The 2026 Nissen-Emery Award finalists (from left to right): Fuzzy Benas (Oklahoma), Parker Thackston (Ohio State), Asher Hong (Stanford), Fred Richard (Michigan), Ignacio Yockers (Oklahoma), and Asher Cohen (Nebraska). (All photos by Andres Esquivel-Garza for Gymnastics Now except Cohen – photo credit: Nebraska Gymnastics.)
The College Gymnastics Association (CGA) announced the 2026 Nissen-Emery Award finalists on Monday.
The men’s Nissen-Emery Award, similar to the women’s AAI Award, is awarded to the year’s outstanding senior collegiate gymnast who has an “outstanding record of achievement during his college career.”
The 2026 Nissen-Emery Award finalists are:
- Fuzzy Benas – Oklahoma
- Asher Cohen – Nebraska
- Asher Hong – Stanford
- Fred Richard – Michigan
- Parker Thackston – Ohio State
- Ignacio Yockers – Oklahoma
In addition to their exceptional athletic achievements, the finalists and winner must:
- Be an example of good sportsmanship and fair play… a champion in defeat as well as victory.
- He must maintain a high standard of scholarship throughout his college career.
College gymnastics coaches, student-athletes, and accredited college gymnastics judges submit nominations for the award. The gymnasts who receive the highest number of nominations are then placed on a final ballot, which is then voted on by the same group.
The 2025 Nissen-Emery Award winner was Nebraska’s Taylor Christopulos. See past winners here.
This year’s award will be presented at the 2026 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships, which will be held at Illinois’ State Farm Center from April 17-18.
Inscribed on the award is the following motto:
“The true champion seeks excellence physically, mentally, socially, and morally.”
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