Husker men's gymnastics hammer Air Force, 210.35-202.525

Nebraska's 13th-ranked men's gymnastics team turned in its best performance of the season in the regular-season finale on Friday night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center with a 210.35-202.525 win over 18th-ranked Air Force in front of a crowd of 475.

Steven Friedman picked up his second all-around title of the season with a career-high 52.65. NU freshman Mace Patterson finished second in the first all-around competition on his career with a 51.30.

"That is what a team is supposed to come out and do," Head Coach Francis Allen said. "That is the kind of performance we have to have each and every time out. Now, we have to continue to improve on this every time. I really am pleased to see us finally get the chemistry right.

"Every guy that went out tonight did a great job. We really needed this meet as a team to get things headed in the right direction with the MPSF Championships coming up next week."

NU opened on the floor exercise with a season-high score of 35.60. Friedman led the way with an 8.95, as Karl Nessi and Josh Rasile both recorded 8.90s. Friedman picked up his first event win on the season, while Nessi and Rasile tied for second. The Huskers jumped out to a commanding lead after the first rotation, 35.60-32.50.

The momentum continued to build on the pommel horse, as the Huskers posted their top score of the season with a 34.30. Martin Fournier (8.70) and Mace Patterson (8.65) scored season highs, while Ryan Sneed (8.70) tied his season high. Fournier and Sneed shared the event title, which was the first for any Husker on the pommel horse this season.

Nebraska recorded a team mark of 35.35 to extend its lead to 105.25-102.75 after three rotations. Rasile won his first rings title of the season with a 9.15, as Steven Friedman finished second with a 9.10. It was the first meet of the season for NU without senior team leader Grant Clinton, who has led the way on the rings throughout the year.

Rasile won his second event title of the night with a 9.575 on the vault, which is the highest score on any event for the Huskers this season. Sneed's 9.30 was good enough for second, while Friedman finished third with a 9.10. After four rotations, NU lengthened its lead to 142.225-136.575.

With the meet firmly in hand, the Huskers recorded a 33.95 on the parallel bars. Friedman picked up the event win with a season-high score of 8.70. Following five rotations, Nebraska extended its lead to 176.175-169.575.

Patterson picked up the first event win of his career with an 8.60 on the horizontal bar. NU posted a 34.15 as a team, its second-best score of the season. Fournier and Friedman tied for second with an 8.55.

Nebraska will return to action next Friday, March 22, at the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in Colorado Springs, Colo., at 8 p.m.

Team Scoring FX PH SR V PB HB Total
1. Nebraska 35.600 34.300 35.350 36.975 33.950 34.150 210.350
2. Air Force 34.400 32.500 33.850 35.825 33.000 32.950 202.525

All-Around
1. Steven Friedman (NU) 52.650
2. Mace Patterson (NU) 51.300
3. Aaron Jackson (AF) 51.200

Nebraska Individual Scoring
Floor Exercise - 35.70
Karl Nessi 8.90
Tony Burtle 8.55
Ryan Sneed 8.20
Josh Rasile 8.90
Mace Patterson 8.85
Steven Friedman 8.95

Pommel Horse - 34.30
Adam Tietze 7.75
Martin Fournier 8.70
Josh Rasile 7.10
Ryan Sneed 8.70
Mace Patterson 8.65
Steven Friedman 8.25

Still Rings - 35.30
Martin Fournier 8.35
Jeff Kelly 8.75
Mace Patterson 8.20
Josh Rasile 9.15
Steven Friedman 9.10

Vault - 36.975
Tony Burtle 8.90
Adam Tietze 8.90
Martin Fournier 9.00
Ryan Sneed 9.30
Steven Friedman 9.10
Josh Rasile 9.575
Mace Patterson 8.70

Parallel Bars -33.950
Karl Nessi 7.10
Josh Koopman 8.45
Martin Fournier 7.55
Ryan Sneed 8.50
Mace Patterson 8.30
Steven Friedman 8.70

Horizontal Bar -34.150
Martin Fournier 8.55
Josh Koopman 8.30
Tony Burtle 8.45
Ryan Sneed 7.90
Mace Patterson 8.60
Steven Friedman 8.55