Huskers Host Top-Ranked Buckeyes In Dual Meet

Lincoln, Neb.- After having the last week off, the Huskers return to competition this weekend, Sunday, Feb. 15, at 7:30 p.m. at the Devaney Sports Center to host top-ranked Ohio State.  The meet is scheduled as a dual with the Nebraska women’s team, who will also take on the Ohio State women’s team.

Although the majority of the Nebraska men’s team enjoyed a week of rest, one Husker gymnast, junior Mace Patterson, remained in competition as he traveled to Las Vegas for the 2004 Winter Cup.  Patterson took 41st overall in the all-around with a score of 49.40 against many of the top U.S. amateurs.

Patterson returns to Lincoln this weekend and joins the rest of the Huskers in search of their first home win of the season.  The last time Nebraska competed in Lincoln against Iowa on Jan. 25 they managed to generate a score of 213.975, which fell just short of their 2003 team high of 214.625.  The Huskers also performed well individually, as six different Nebraska gymnasts combined for ten career high scores, four of which came from Patterson.

Coming off of a successful campaign at the West Point Open two weeks ago where they finished second of nine teams just behind second-ranked Penn State, the Huskers should be primed for competition against a very tough Ohio State roster.  However, Nebraska has struggled on the parallel bars and horizontal bar in 2004, two events that the Buckeyes lead the nation in.

Scouting The Buckeyes

The top-ranked, Buckeyes travel to Lincoln this weekend for their first encounter with Nebraska this season.  Although several of the Buckeye gymnasts competed against Nebraska’s Mace Patterson last weekend at the Winter Cup, the two teams have yet to go head to head.

In 2004, Ohio State has competed behind the extraordinary efforts of junior Randy Monahan.  A native of Elizabethtown, Penn., Monahan has set several records this season, including an NCAA record in the all-around with a score of 56.00.  Monahan is currently ranked number one nationally in the all-around

In addition, Monahan is a triple recipient of both NCAA and Big Ten Gymnast-of-the-Week honors, the most of recent of which occurred the past week as he shared the Big Ten title with Justin Spring of Illinois.

Junior Cody Trobaugh has also been a major asset to the Buckeye roster.  In 2000, prior to his Ohio State career, Trobaugh competed at the U.S. Gymnastics Championships where he finished third on the floor, vault, and parallel bars.  Over the last several years, he has competed at the NCAA Championships a number of times, and in 2003 he placed eighth on both floor exercise (8.675) and rings (9.437).  2004 has been no different for Trobaugh who is currently ranked fourth on rings, sixth on vault just ahead of Nebraska’s Josh Rasile, and third on parallel bars.

Other Buckeye gymnasts to watch for are freshman Willie Ito, who competed at last weekend’s Winter Cup, and Kerry Adderly, a two time All-American on the floor.  

Three Huskers Earn Big 12 Honors

Three Nebraska men’s gymnasts were honored this last week as a part of the Big 12 Commisioners Fall Honor Roll.  Senior Steven Friedman, junior Adam Tietze, and freshman Paul Chumreonlert all completed the necessary academic requirements to become a part of this elite group.  Friedman, who has redshirted during the 2004 season due to shoulder surgery, is in his fourth year at the University and is a finance major.  Tietze, who competes on pommel horse and still rings for the Huskers, is in his third year and is studying social sciences education.  Chumreonlert is in his first year and has yet to declare a major.

Husker Spotlight:  Who To Watch For

One of Nebraska’s top performers for this evening’s competition will be senior captain Josh Rasile, who is nationally ranked at the number five and seven spots in the still rings and vault, respectively.  Rasile is the highest ranking Husker of the 2004 roster and ties with Patterson for individual event titles on the season with three, two on the vault and one on rings.

Another Nebraska gymnast to watch will be sophomore Ray Hacker.  Hacker, a native of Fairfax, Va., has come into his own in 2004,  setting a total of eight career high records including a 50.75 in the all-around for an eighth place finish at the West Point Open a few weeks back.

Back in action this week for the Huskers is freshman Jason Wassung.  Wassung, a graduate of Lincoln East High School in Lincoln, has been injured since the beginning of the season, and was not able to participate at all until the West Point Open.  There, he competed in two events, the floor exercise and vault, and put up impressive scores of 8.50 and 8.95 respectively, during his first collegiate meet.