CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — University of Oklahoma senior gymnast Yul Moldauer added to his impressive resumé of accomplishments on Thursday night as he was named the Sooners' eighth recipient of the Nissen-Emery Award, given annually to the top senior male gymnast in the NCAA.

“This was really special,” said Moldauer. “I can't take credit for the award myself. I always think about if I didn't come to OU what kind of gymnast I would be and I just have to give all the credit to my school and all the teammates I've had through the years. Also all the coaches, from Mark (Williams) to Steve (Legendre) and Taqiy (Abdullah-Simmons) and now Chris (Brooks) and Josh (Yee). I have to thank everyone else that helps out like Jenna (Allocco) our trainer, Wes (Kirk) my strength coach and so many other people.”

Moldauer won the award following arguably the best season of his collegiate career, with the NCAA Championships yet to take place. The senior co-captain compiled 25 event titles through the regular season and conference championship, along with tallying the top scores in the country on three events (FX, SR, PB) plus the all-around.

Additionally, Moldauer holds numerous NCAA and OU program records. He boasts the most individual national titles in OU history with seven, which puts him in a tie for first in NCAA history with this weekend's championship remaining. Moldauer's 15 All-America honors through his junior season rank second in program history behind Olympian Jonathan Horton's 18. He passed Horton's program record of 10 individual conference titles on April 6 at the MPSF Championships, where he claimed four titles to bring his career total to 13. 

Helping lead the Sooners to three of their four consecutive team national championships, the two-time NCAA all-around champion also holds a tie for the most individual NCAA championships won at one competition, winning four in 2018. Moldauer also sits atop the program record book for parallel bars, holding the top five scores in OU history. 

The Sooners also took home two College Gymnastics Association annual awards at the pre-championship banquet with head coach Mark Williams being named West Regional Coach of the Year and Moldauer claiming 2019 MVP honors. 

“I think it's well deserved for Yul, who has been a great representative of the University of Oklahoma and USA Gymnastics,” said Williams. “He has earned the honor of being the top senior gymnast in the country from his performances from not only being part of three national championship teams but also being on two World Championship teams and being a winner of the past three American Cups.

“I think the kid is really special, it's always been an honor to work with him and I'm excited for him. This was earned over time and he deserves to be the newest member of the Nissen-Award winner family.”

The Arvada, Colo., native has just as impressive of an international resume as he does in collegiate competition. He has been a U.S. Senior Men's National Team member throughout his four years at OU and claimed his third consecutive American Cup all-around title in March, becoming one of only three gymnasts to win the crown three straight years. 

"It was special to be in that moment, winning this award means a lot to me but it took so many people to get here so it truly is a group effort and a team award to me."
- Yul Moldauer

The 2017 U.S. Championships all-around gold medalist is a two-time World Championships participant for Team USA, claiming a bronze medal on floor exercise in 2017 along with making the all-around finals each of the past two years. Moldauer won his second Winter Cup all-around crown in February 2019 to retain his spot on the U.S. Senior Men's National Team for the fourth consecutive year.

“Everyone at OU spoils us. Everyone does so many things that make us feel important and it's special,” continued Moldauer. “It was special to be in that moment. Winning this award means a lot to me but it took so many people to get here, so it truly is a group effort and a team award to me.”

Oklahoma is home to the most Nissen-Emery Award recipients of any school with eight gymnasts winning the prestigious award, dubbed the “Heisman of gymnastics.”

Moldauer won the award over finalists Grant Breckenridge (Stanford), Alex Diab (Illinois), Jacopo Gliozzi (William & Mary), Vitali Kan (Minnesota), Justin Karstadt (Minnesota), Anton Stephenson (Nebraska) and Alec Yoder (Ohio State).

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