NORMAN, Okla. -- Michigan's Justin Toman received the Nissen-Emery Award on Wednesday night as the nation's top overall college gymnast.

Toman, from Wallingford, Conn., finished fourth in the all-around competition in the Big Ten championships, and led the eighth-ranked Wolverines into the NCAA championships that begin Thursday.

Toman won the NCAA title in the parallel bars in 1999, when Michigan won the team championship, and he shared the parallel bars title in 2000. He redshirted last season.

He is a member of the U.S. national team and finished ninth in the 2000 Olympic trials.

The other finalists for the award, which recognizes academic and gymnastics excellence during a career, were Don Jackson of Iowa, J.G. Ketchen of Illinois, Troy Pazcoguin of Army, David Johnston of Oklahoma, Michael Kelly of Cal-Santa Barbara, Clayton Kent of Massachusetts and Grant Clinton of Nebraska.