Huskers Clip Hawkeyes for First Dual Win

The No. 10 Nebraska gymnastics team upset the sixth-ranked Iowa Hawkeyes, 215.325-214.150, Saturday, Feb. 26 in Iowa City, Iowa.  This is the first dual victory of the season for the Huskers and their first dual win on the road since topping UC Santa Barbara in 2000.

 

NU took top honors in three events, two of which saw Huskers in all top three spots.  Nebraska swept both the all-around and the pommel horse, the all-around for the second consecutive time this season.  

 

Senior Mace Patterson stepped back into the leading role for the Huskers, winning his first event title of the season in the all-around with a season-high 53.35.  This was one of two titles for Patterson on the night as he also grabbed top honors on the parallel bars with a career-high 9.35. 

 

Wrapping up the top three spots for the Huskers in the all-around were freshman Stephen T?trault in second (53.05) and sophomore Jason Wassung in third (52.925).  Together, these three all-star all-arounders have swept the event in Nebraska’s last two meets against top 10 ranked teams.

 

“This is probably the best team performance our guys have had in two or three years,” Head Coach Francis Allen said.  “They came out on the pommel horse and stuck it right away and they never let go.”

 

Indeed the Huskers did come out impressively strong on the pommel horse in the opening rotation and gained a lead that they would hold all night.  Sophomore Paul Chumreonlert led the event for Nebraska, earning his second horse title of the season with a career-high 9.65.  Wassung also boasted a career best in the event with a 9.475 that landed him in second place, while T?trault rounded out the top three in third (9.20).

 

As Nebraska moved on to the still rings their success followed as the Huskers grabbed the second and third place positions in that event.  Chumreonlert finished second with a 9.20 and senior Steven Friedman tied Iowa’s Jack Bouchard for third (9.15).

 

Although NU failed to claim the top spot on vault for the first time in three weeks, they came close with vaulting favorite, T?trault, finishing second (9.45) just out of reach of Iowa’s Michael Reavis in first (9.50).  Patterson capped off third-place honors with a 9.40.

 

While Nebraska is used to performing well through the first four rotations, when it comes to the parallel bars and high bar, the Huskers have been doomed to undesirable results all season.  That changed against the Hawkeyes however as Patterson led the way with a brilliant performance on the parallel bars for first, while Wassung followed up in third (8.85).  Patterson continued his outstanding evening on the high bar where he tied Reavis for second with a 9.25.

 

“We have historically used Iowa to gauge our progress,” Allen said.  “These guys did an awesome job tonight and proved how talented they are.”

 

The match up in Iowa City, Iowa was Nebraska’s last away dual of the season.  The Huskers now return home for a pair of home meets beginning with Minnesota on Sunday, March 6 followed by Air Force on Sunday, March 13.  Both competitions will be held at the DevaneyCenter at 2 p.m. and will also host the Nebraska women’s team.

 

“We had a terrific meet against Iowa,” Allen said.  “It’s great to have that before a tough team like Minnesota because now I think we’ll really be ready for them and then Air Force.  This is hopefully just going to add kindling to the fire.”

 

Team Scoring

1. Nebraska ? 215.325

2. Iowa ? 214.150

 

Individual Event Results (Top Three Finishers and Highest Husker)

 

Floor Exercise                                       Score

1.  Shawn Stone ? Iowa                          9.20

2.  Curt Kleffman ? Iowa                          8.90

3.  Derric Wood ? Nebraska                    9.85

 

Pommel Horse                                       Score

1.  Paul Chumreonlert ? Nebraska           9.65 (Career-High)

2.  Jason Wassung ? Nebraska               9.475 (Career-High)

3.  Stephen T?trault ? Nebraska              9.20

4. Paul Chumreonlert ? Nebraska           9.35

 

Still Rings                                             Score

1.  Kenny Lin ? Iowa                               9.55

2.  Paul Chumreonlert ? Nebraska           9.20

3.  Steven Friedman ? Nebraska              9.15

     Jack Bouchard - Iowa

 

Vault                                                     Score

1.  Michael Reavis ? Iowa                       9.50

2.  Stephen T?trault ? Nebraska              9.45

3.  Mace Patterson ? Nebraska               9.40

 

 

Parallel Bars                                          Score

1.  Mace Patterson ? Nebraska               9.35 (Career-High)

2.  Linas Gaveika ? Iowa                         8.90

3. Jason Wassung ? Nebraska                8.85

   

   

High Bar                                                Score

1.       Linas Gaveika ? Iowa                        9.55

2.   Mace Patterson ? Nebraska              9.25

      Michael Reavis - Iowa

3.  Curt Kleffman ? Iowa                          9.00

 

All-Around                                             Score

1. Mace Patterson ? Nebraska                53.35 (Season-High)

2. Stephen T?trault ? Nebraska               53.05

   3. Jason Wassung ? Nebraska                52.925