Huskers Finish Third at NCAA Championships

Michigan men's gymnastics team took the lead after its first event Friday and never relinquished it en route to winning its first national title since 1970.

The Wolverines scored a season-best 232.55. Ohio State, Michigan's Big Ten Conference rival, was a distant second at 230.850. Host Nebraska was third with 229.60. The Huskers' third-place finish was its first in school history and NU's best finish since a runner-up finish in 1995.

The three teams qualified after Thursday's preliminary round. Michigan had the top preliminary score.

''We stayed optimistic coming into tonight,'' Michigan coach Kurt Golder said. ''I don't think we were intimidated by anyone at all.''

The title comes just three years after a winless season by the Wolverines. Golder took over the program the following year and built it into a national powerhouse.

''The plan was to get here in the fourth year and be in contention in the fifth year,'' Golder said. ''We got lucky and got some great recruits. Everything fell into place.''

Nebraska coach Francis Allen wasn't disappointed with the third-place finish.

"I look at this team and I see a great team returning," Allen said. "It will be hard to replace Jim Koziol. He had his best meet of the year tonight. But Nebraska has a great foundation, a great tradition and we will be back."

Michigan began the night on pommel horse. Freshman Scott Vetere said it was important for the Wolverines to do well in the first event.

''I was a little nervous,'' he said. ''But it got the adrenaline going, and we took it from there.''

The Wolverines' winning performance also included a season high on floor exercise (39.075).

''We knew we would do well on floor,'' sophomore Justin Toman said. ''We should, because it's one of stronger events.''

Michigan also merited strong individual performances from all-arounders Toman and Vetere. Toman scored a 58.075, the night's top all-around score. Vetere had a second-best 57.925.

Toman's showing comes one night after he just missed winning the national all-around title. He finished second to Nebraska sophomore Jason Hardabura by one tenth of a point.

''I much rather would have a national championship ring than a little (all-around) plaque,'' he said.

Senior Jim Koziol paced the Huskers, tying his career high with a 56.95, tying his best score set as a sophomore. In addition to Koziol, Jason Hardabura, Blake Bukacek and Derek Leiter will compete in Saturday's individual event finals.

Michigan Coach Kurt Golder...
Was it Easy?... "It wasn't easy, but we decided ownership right when we walked into the gym tonight."

Future and Youth of Team?...This year we were concentrating on this year and next year, we will concentrate on winning another."

Best Meet this year? ..."We peaked at the right time. We were hitting at 97 percent tonight.

Asked other coaches for advice coming in, what advice would you give? "Take it one meet at a time. We tried to work hard to get good enough so that when we got to the national championship, we didn't have to have a peak performance--just compete."

Frosh Class, when did you know they were winners?..."As soon as the freshman class signed a national letter of intent, I knew we had a national championship team."

Michigan gymnast Scott Vetere (Freshman)
"I'm just glad I could help out."

Michigan Gymnast Justin Toman
"We knew we were one of the best teams in the country coming in here and now we know we are the best.

Make up for just missing the all-around title?..."Definitely. I would so much rather have a national championship ring than a plaque."

"We have a bulletin board in our locker room with a quote that says, "Michigan is a great team, but they are still a year away."

Michigan Gymnast Randy D'Amura
"When Kurt came in here in 1997, we set out for the national championship. That's what we strived for and today it has finally come true."

Nebraska Coach Francis Allen...
"We have national championship trophies, last night we got an all-around trophy and tonight we got a third-place trophy. I didn't have one of these. I look at this team and I see a great team returning. It will be hard to replace Jim Koziol. He had his best meet of the year tonight. But Nebraska has a great foundation, a great tradition and we will be back.

"Michigan got hot and stayed hot all night. They got on a roll, the first guy up got a 9.5 and they just went up from there. I said in order to beat them, we needed to get on them early, but we didn't. I was surprised they picked the pommel horse, but they really did a great job and just continued that momentum throughout."

Nebraska gymnast Jason Hardabura...
"Michigan has a great team. I would like to say there was too much wind or something, but I can't. The best team on tonight. Our team didn't lose as individuals...we lost as a team. We stuck together and finished strong. That says a lot to me. Nebraska is back. We were third and we're looking forward to next year. That third place trophy will be replaced soon. We had some holes this year, but Marshall Nelson is back next year and we'll be back."