Huskers Begin Season with Strong Rocky Mountain Open Performance

The fourth-ranked Nebraska men’s gymnastics team won the college division of the Rocky Mountain Open held at the Air Force Academy over the weekend. The Huskers’ total of 221.15 was a tenth of a point better than fifth-ranked Oklahoma’s total of 221.05. The United States Olympic Training Center (USOTC) won the overall competition, which featured the USOTC, intercollegiate and club programs, with a score of 223.10

In Friday’s all-around competition, Nebraska was paced by all-arounders Jason Hardabura (Oakville, Ontario), Derek Leiter (Lincoln, Neb.), Martin Fournier (St. Hubert, Quebec) and Jim Koziol (Omaha, Neb.), all of whom finished in the top 11 overall. Hardabura finished third in the all-around with a score of 55.70, including a first-place showing on high bar (9.75) and second-place finishes on pommel horse (9.50) and still rings (9.55). Leiter, an All-American last season, was sixth in the all-around with a score of 54.95 and finished first on vault with a 9.75 and seventh on parallel bars (9.35) and pommel horse (9.10).

Fournier, in is collegiate debut, was eighth in the all-around with a score of 54.30. The freshman from St. Hubert, Quebec, took first on parallel bars during the team competition with a 9.65, and tied for 10th on vault with a 9.30. Koziol finished 11th in the all-around competition with a score of 53.10, highlighted by a fifth-place showing on still rings (9.40). Koziol did not compete in Saturday’s individual event finals.

In Saturday’s individual event finals, Nebraska was led by Leiter, who captured a pair of titles. Leiter placed first on floor exercise with a 9.70 and tied USOTC member Guard Young for first on vault with a 9.70. Leiter, a junior from Lincoln, also finished third on parallel bars (9.35) and fourth on pommel horse (9.30).

Hardabura also turned in strong performances on Saturday, finishing second on rings (9.60), third on pommel horse (9.50) and fourth on horizontal bar (9.25). Other Huskers who qualified for Saturday’s finals included Fournier, who was fourth on parallel bars with a 9.30, junior Blake Bukacek (Lincoln, Neb.), who was fifth on pommel horse with a 9.0 and sophomore Grant Clinton (Katy, Texas), who was seventh on still rings (9.20) in his first collegiate competition.

The Huskers are idle until playing host to fifth-ranked Oklahoma in a men’s and women’s double dual on Friday, Feb. 5, beginning at 7:30 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Final Results

Team	Score
USOTC	223.10
Nebraska	221.15
Oklahoma	221.05
BYU	220.25
Air Force	211.15
New Mexico	208.90
All-Around
1. Guard Young (BYU)	56.05
2. Gabe Hanson (OU)	55.85
3. Jason Hardabura (NU)	55.70
4. Chris Young (USOTC)	55.50
5. David Kruse (USOTC)	55.00
6. Derek Leiter (NU)	54.95
8. Martin Fournier (NU)	54.30
11. Jim Koziol (NU)	53.10
Individual Event Finals -NU only
Floor Exercise
1. Derek Leiter	9.70
Pommel Horse
3. Jason Hardabura	9.50
4. Derek Leiter	9.40
6. Blake Bukacek	9.00
Vault
t1 Derek Leiter	9.70
Rings
2. Jason Hardabura	9.60
7. Grant Clinton	9.20
Parallel Bars
3. Derek Leiter	9.35
4. Martin Fournier	9.30
Horizontal Bar