Nebraska Qualifies for NCAA Championships

The No. 9 Nebraska men's gymnastics team will make its 21st postseason appearance in school history when it travels to the 2000 NCAA Men's Gymnastics Championships March 30-April 1, in Iowa City, Iowa.

The 2000 national meet will feature a new format designed by the NCAA Gymnastics Committee. A National Qualifying Meet will replace the East and West Regionals to determine the team and individual fields for the NCAA Championships. The nation's top 12 teams, best 12 all-arounders not on those teams and best 12 gymnasts in each of the six individual events will be invited to the National Qualifier.

The 12 teams will be seeded into two six-team divisions, the first competing at 1 p.m., and the second competing at 7 p.m. ,Thursday, March 30. The Huskers will compete in the morning session with No. 1 Michigan, No. 4 Ohio State, No. 5 Penn State, No. 8 Illinois and No. 13 Massachusetts, which received an automatic bid by winning Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference.

From each session, the top three teams and the top three all-around competitors not on one of the qualifying teams, plus the top three individuals on each event not already qualified on a team or as an all-around competitor will advance to the NCAA Team and All-Around Finals Friday, March 30, at 7 p.m. The top eight gymnasts on each of the six individual events during the NCAA Team and All-Around Finals will earn a spot in the Individual Event Finals Saturday, April 1, at 2 p.m.

The Huskers secured a spot with a season-best score of 228.225 at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships March 17, in Colorado Springs, Colo. NU Coach Francis Allen said that the score, which was nearly four points higher than their previous season best, has resulted in new optimism in the Huskers. Despite his team's struggles this season, Allen likes Nebraska's chances to advance to Friday's team finals.

"Things are different now," Allen said. "I can just tell from the energy I see in my guys. They're excited. Before, there wasn't that much to be excited about. For them to accomplish this after everything we've been through this season is a really big deal."

The Huskers finished third at last season's NCAA Championships in Lincoln. This year mark's their 30th appearance overall and their eighth trip in the 1990s. Allen has led Nebraska to eight national titles, most recently during the 1994 season.

NCAA Championships Ticket Information
All-session tickets are $25 for adults and $15 for students. Tickets for Session I are $10 for adults and $5 for students, and all other single-session tickets are $12 for adults and $6 for students. Tickets are available from the University of Iowa Athletic Ticket Office at (319) 335-9327.

NU Optimistic about NCAAs
Regarded as a top contender for the 2000 national title in January, the Huskers were forced to set new goals when Jason Hardabura, the 1999 NCAA all-around champion, and Marshall Nelson, a three-time NCAA champion, suffered season-ending injuries. Injuries to Blake Bukacek (Lincoln, Neb.),who finished second on high bar at nationals last season, and junior Grant Clinton (Katy, Texas) left Nebraska competing with only four gymnasts on high bar and still rings for much of the season. NU hit its low point the final week of February when it posted back-to-back scores less than 220 for the first time since the NCAA switched to a four-scoring format after the 1995 season.

The Huskers began turning things around at Minnesota March 11, with a then-season-best 224.55. The following week at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, Nebraska posted a season-high 228.225.

"We needed that," NU Coach Francis Allen said. "The guys' excitement and their energy level is so much higher now. I think we're really ready to do some good things at the national meet."

The improvement of Clinton and Bukacek as well as senior co-captain Derek Leiter's gradual climb to the top of the national rankings sparked the Huskers' revival. Leiter, a Lincoln Southeast graduate, finished the season ranked first nationally on vault (9.883), second in the all-around (57.867), ninth on high bar (9.75) and 10th on pommel horse (9.75). Leiter scored a career-high 58.3 in the all-around at the MPSF Championships, the highest mark of any Husker in five years.

Jakub on the rise
On the way to posting a team-high 228.225 at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships, the Huskers received an scoring boost from an unlikely source.

Nebraska sophomore Dusty Jakub (Lincoln, Neb.) produced back-to-back career-best marks on parallel bars with a 9.5 at the MPSF team competition March 17, and a 9.725 March 18, at the individual finals, a mark that placed him second in the event. Jakub's finish marked the first time during his collegiate career that he has placed among the top three gymnasts in an event.

"It was great to see Dusty do that," Allen said. "He was really excited, and the rest of the guys were were excited and really happy for him, too. It gave everyone a lift."

Jakub, a Lincoln High graduate, scored less than 9.0 five of the first six times he competed on parallel bars this season. But during his last three appearances in the event, Jakub produced three consecutive career-best marks.

Leiter wins MPSF honor
In near-unanimous fashion, Nebraska senior Derek Leiter (Lincoln, Neb.) was voted the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Athlete of the Year by his fellow competitors after the conference's championships meet March 17-18. Leiter's win marks the third straight season that a Husker gymnast has received the honor. NU's Jason Hardabura (Oakville, Ontario) the 1999 NCAA all-around champion, won the honor last year, and three-time NCAA champion Marshall Nelson received the distinction in 1988.

Throughout the Huskers' unpredictable, injury-plagued season, Leiter has been their rock. The senior co-captain ranks first in the nation on vault (9.883), second in the all-around (57.867), ninth on high bar (9.75) and 10th on pommel horse (9.75).

Individually, Leiter's best event has been the vault, where he has scored 9.70 or higher eight times this year and 9.90 or higher four times. He claimed vault titles in all but two of NU's eight meets. In his final home meet Feb. 27 against Oklahoma, Leiter produced a career-high 9.95 on vault, earning a perfect 10 from one judge.

Last weekend at the MPSF Championships, Leiter posted a career-high all-around score of 58.3. The Lincoln Southeast graduate has scored 57 or higher in six straight meets and was ranked No. 1 nationally in the all-around for two weeks in March.

In eight appearances this season, Leiter, a 1998 All-American, has won the all-around title six times and finished second three times. Overall, Leiter has won 20 event titles.

All about Asher
During the past three weeks, senior Asher Lichterman has tied or bettered season bests on parallel bars (9.625), vault (9.75) and still rings (9.75).

Lichterman has been most consistent on vault, scoring 9.6 or higher in seven of NU's nine meets. Lichterman, who qualified individually for the 1999 national meet on vault, is ranked eighth nationally on the event. He placed third with a season-best 9.75 at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation individual finals March 17.

Lichterman's individual performance has often been indicative of NU's team score. In the Huskers' worst meet this season (216.67 at Iowa), Lichterman scored 9.0 or lower on four events. In Nebraska's best meet in 2000 (224.55 at Minnesota), Lichterman posted a career-best 9.625 on parallel bars and tied a career-high on vault with a 9.775.

Lichterman, the 1999 MPSF vault champion, is a three-time NCAA qualifier on still rings and also qualified on vault in 1999.

Clinton Returns
After a six-week absence, junior Grant Clinton (Katy, Texas) has returned to the to the Nebraska lineup, and the Huskers are reaping the benefits.

At the Mountain Pacific Sports Championships March 17, Clinton tied a career-high on rings with a 9.70. Clinton, who had competed in only three meets this season because of muscle spasms in his lower back and right shoulder, also produced a season-best 9.525 on high bar.

With Clinton back in the lineup, the Huskers posted season-highs on floor exercise (38.125), still rings (38.675) and high bar (38.075) on the way to a season-best 228.225 team score.

"Getting Grant was huge for us," Allen said. "He's a 9.5 on rings and a 9.5 on vault. We've been counting 9.0s and 8.8s without him."

The Huskers have felt Clinton's absence the most in their still rings lineup. Without Clinton, NU has been forced to compete with only four gymnasts in the still rings four of its seven meets. During those four meets, Nebraska was forced to count scores of 9.0 or lower seven times.

Clinton was ranked 14th nationally on still rings in 1999 (9.621) when he had six straight scores of 9.6 or better. His career high is a 9.70.

NCAA Husker history
Nebraska is making its 30th NCAA Championship appearance in school history. Since the team format began in 1966, Nebraska has appeared at the NCAAs 21 times, including this season. The Huskers have eight titles and seven runner-up finishes in that time, while also finishing fourth, fifth (twice) and seventh.

Nebraska at the NCAAs
Under Coach Jake Geier

Year	Place	Points
1948	Eighth	1.5
1954	15th (tie)	3
1955	Ninth (tie)	10
1956	14th	10.5
1958	18th (tie)	4
1959	17th	6
1960	20th	5.5
1962	10th	11
1963	14th	10
1964	11th	18

Under Coach Francis Allen

Year	Place	Score
1975	Fifth	424.40
1976	Fourth	421.05
1979	First	488.275
1980	First	563.30
1981	First	284.60
1982	First	285.50
1983	First	287.80
1984	Fifth	277.65
1985	Second	284.55
1986	Second	283.60
1987	Second	284.75
1988	First	288.15
1989	Second	282.30
1990	First	287.40
1991	Seventh	282.20
1992	Second	275.50
1993	Second	288,25
1994	First	288.25
1995	Second	231.525
1999	Third	229.60

Note: Team format began in 1966

The 1999 NCAA Field

Below is a list of the teams and their last NCAA appearances and finishes. All of the six teams that competed at the 1999 NCAA Championships advanced to this season's new 12-team qualifying field. Four of the six teams will compete in the first session, including 1999 national champion Michigan, runner-up Ohio state and third-place Nebraska.

Session I (1 p.m., March 31)

Team	2000 Ranking	1999 NCAA Finish
Michigan	1st	First
Ohio State	4th	Second
Penn State	5th	Fourth
Illinois	8th	DNQ
Nebraska	9th	Third
Massachusetts	13th	DNQ

Session II (7 p.m., March 31)

Team	2000 Ranking	1999 NCAA Finish
Oklahoma	2nd	DNQ
California	3rd	DNQ
Iowa	6th	DNQ
Michigan State	7th	DNQ
Brigham Young	10th	Fifth
Stanford	11th	Sixth

1999 NCAA recap
Lincoln (April 22-23, 1999) - The Michigan men's gymnastics team took the lead after its first event Friday, April 22, and never relinquished it en route to winning its first national title since 1970. The Wolverines scored a season-best and nation-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. 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 .10

Senior Jim Koziol paced the Huskers, tying his career high with a 56.95 and tying his best score set as a sophomore. Hardabura, Blake Bukacek and Koziol added four All-America awards and one individual title Saturday night as the 1999 NCAA Gymnastics meet concluded before a crowd of 1,422 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center.

Hardabura, a sophomore from Oakville, Ontario, captured first place on the floor exercise two days after winning the all-around title. His score of 9.8 tied a career high set Thursday in the team-preliminary competition and provided NU with its 40th individual national championship.

Bukacek, a junior from Lincoln, placed second on the horizontal bar with a 9.825. Hardabura was fourth on the same event at 9.6875, and Koziol, from Millard South, earned his second All-America honor on the still rings with a sixth-place finish and a score of 9.7.Koziol became just the fourth Husker to win two or more All-America honors on still rings.

Other individual championships went to Brigham Young's Guard Young (9.8125 on the vault) and Cortney Bramwell (9.925 on the still rings); Penn State's Brandon Stefanik with a 9.775 on the pommel horse; and Justin Toman of Michigan, who scored a 9.8375 on the parallel bars.

2000 Team Event Rankings

Event	Rank	RQS
Floor Exercise	14th	37.275
Pommel Horse	8th	38.158
Still Rings	11th	37.458
Vault	8th	37.975
Parallel Bars	6th	37.733
High Bar	9th	37.108
Team Score	9th	225.283

2000 Individual Event Rankings

Gymnast	Event	Rank	RQS
Blake Bukacek	PH	19th	9.65
Derek Leiter	AA	2nd	57.867
	SR	14th	9.658
	V	1st	9.883
	HB	9th	9.75
	PH	10th	9.75
Asher Lichterman	V	8th	9.667
	PB	18th	9.452