DeKALB, Ill. – Holly Reichard, whose four-year career as a Northern Illinois University gymnast included two Mid-American Conference individual event championships, three NCAA Regional appearances and the 2009 MAC Gymnast of the Year honor, will be inducted into the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame in 2024.
Reichard joins NIU football's Jordan Lynch in the 2024 NIU Athletics Hall of Fame Class. The Class, which is being announced individually this spring, will be honored during Homecoming Weekend (Oct. 18-19) at NIU.
"Holly Reichard was one of the most talented and decorated gymnasts to compete at NIU; she elevated the program during her time here," said
Sam Morreale, current Huskie women's gymnastics head coach who was a member of the coaching staff throughout Reichard's time at NIU. "She was solid – and consistent - on all four events, was super skilled, even as a freshman, was a leader in the gym and was very coachable. Coaching her was fun because she came in with a smile and worked every day. We are excited to see another Huskie gymnast inducted into the Hall of Fame."
A Palatine, Illinois native and Fremd High School graduate, Reichard became just the second Huskie to be named MAC Gymnast of the Year when she earned the honor in 2009 following her sophomore season. She was the first NIU gymnast to win individual MAC Championships on two different events, sharing the MAC titles on uneven parallel bars as a freshman in 2008 and on balance beam in 2009. Reichard was also just the second Huskie to be named first team All-MAC twice with her selection in 2008 and 2009.
A true measure of her all-around excellence is reflected in her career best scores as she achieved a score of 9.850 or higher on every event as a Huskie. Her career best score of 39.350 in the all-around in 2009 still ranks as one of the top seven marks in school history.
Reichard made an immediate impact as a freshman, competing as an all-arounder in every meet and ranking among the Huskies top competitors on every event, capping the season by making the first of her three NCAA Regional appearances. During the season, she recorded 31 top five finishes, including three at the MAC Championships on bars, beam and in the all-around.
As a sophomore in 2009, Reichard backed up her MAC Gymnast of the Year honor with a second-place finish in the all-around at the MAC Championships in addition to sharing the beam title. During the season, she scored 39.000 (out of 40.000) or higher six times, including a career best 39.350 versus Eastern Michigan. She placed eighth in the all-around at the NCAA Regional with a score of 39.075 and was fifth on balance beam. Both scores set the NIU records for best regional scores on those events.
Reichard battled through a foot injury as a junior in 2010 to compete in 10 meets, including six times in the all-around. She was the Huskies' top gymnast on both bars and beam and ranked second on the team on floor. As a senior, Reichard returned to compete in every meet in the all-around and achieved the top scores on the team in every event and in the all-around during the season. Reichard earned or matched her career best scores of 9.850 on bars, beam and floor exercise in 2011.
Reichard earned her degree in mechanical engineering from NIU in May 2012. She is the sixth women's gymnastics alumna selected to the NIU Athletics Hall of Fame. Student-athletes must have completed their athletic careers at least 10 years ago in order to be considered for induction.
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