Michelle Ikoma

Position:
AA
Class:
Redshirt Senior
Hometown:
Naperville, Ill.
High School:
Naperville

As a Senior
Won the 2014 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award • Earned an ACC Weaver-James Postgraduate Scholarship • Selected to the All-EAGL Scholastic Team for the fifth consecutive season • Was a Tp[ 1- Scholar-Athlete at UNC • Received three awards at the 2014 Chancellor's Award banquet • Received the Patrick F. Earey Award, which is awarded to a senior in the Department of Exercise and Sport Science who has exhibitied outstanding academic achievement, extracurricular involvement and leadership • Received The Hampton Shuping Prize, which is the senior who is the outstanding undergraduate majoring in business, not only in academic achievement, but in integrity, honor and leadership potential; who shows concern for ethical management of the American business enterprise; and who respects the labor and the commitment of the individual as instrumental to the success of the organization and the free enterprise system • Receive the Jim Tatum Memorial Award, to the varsity intercollegiate athlete who has performed with distinction in his or her sport and contributed to the University community through constructive participation in extracurricular activities • Competed on vault, bars and floor • Scored a career-high 9.850 and won the bars competition vs. Pitt • Placed fourth with a 9.825 on bars vs. NC State and Michigan • Scored a season-high 9.750 on vault on two occasions.

As a Junior
Named one of 10 finalists for the 2013 Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award • Named a Scholastic All-America by the National Association of Collegiate Gymnastics Coaches • Selected to the EAGL All-Academic team for the fourth straight season • Competed in all 12 meets primarily on vault, bars and floor exercise • Did not compete on bars until the fourth meet of the season • Hit a near flawless routine and posted a 9.850 to finish second at NC State • Won the bars event with a 9.80 at George Washington • Posted her season-best score on floor with a 9.850 at Pitt to tie for fourth place • Had a season-high 9.750 on vault in three meets, including the NCAA regionals and EAGL championships.

As a Sophomore
Named an Arthur Ashe Scholar Award winner • Earned EAGL All-Academic honors • Came back to the lineup to compete in nine events primarily in vault and floor • Scored a season-high 9.750 on floor exercise to finish sixth vs. Maryland • Scored a season-best 9.725 at the NCAA Regional.

2011
Ikoma tore the Achilles tendon in her right foot in practice in January just before the start of the 2011 season. She redshirted and will have three years of eligibility remaining. Ikoma has completely recovered and will be competing this season.

As a Freshman
Competed in all 11 events and was a valuable contributor on all events • Began the season with a fourth place finish on the uneven bars at the George Washington Invitational • Finished second on the vault with a 9.750 at William & Mary • Scored a season-high 9.775 and finish fourth on vault vs. Maryland • Competed in the all-around for the first time in her career at the Sweetheart Invitational and scored a 37.700 • Had a season-high 9.725 on bars and a personal-best 38.425 in all-around at Florida • Posted a season-best 9.775 on vault vs. West Virginia and a personal-best 9.775 on floor exercise vs. Rutgers • Received EAGL All-Academic honors.

Prep:
Trained with Dan & Beth Miller at Arena Gymnastics in Joliet, Ill. ... Attended Naperville Central High School in Naperville, Ill. ... 2007 and 2008 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Nationals qualifier ... Was the 2007 Region 5 all-around, balance beam and uneven bars champion ... Placed seventh on uneven bars and 14th in the all-around at the 2007 Junior Olympic National Championships ... Placed fourth on uneven bars, sixth on vault and sixth in the all-around at the 2008 USA Gymnastics Junior Olympic Level 10 Nationals.

Personal:
Daughter of Allan and Denise Ikoma ... Born on March 19, 1991 in Chicago, Ill. ... Given name is Michelle Mariko Ikoma ... Has a sister, Danielle (20) who is a member of the Stanford gymnastics team and a brother, Derek (15) ... Plans to major in biomedical engineering and economics ... Enjoys shopping, cryptograms and Dance Dance Revolution.

Personal Bests
Vault: 9.775 (twice) - most recently on 3/13/10 - Chapel Hill, N.C.
Uneven Bars: 9.850 (2 times) - most recently on 1/31/14 vs. Pittsbugh
Balance Beam: 9.650 - 2/20/10 at NC State
Floor Exercise: 9.850 - 3/2/13 at Pitt
All-Around: 38.425 - 3/5/10 at Florida

Getting To Know Michelle:

Nickname: Mich, Michine

Major: Business Administration, Exercise & Sports Science; Minor: Mathematics

Career Plans: Short-Term: Earn a Master of Science in Data Analysis; Long-Term: Merge my interests in data analysis and rehabilitative medicine to help develop prosthetics that amputees can control just like their own arm/leg

What is the best thing about being at UNC? Having an amazing family of people around you who are always there to support you and do anything they can to help you succeed

My greatest strength as a gymnast is… My work ethic and enthusiasm

Biggest sports thrill and why? Winning back-to-back EAGL Championships my freshman and sophomore year

Person who had the greatest influence on your career and why: My sister, Danielle. Growing up, I always wanted to be just like her, and to this day, I know that I can always go to her for advice and support

Favorite Book: My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult

Funny or interesting fact about yourself: I was a “kid scientist” on the Late Show with David Letterman when I was in 8^th grade

Favorite class at UNC and why: EXSS 380- Neuromuscular Control and Training; I find it fascinating to learn about how basic components of the nervous system and muscular system work together seamlessly in everything we do without us even thinking about it.

At what age did you start participating in gymnastics and what is your earliest memory of gymnastics? Age 3; I remember getting separated from my group when I was 4 or 5 and looking around in panic, then seeing my sister in her group (which was a completely different class), and then running over to join her

The funniest nickname on the team belongs to: Megan- M&M

What song would you sing if you were on American Idol? I can’t sing, so I would never be on American Idol to begin with, but I love the song “Hall of Fame” by The Script [feat. Will I Am]

What reality show would you most like to be on? The Amazing Race

My favorite guilty pleasure is: Bski’s warm chocolate chip cookies

If I could go to dinner with one famous person it would be: Thomas Edison

The most interesting person I’ve met at UNC is: Meredith Petschauer (I’m convinced she’s super woman because she does a billion different things, yet does them all well).

People say I look like… Ashley Dai on the tennis team