The College Gymnastics Association’s yearly award winners were announced Thursday during the banquet ahead of the 2026 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships.

Fred Richard headlined the winners, besting a stacked field of five other nominees to be named this year’s Nissen-Emery Award. The Michigan star and Olympic and world medalist was awarded the honor that is bestowed upon the year’s outstanding senior collegiate gymnast who has an “outstanding record of achievement during his college career.”

Also on the short list were Fuzzy Benas (Oklahoma), Asher Cohen (Nebraska), Asher Hong (Stanford), Parker Thackston (Ohio State), and Ignacio Yockers (Oklahoma).

Greenville sophomore Kyler Hinson won MVP of the Year, becoming the first Greenville athlete to do so. Hinson has led the Panthers to a historic season that resulted in them qualifying to their first nationals as a team in only their fourth year as a program.

This season, Hinson has competed in the all-around five times and been a steady, four-event contributor on floor, pommel horse, parallel bars, and high bar.

In a unanimous 7-0 decision, Asher Cohen (Nebraska) was named Specialist of the Year. The rings specialist is the only athlete in the country this season to average over a 14 on rings (14.075). He is also tied for the season high on the event, nationally, with a 14.700.

If Cohen wins the rings titles at nationals, he would become the just the second Nebraska gymnast to win the NCAA rings title, joining the late Jim Hartung (1980-1982). Hartung was on the Huskers’ staff as an assistant coach when he passed away in January.

Sasha Bogonosiuk (Oklahoma) was named the Rookie of the Year. The freshman has led the Sooners in the all-around this season, with a season-high 79.650, as well as owning a team-high 14.550 on vault.