Hawkeyes Edge Huskers in Home-Opener

Lincoln? The No. 14 Nebraska men’s gymnastics team posted a season-high score of 209.45, but was edged out by fifth-ranked Iowa, 209.45-209.60, Sunday afternoon at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in Lincoln.

 

Despite the loss the Huskers smashed their previous team season best of 198.475 by over 10 points, while improving team marks in all six events. NU also posted seven individual career-high scores in its first team action in two weeks.

 

"I think Iowa is a pretty good benchmark for Nebraska, and I think our guys did a good job meeting that mark," Head Coach Francis Allen said.  "They are all establishing that we're in this together, and they're all working hard."

 

Nebraska swept the top-three spots in two events, the vault and parallel bars, with senior Tony Burtle leading the way on the vault with a season high of 9.35 and senior Derric Wood taking top honors in the parallel bars with a career-high score of 8.90.  Wood also took first on the high bar with a remarkable career-high score of 9.45, besting his previous best of 8.70.

 

"Derric (Wood) has done a great job of getting back in the gym, and he's really stayed true to his goal to be a gymnast at Nebraska," Allen said.

 

Junior Jason Wassung also had an impressive afternoon with solid scores across the board that earned him a second-place all-around finish with a score of 52.45.

 

The Huskers started the meet on the floor exercise where junior Jon Charter began a string of high scores with a career-high of 8.05.  Senior Nick Moore followed with another career-high of 8.55 before Wood made his season debut on the event with a score of 8.35.  Senior Nic Matthews (8.80), junior Jason Wassung (8.75) and sophomore Stephen T?trault (8.75) also marked season-high scores in the event en route to a Husker team season-high of 34.90 for the floor exercise. Matthews tied with teammate Burtle for third in the event.

 

NU continued to roll throughout its next event beginning with season-high marks from senior Ray Hacker (7.90) and Moore (8.45) to begin on pommel horse. But it was T?trault who laid down the performance of the afternoon for Nebraska on the event with a score of 8.60 for third

 

Freshman T.J. Schmidt stepped up for NU on the still rings in his home debut, marking a season high of 8.35.  Wassung tied his season best in the event with an 8.65, while Hacker continued to impress on the rings with a career-high of 8.85 for third-place in the event.

 

After three events, the Huskers trailed Iowa, 104.95-102.10.  However, Nebraska was about to face their best event in the fourth rotation; the vault.

 

From the start, Nebraska proved why it is one of the top vaulting programs in the nation, as five of the six competitors marked either a season- or career-high score in the event and only two gymnasts earned scores below 9.0.  Freshman Jacob Ives set the tone for NU with a season-high 8.55, followed by season-highs from Matthews (9.10), Burtle (9.35) and Wassung (9.25).  NU’s lone career-high came from Moore who tabbed a solid mark of 9.25.

 

Overall, the Huskers swept the top five spots in the event with Burtle finishing first, Moore and Wassung tying for second, Matthews placing fourth and T?trault in fifth.

 

On the parallel bars, Ives landed another season-high score of 8.15 to lead off the event for Nebraska.  Wood followed with true senior leadership and presented a stellar performance for a career-high score of 8.90.  Schmidt came in right behind Wood in second with a score of 8.85, while Wassung rounded out the trio in third with a mark of 8.75.

 

Nebraska finished on the high bar where the seniors were active once again.  After a string of solid routines, Wood made his move and boasted a near perfect routine to the tune of a 9.40.  Burtle was the last competitor for the Huskers, but could not quite oust Iowa despite a stellar routine and the Hawkeyes ended up taking top team honors by just 25-hundreths of a point.

 

The Huskers, now 0-1 in dual competition, return to the road next weekend as they travel to Minneapolis, Minn., on Saturday, Feb. 18 to take on the Minnesota Golden Gophers at 7 p.m.  NU’s next home meet will be on Sunday, March 5 against the defending national champion Oklahoma Sooners.

 

Team Results              

Team                                        Score

1.  Iowa                                     209.60

2.  Nebraska                              209.45

 

 

Individual Event Results (Top Three)

Floor Exercise                           Score

1.  Michael Reavis, Iowa 9.70

2.  Curtis Kleffman, Iowa 8.95

3.  Nic Matthews, Nebraska        8.80

     Tony Burtle, Nebraska          

 

Pommel Horse                           Score

1.  Curtis Kleffman, Iowa 9.15

2.  Drew Ignoto, Iowa                  8.65

3.  Stephen T?trault, Nebraska    8.60

 

Still Rings                                 Score

1.  Jacques Bouchard, Iowa        9.40

2.  D. Mercado, Austin, Iowa       8.95

3.  Ray Hacker, Nebraska           8.80

 

Vault                                         Score

1.  Tony Burtle, Nebraska           9.35

2.  Nick Moore, Nebraska           9.25

     Jason Wassung, Nebraska   

 

Parallel Bars                              Score

1.  Derric Wood, Nebraska          8.90

2.  T.J. Schmidt, Nebraska         8.85

3.  Jason Wassung, Nebraska    8.75

 

High Bar                                    Score

1.  Derric Wood, Nebraska          9.45

2.  Michael Reavis, Iowa 9.25

3.  Bryan Bourland, Iowa 9.15

 

All-Around                                 Score

1.  Michael Reavis, Iowa 52.90

2.  Jason Wassung, Nebraska    52.45

3.  Curtis Kleffman, Iowa 51.70