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2003 Gymnastics Roster
Mikel Hester
- Position:
- AA
- Class:
- Freshman
- Hometown:
- Lexington, S.C.
- High School:
- Lexington
As a Junior: Tied her personal best of 9.85 on the uneven bars against William & Mary and Rutgers...earned NACGC Academic All-America honors...at EAGL Championships placed fourth on floor exercise and fifth on all-around despite battling a shoulder injury all season...underwent surgery during the summer on her shoulder...recipient of Kaiser Award for her commitment to team and individual excellence...received teams' Cunningham Award for her inspiring courage and perseverance while facing adversity.
As a Sophomore: Competed as an all-arounder in nine meets, including EAGL Championships and Southeast Regional Championships...finished 10th all-around and 18th on vault, balance beam and floor exercise at regionals...Set personal bests on every event except balance beam...had an outstanding meet at Hearts Invitational, where she set three personal records and won vault (9.90) and all-around (39.45) and placed third on uneven bars (9.85)...two meets later at home, she finished as the runner-up on floor exercise with a personal best 9.975...member of EAGL All-Academic Team...mentored freshmen student-athletes through Athletes Coming Together...participated in Athletes in Action.
As a Freshman: Placed first four times during season, including her first two career collegiate meets, in vault, balance beam and all-around...earned a personal best 39.300 in all-around at Towson to rank fourth among Carolina's top all-around scores...competed as all-arounder at NCAA Regionals, placing seventh...was a competitor in every meet of the season, performing as an all-arounder in six...All-EAGL second team vault selection...named to EAGL All-Academic team...involved in Athletes in Action and FCA.
Prep: Competed at 2002 Level 10 Nationals, earning 4th place on beam and vault and 9th place on floor...finished 2nd on both beam and floor, 5th on vault and 9th on bars to become the 2002 Region 8 All-Around champion...South Carolina Level 10 state champion from 1999-2002...graduated 4th in high school class...participated on SAT team...member of National Honor Society...honored as Junior Scholar, Palmetto Fellow and AP Scholar with Distinction...National Merit Honorable Mention Finalist.
Personal: Daughter of Vernon and Debbie Hester...born February 21, 1984...given name is Mikel Brooks Hester...has younger brother named Jacob...majoring in psychology.
Personal Bests at UNC
Vault: 9.90 at Hearts Invitational 2-13-04 and vs. NC State 2-20-04
Uneven Bars: 9.85 at Hearts Invitational 2-13-04 and vs. Rutgers, William & Mary 2-19-05
Balance Beam: 9.900 at Wolfpack Invitational 2-28-03
Floor Exercise: 9.975 vs. Rutgers, Towson, William & Mary 2-22-04
All-Around: 39.45 at Hearts Invitational 2-13-04
