Husker Gymnasts Finish in Top 35 at Winter Cup Challenge

Lincoln, Neb. -- At the conclusion of the second session of the Winter Cup Challenge, sophomore Mace Patterson and freshman Derric Wood finished the all-around competition in 26th and 32nd, respectively.  Patterson and Wood were the first Huskers selected to compete at the prestigious meet since Derek Leiter in 1999.  Brett McClure of the Olympic Training Center finished the all-around in first place with 54.950 points and three, first-place scores on the pommel horse, vault and parallel bars.  In all, there were 80 gymnasts competing for the two open slots on the U.S. National Team.

 

For the first time in his collegiate career, Patterson failed to break the 50 point mark in the all-around earning a 48.150.  His highest score of the evening came on the vault where he landed an 8.750, while his highest finish in the events came on the floor exercise with a 26th place tie (8.450).

 

Wood, of Lincoln, Neb., also recorded his highest score of the evening on the vault (8.80), but placed highest on the high bar in 28th (8.00).

 

As the conclusion of the first session of the Winter Cup Challenge, Patterson and wood stood in sixth and eighth place in the all-around.

 

Patterson and Wood, along with head coach Francis Allen and assistant coach Chuck Cmelka, will return to Lincoln to start preparing for their upcoming meet at No. 3 Ohio state, Friday, Feb. 14.