Melissa Fernandez Class: Junior Hometown: Eudora, Kan. High School: Eudora Height: 5-0 Event: All-Around Club: KGDC

2009 - Sophomore: First-team All-American on the balance beam, Illinois' first ever ... Tied for first on beam in the evening session at the NCAA Championships with a 9.900 to advance to the event final, the first Illini to do so ... Finished seventh at the NCAA beam final with a 9.8375, earning a spot on the podium ... Tied for second on beam (9.875) and sixth on vault (9.875) at the Big Ten Championships ... Tied for fourth on beam (9.875) at the West Regional ... Tied the second-best beam score in UI history with a 9.925 at Missouri to win the event title ... Recorded five balance beam titles on the season ... Scored a 38.825 in the only all-around performance of her career to take fourth at the Chicago Style Invite ... Hit 36 of 38 routines on the season, including a perfect 14-for-14 on beam ... Named the team's Most Improved Gymnast and Most Consistent Beam performer ... Academic All-Big Ten and Scholastic All-American selection.

2008 - Freshman: Competed on vault and beam in every meet and competed floor in 12 of 13 meets ... Performed her best gymnastics at the end of the season, equalling two career-highs at the NCAA South Central Regional meet - 9.800 on vault and 9.800 on floor ... Placed seventh on beam with a 9.800 at the South Central Regional ... Scored a season-best 9.850 on beam to take third against Missouri ... Won the team's Scholar-Athlete Award ... Named a Scholastic All-American by the NACGC/W.

High School/Club: Finished eighth in the all-around at the 2007 Junior Olympic National Championships, while also taking sixth on floor and seventh on vault ... Placed second in the all-around and on vault, as well as fifth on bars and sixth on floor at the 2007 Level 10 Regional Championships ... Qualified for the 2006 Nationals where she placed second on the beam, seventh on floor, and 10th in the all-around ... Champion on beam, third on vault and fifth on floor at the 2006 Region III Championships ... 2006 Kansas State Champion on vault, beam, and floor ... As a Level 9 in 2005, she placed second in the all-around at the Level 9 Western Nationals ... Coached by Anne Heffernon and James Sampel ... Club team was KGDC.

Personal: Born Nov. 2, 1988 ... Daughter of Steve and Tami Klinedinst ... Says she chose Illinois because "the team really made me feel welcomed and it has great academics" ... Member of the high honor roll in high school with a 4.0 GPA ... Was active in Student Council throughout high school ... Named Who's Who in American High School Academics ... Major is kinesiology.

Melissa's Career Highs
Vault: 9.875 (3/21/09)
Bars: 9.825 (4/4/09)
Beam: 9.925 (2/15/09)
Floor: 9.800 (4/12/08)
All-Around: 38.825

Individual Titles
Beam: 5
Total: 5

The Fernandez File
Favorite place on campus: Espresso Royale because I love their coffee!
Best dressed teammate: Hannah, because she never dresses down...ever!
What I've learned from Coach Bob: Be patient
Favorite skill to watch or compete: Double twisting dismount on beam
Favorite event: Beam
Favorite athlete: LeBron James
Favorite Illini athlete: Austin Phillips
Favorite sports team: St. Louis Cardinals
Favorite movie: The Time Traveler's Wife
Favorite movie quote: "I think I ate your chocolate squirrel" - Anchorman
Favorite TV show: Dexter
Favorite food: Mexican
If I was on a reality TV show, it would be: The Real World
I've been told I look like: Jessica Alba
Favorite people I've met: Russell Robinson (KU Basketball)
On my IPod right now is: I Don't Feel Like Dancing by Scissor Sisters
Something most people don't know about me: I keep a daily diary
Person I would most like to spend a day with: Will Ferrell
Pre-meet superstitions: I visualize all my routines
Three words that describe me: Determined, caring, loyal
Plans after Illinois: Grad school

Updated December 2009