Schmidt Takes Home Title at Rocky Mountain Open

Colorado Springs, Colo. ? Behind a strong performance from sophomore T.J. Schmidt, the Nebraska men’s gymnastics team turned in a strong performance in the individual event finals of the Rocky Mountain Open Saturday afternoon.

Schmidt led the Husker contingent by capturing his first career event title, winning the pommel horse with a score of 8.55. Schmidt, who led NU to a runner-up finish in Friday night’s team competition, became the second Husker in as many years to capture the Rocky Mountain open pommel horse title, as Jason Wassung won the event in 2006.

Schmidt tied or set career bests in two of the three events he competed in on Saturday, matching his career best of 8.55 on pommel horse for the second straight day, while also tying for third on floor exercise with a mark of 8.30. The Blair, Neb., native also picked up his third top-three finish of the afternoon, as he placed second on the parallel bars with an 8.30.

Two other Huskers garnered top-four finishes in Saturday’s event finals. Jason Wassung placed third on parallel bars with an 8.15, while true freshman Josh Rusler finished fourth on the high bar with an 8.45, the best score by any Husker on the apparatus during the two days of competition.

"It’s a typical first meet of the season, especially with a young team," Nebraska Coach Francis Allen said after the meet. "We saw a lot of good things and also a lot of things we need to work on for next week."

The Huskers return to competition next Saturday, Jan.20, as they take on defending national champion Oklahoma and Air Force in a triangular dual meet in Norman, Okla., beginning at 1 p.m.