STANFORD, Calif. - Senior Robert Neff was recently named a finalist for the 2018 Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the top senior gymnast in the nation.
Recognized as the highest honor in the sport, the Nissen-Emery Award will be presented next month at the NCAA Championship Banquet in Chicago.
Neff was the 2017 NCAA champion in the high bar and is a four-time All-American, claiming titles in the high bar (2), all-around (1) and parallel bars (1). Neff has guided Stanford to three straight top-four NCAA Championships finishes, including runner-up efforts during his freshman and sophomore seasons.
Neff in the running for the nation's most coveted award: https://t.co/9iUCAgLrYb
— Stanford Gymnastics (@StanfordMGym) March 12, 2018
Looking to become Stanford's sixth Nissen-Emery Award recipient. #GoStanford pic.twitter.com/YD8Xu5e6A3
A member of the U.S. Senior National Team, Neff represented his country at the 2017 World University Games in Taiwan.
Stanford boasts five previous Nissen-Emery Award recipients, including last year's honoree in Akash Modi. Other award winners include: Eddie Penev (2013), Dan Gill (2004), Josh Stein (1995) and Steve Hug (1974). Neff is looking to become the fourth honoree mentored by head coach Thom Glielmi, joining Modi, Penev and Gill.
The Cardinal has claimed 20 finalists for the award since its inception in 1966.
Joining Neff as finalists for the award are Joel Gagnon (Minnesota), Austin Hodgins (Iowa), Hunter Justus (Oklahoma), Kyle King (Nebraska), Sean Melton (Ohio State) and Brandon Ngai (Illinois).
The original Nissen Award was named in honor of George Nissen, a former NCAA champion, for his contributions to men's gymnastics. The award was re-named the Nissen-Emery Award in 1998 to honor Dr. Robert Emery, a Penn State graduate, who won the Nissen Award in 1969.
The Nissen-Emery Award is inscribed with the following motto: "The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally".
No. 2 Stanford returns to competition April 7 at the MPSF Championships. The Cardinal concludes its season April 20-21 at the NCAA Championships.