Al-Ashari, O’Shea named to All-MAC Second Team

Al-Ashari earns second-consecutive All-MAC honor

March 19, 2024

Then-junior gymnast Alyssa Al-Ashari starts her beam routine at the EMU gymnastics meet on Feb. 17. Al-Ashari was named to the All-MAC second team Tuesday. (Northern Star File Photo)

DeKALB – NIU gymnastics senior Alyssa Al-Ashari and sophomore Kiera O’Shea received All-MAC recognition for 2024 after both were named to the All-MAC Second Team announced by the conference office Tuesday.

NIU sophomore Kiera O’Shea strikes a pose during her floor exercise routine at a Jan. 13 meet against Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio. O’Shea was named to the All-MAC Second Team Tuesday. (Northern Star File Photo) (Northern Star File Photo)

“We are super excited for both Alyssa and Kiera,” said NIU gymnastics head coach Sam Morreale via NIU Athletics. “It is a great honor and really shows the high level they have been able to compete at this year. This award also speaks to their consistency over the entire year. They are both very hardworking and truly deserve this recognition.”

Al-Ashari, an All-MAC First Team selection a year ago, accumulated a National Qualifying Score of 9.885 on bars this season to rank second in the conference. The Lansing, Michigan, native matched her personal best bars score of 9.925 twice.

O’Shea earned her first-career All-MAC honor after posting a NQS of 9.875 on vault, the league’s second-best mark. She set a new personal best on vault of 9.900 on Jan. 19 and matched it twice.

The Huskies return to action at 1 p.m. CT Saturday as they compete in the MAC Championships hosted by Ball State University at Worthen Arena in Muncie, Indiana.