NCAA Championships competition ... suffered a severe offseason shoulder injury that put her senior season in jeopardy ... motivated by the team's disappointing finish to the 2011 season, met with her fellow captains before the season and established a written blueprint for team success in 2012 ... among her missions was to personally reach out to the team's five freshmen and make them feel welcome and involved.

PAM STRATHAIRN AWARD

Best competitive attitude - female senior.

Nicole Pechanec - Gymnastics
Earned two second-team All-America honors, in the all-around and floor exercise ... NCAA Regional champion on uneven bars ... Pac-12 All-Academic Second Team selection ... voted team MVP by her teammates ... as a team captain, led Stanford to a fourth-place national finish despite entering the NCAA Championships as the No. 10 seed ... excelled this season despite limited practice time because of torn knee ligaments and a chronic back injury.