Huskers Sweep Sooners in Gymnastics

Although both teams took different routes, the Nebraska men’s and women’s gymnastics teams picked up victories over conference rival Oklahoma in a double-dual Friday evening in front of 1,352 fans at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

The 13th-ranked Husker women (5-2 on the season and 3-0 in the Big 12) led from wire to wire to down No. 11 Oklahoma, 194.35-193.075, while the ninth-ranked Husker men took advantage of some mistakes from sixth-ranked Oklahoma to rally from .5 points behind after four rotations to win, 227.075-224.175.

On the men’s side, the Huskers set season bests on both vault and uneven bars to lead 97.075-96.375 after two rotations and held on for the victory, Nebraska’s 22nd consecutive home dual and its 11th straight home opener.

The Husker women turned in a balanced performance as three different NU gymnasts won individual event titles. Senior All-American Misty Oxford won a pair of events, taking first on vault with a season-high score of 9.80, and tied senior Courtney Brown for first on floor exercise with a 9.85. Oxford’s vault score capped a team high in the event as four NU gymnasts set season-highs, including a 9.675 by freshman Bree Dority and a 9.65 by freshman Laura Goss.

Junior Nicole Wilkinson rounded out the NU champions, taking first on balance beam with a 9.875 to better Brown’s score of 9.85. Oklahoma junior Amber McCracken won the all-around with a 38.90, while Sooner teammate Mariana Goncalves placed first on uneven bars with a 9.825. Junior All-American Heather Brink was NU’s top all-around performer, finishing second with a score of 38.825, including a second-place finish on vault (9.725)

The Sooners closed to within 145.45-144.975 after three rotations, but NU ended any thoughts of a Sooner upset with a score of 48.90 on floor exercise in the final rotation. Sophomore Amy Ringo tied her career high of 9.80 to start the set, while Brown and Oxford closed the door with 9.85s to tie for first as the Huskers swept the top three spots in the event.

“Misty and Courtney did a super job on the last two routines,” Nebraska Coach Dan Kendig said. “The key for us on floor was that Amy started us on the right foot. She really sold her routine and that got us going.

“Overall, it is a good win, but we still have to improve a few things,” Kendig said. “Oklahoma was a little disappointed in the judging, but the bottom line is that we hit our routines.”

After trailing 151.575-151.075 after four rotations, the Husker men were seemingly out of the meet, but used some timely vaulting and some unfortunate performances by the Sooners on high bar.

The Huskers, behind junior All-American Derek Leiter, who placed first on vault with a 9.80, and Jason Hardabura and Blake Bukacek, who tied for third with a 9.50, scored a 38.15 for its best event performance of the night. While the Huskers were closing the gap, Oklahoma fell apart, missing all six of its high bar routines en route to a score of 35.00, falling almost three points behind heading into the final event.

“Oklahoma folded on the horizontal bar,” Nebraska Coach Francis Allen said. “We did a good job fighting them off in the end. I like the character of a team that fights back to win a meet. Our guys went out and did what they had to do and came back to win tonight.”

The Huskers were led by sophomore Hardabura and Leiter. A sophomore, Hardabura won the all-around with a score of 57.025, taking first on still rings (9.60) and horizontal bar (9.85). It was Hardabura’s second career all-around title, as the sophomore from Oakville, Ontario, finished in the top four on floor exercise (9.625, 3rd), vault (9.50 t3rd) and pommel horse (9.40, t4th).

Leiter, who finished second to Hardabura with an all-around total of 56.975, was also second on floor exercise (9.70) and pommel horse (9.265). Other Huskers turning in strong performances included freshman Martin Fournier, who was second on horizontal bar (9.50) and tied for second on high bar (9.50), and Bukacek, who finished second on pommel horse (9.65) and tied for third on vault with a career-high of 9.50.

The Husker women return to action next Saturday, Feb. 13, when they travel to East Lansing, Mich., to compete in the Michigan State Invitational. The Husker men are idle until facing Minnesota on Friday, Feb., 19 at 7 p.m. at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska junior Derek Leiter will travel to Las Vegas, Nev., next weekend to compete in the U.S. Winter Cup, Feb., 12-13.

Men’s Scoring
Nebraska 227.075
Oklahoma 224.175

All-Around
1. Jason Hardabura (NU) 57.025
2. Derek Leiter (NU) 56.975
3. Gabe Hansen (OU) 56.50

Individual Event Winners
Floor Exercise
Brendan O’Neil (OU) 9.80

Pommel horse
Todd Bishop (OU) 9.75

Still Rings
Jason Hardabura (NU) 9.60

Vault
Derek Leiter (NU) 9.80

Parallel Bars
Todd Bishop (OU) 9.675

High Bar
Jason Hardabura (NU) 9.85

Women’s Scoring
Nebraska 194.35
Oklahoma 193.075

All-Around
1. Amber McCracken (OU) 38.90
2. Heather Brink (NU) 38.825
3. Misty Oxford (NU) 38.35

Individual Event Winners
Vault
Misty Oxford (NU) 9.80

Uneven Bars
Mariana Goncalves (OU) 9.85

Balance Beam
Nicole Wilkinson (NU) 9.875

Floor Exercise
Misty Oxford (NU) 9.85
Courtney Brown (NU) 9.85