Nebraska Signs Two to 2009-2010 Class

Lincoln- Nebraska signed two to its 2009 recruiting class, as Jamie Schleppenbach and Emily Wong are set to become Huskers next fall, Head Coach Dan Kendig announced.

Jamie Schleppenbach
(Lincoln, Neb.-Pius X High School, Nebraska School of Gymnastics)
Schleppenbach is a Level 10 gymnast from Nebraska School of Gymnastics in Lincoln, and is coached by Tim and Rachel Garrison. The winner of seven Nebraska state all-around titles, Schleppenbach earned second- place in the all-around at the Level 10 2009 Region IV Championships. She captured the 2005 and 2006 Level 9 Region IV all-around titles and has earned three top-ten finished at the Level 9 Junior Olympic Western Championships.

"We're excited about having Jamie join our team," Kendig said. "We feel like she is loaded with potential and will continue to get better and better. She is a great kid with a good work ethic. She will help us in a number of ways. It will be a really nice win-win situation for our team and for her."

A native of Lincoln, Schleppenbach attends Pius X High School where she has carried a 3.85 GPA throughout her high school career. She has also been involved in Club World-Aid and Students Organized Against Drugs and Alcohol as well as being a volunteer at Saint Elizabeth's Regional Medical Center and the Matt Talbot Kitchen.

"I have lived in Lincoln my whole life and grew up watching the Huskers," Schleppenbach said. "It has always been my dream to be a Husker gymnast and compete for Nebraska. I am very excited to stay in my hometown."

Emily Wong
(Grand Forks, North Dakota-Red River High School, Red River Valley Gymnastics)
Wong is a Level 10 gymnast from Red River Valley Gymnastics Club in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and is coached by James and JJ Bayer. The 2009 North Dakota vault, bars, beam and floor champion, Wong was also the North Dakota all-around champion in 2008. She took 10th on beam and 16th in the all-around at Nationals in 2009. At the 2009 Regional competition, she placed fifth in the all-around, third on beam, and fourth on bars.

"Emily is gifted and talented," Kendig said. "She has a quick twitch and I think she will immediately help our team become better. She has great skills on all four events and has a great attitude and loves to learn new things. She will be a joy to work with."

Wong is a native of Grand Forks, North Dakota., where she attends Red River High School. She is a member of National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society, A-Honor Roll and the track team.

"I decided to choose Nebraska because I like the school and the atmosphere in the gym among the coaches and gymnasts," Wong said. "I felt very comfortable (when I visited Nebraska) and I wanted to stay in the Midwest. It isn't as far away from home for me and there are so many opportunities for me academically and in gymnastics."

Nebraska opens its 2010 season on Jan. 8 at Washington. The Huskers' home opener is Jan. 15 against Minnesota and Illinois at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Nebraska hosts the 2010 Big 12 Championships on March 27.