DeKALB, Ill. – After setting personal bests in multiple events and the all-around for the third meet in a row, Northern Illinois University junior all-arounder Tara Kofmehl picked up her second straight Mid-American Conference Gymnast of the Week award Tuesday as announced by the league office.
 
A Mesa, Arizona native (Red Mountain HS), Kofmehl won three individual events on Friday versus Eastern Michigan, taking the top spot on the uneven parallel bars (9.875) and floor exercise (9.925) with career high scores.  She also claimed the win on vault with a season-best 9.825 and tied her season high score on balance beam with a 9.700.   
 
Kofmehl's 39.325 all-around score marked the third straight meet she established a new career high and tied for the eighth-best all-around score in school history. Her 39.325 is also the second-highest all-around score posted by a MAC gymnast this season.
 
"Tara is just coming into her own right now and she has been competing at a super high level over the last few weeks," said NIU head coach Sam Morreale following the EMU meet. "She adds a tenth on beam – which she is completely capable of – and she's right there, challenging for the school [all-around] record [of 39.550]."
 
The last Huskie gymnast to earn multiple MAC Gymnast of the Week honors in a season was Ashley Potts in 2018. To be named Gymnast of the Week, a student-athlete must have competed in at least three events. 
 
The NIU gymnastics team is in action at home again on Saturday, February 27 at 2 p.m. when they close out their MAC dual meet schedule versus Kent State.  Under current restrictions regarding fans, only family members of the gymnasts are permitted to attend in person.
 
-- NIU --