Senior Celine Paulus earned her first Big 12 Gymnast of the Week award.

Paulus scored a career-high 39.500 at No. 6 Nebraska last week when Iowa State nearly upset the Huskers by a 196.175-195.700 margin. 

Scoring 9.900 in her first three events — bars, vault and floor — the Yorba Linda, Calif., native finished the night with a 9.800 on her beam performance.

Not only did Paulus perform well in the gym, but her and her teammates also performed well in the classroom and were placed on the Academic All-Big 12 first team.  

Six of the 11 gymnasts eligible — freshmen are not eligible — received the honor including seniors Paulus, Michelle Browning and Shea Anderson, junior Elizabeth Stranahan and sophomores Henrietta Green and Michelle Shealy.

This is Paulus’ third time on the first team and Browning’s and Stranahan’s second. To qualify, student-athletes must maintain a 3.0 GPA or higher in two previous semesters and also compete in 60 percent of their team’s scheduled events.