Women's Gymnastics

Taira Neal
	Class: RS Senior Hometown: Normal, Ill. High School: University H.S. Height: 5-3 Club: Gymnastics Etc.

Taira Neal

2013: Second Team All-Big Ten...Recorded a career-high of 9.925 twice to sit at sixth in the individual vault Michigan State records...Was awarded first place honors six times on the season for performances on vault... Took first on vault facing Minnesota (Feb. 1) with a 9.850...Posted a career-best of 9.800 on uneven bars against Minnesota (Feb. 1) and Iowa/UIC (Feb. 8)...Tied for first on vault posting a 9.825 against Iowa/UIC (Feb. 8)...Took second on vault against Michigan (March 2) posting a 9.925....Placed first on vault at Pittsburgh (March 8) with a score of 9.925... Marked a 9.850 as a career-high on the balance beam at Big Ten Championships (March 23).

2012: Second-Team All-Big Ten ...Academic All-Big Ten...Recorded a career-best 9.925 on the vault at Iowa and tied that mark three more times...MSU's top individual performer in the 2012 NCAA Auburn Regional with a 9.900 score and fourth place finish on the vault...Won the vault nine times and placed in the event in all but one regular-season meet...Her 9.925 vault score is tied for fifth-best in the MSU recordbooks...Tied her career-best 9.775 on the bars at the 2012 NCAA Auburn Regional...Led MSU on the vault with a 9.900 RQS...Earned MSU's Kathryn Mahoney Award

2011: Academic All-Big Ten ... Made her collegiate debut against Iowa, Michigan & Western Michigan after missing last year due to preseason surgery ... Posted a career-best 9.775 on the vault at the Big Ten Championships ... Recorded a career-high 9.250 on the beam at New Hampshire ... Was the top Spartan on the vault at the NCAA Corvallis Regional with a personal-best 9.775.

2010: Medical Redshirt.

Prior to Michigan State: Trained at Gymnastics Etc. under the direction of Teresa Millmore ... Qualified for nationals in both 2007 and 2008 ... Won vault, bars, floor and all-around at states in 2008 ... Was the regional vault champion in 2008, posting a score of 9.95 ... Finished first at Nationals on vault in 2007 with a score of 9.85.

Personal: Born May 5, 1991 to Ira and Demetra Neal-Harper ... Older sister, Nicole, runs track at McKendree University ... Majoring in criminal justice.

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