Huskers Gain Experience at Winter Cup

Las Vegas, Nev. ? Nebraska senior Tony Burtle and sophomore Stephen T?trault went head-to-head against some of the nation’s top gymnasts at the Sports Center Arena in Las Vegas, Nev., on Thursday in the preliminary round of the 2006 Winter Cup.  Although T?trault finished 16th overall in Session I with a score of 78.90 and Burtle tallied a total of 53.75 through four events in Session II, neither advanced to the event finals.

 

The meet marked the first men’s use of the new scoring system adopted by the International Gymnastics Federation last year.  Under this new system, points are awarded for both content and execution with an individual likely scoring above the 10.0-mark, which is normally considered the top tier in gymnastics.  This measurement differs drastically from the NCAA system implemented this season throughout the college ranks.

 

T?trault’s strongest event was the vault where he notched a score of 15.75 and tied for ninth-place.  However, his highest-placing discipline was the parallel bars where he finished seventh in the session with a score of 13.60.

 

“Stephen (T?trault) did a nice vault, a good floor routine and a real nice set on parallel bars,” Head Coach Francis Allen said.  “This is a high profile meet and there is a lot of pressure on these guys and he was able to step up to the challenge and have a solid day.”

 

Defending Winter Cup all-around champion David Durante of Team Chevron finished on top in Session I with a score of 89.55 followed by Iowa’s Michael Reavis who finished second with an 85.95.

 

Burtle followed with his Winter Cup debut during Session II.  His highest score came off of the vault where he marked a 14.90, while his highest place was on the floor exercise where he finished 18th with a score of 13.65.

 

“For his first time at a meet like this, Tony (Burtle) did a real nice job,” Allen said.  “He was good on floor exercise and high bar.  He missed his vault, which is too bad because he really is a phenomenal vaulter, but those things happen and I was happy to see him do some pretty clean routines today.”

 

Oklahoma’s Jonathan Horton took top honors for Session II with a total score of 88.35 followed by 2005 Nissen-Emery award-winner Guillermo Alvarez in second (87.35).  Nebraska recruit Kyle Shanahan also competed, finishing 14th overall in Session II (81.90) and eighth on the pommel horse (13.80).

 

Of the nearly 80 entrants at the 2006 Winter Cup, 42 continue on to the event finals on Saturday where the field for the 2006 U.S. Nationals will be decided.

 

The Nebraska men’s gymnastics team will be back in action on Sunday, Feb. 12, as NU returns to Lincoln for its first home meet of the season to play host to the Iowa Hawkeyes beginning at 2 p.m. at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.