Nebraska Closes 2010 Season with Strong National Finish

The Nebraska women's gymnastics team gave a strong finish to the 2010 season at the NCAA Championships in Gainesville, Fla., placing seventh in the team competition and taking away and overall record of 23-8 on the year. Six Huskers earned seven All-America honors at the event, while two competitors (Evenstad and Skinner) qualified for individual event finals. Nebraska's appearance at the NCAA Championships was its 19th overall in program history.

Senior Kathryn Howard returned to the Husker lineup in 2010 bringing considerable experience and clutch performances over her time as a Husker. She earned the first All-America honors of her career at the 2010 NCAA Championships after posting a 9.85 on bars. Howard tallied five beam titles over the course of the season, as she posted a season-high 9.875 on beam two times in 2010 and hit a career-high 9.85 on bars against Iowa State. She was continually ranked in the top-20 on beam throughout the season. In addition to her leadership in the gym, Howard was also a leader for the Huskers in the classroom. She earned First-Team Academic All-Big 12 honors, making her a three-time honoree. She was also named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll for the third time.

Senior Kylie Stone led Nebraska in 2010 after earning her second All-America honor as a junior in 2009. She experienced an injury in the Masters Classic on Feb. 28, which sidelined her from the sport for the remainder of the season. Before her injury, Stone posted a career-high 9.85 on bars and was named the Big 12 Event-Specialist-of -the-Week for her performance against Missouri on Jan. 30. Despite not being able to participate in any meets, Stone was a key asset to the Huskers' success as a team in 2010. In addition, she was named a First-Team Academic All-Big 12 honoree and earned a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll.

The Calgary, Alberta native has ended her career at Nebraska with a total of 30 individual titles. She was the 2009 Big 12 Co-Gymnast of the Year and a three time All-Big 12 honoree.

Junior Erin Davis had a breakout year in 2010, highlighted by a perfect 10.0 on vault against Minnesota and Illinois on Jan. 15. It was the first perfect score of her career and made her the first Husker to receive such a mark since 2007. She was crowned the 2010 Big 12 and 2010 NCAA Lexington Regional Vault Champion, in addition to being named an All-Big 12 performer on the event. She earned Big 12 Event-Specialist-of-the-Week accolades on Jan. 19 and March 16, en route to tallying a career-high on vault of 10.0 and on floor of 9.90. Davis notched nine individual titles in 2010, and posted nine scores of 9.90 or better on vault over the course of the season. She was consistently ranked among the top-five vaulters in the country throughout the season.

Junior Brittnee Habbib kicked off the 2010 season in stellar form, earning the first event titles of her career against Washington on her way to totaling five individual event titles on the year, highlighted by being named the 2010 NCAA Lexington Regional Bars Champion. Habbib posted career-high marks of 9.90 on bars and 9.85 on beam in 2010 and earned First-Team Academic All-Big 12 accolades as well as being named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll.

Junior Maria Scaffidi was a consistent all-around performer for the Huskers in 2010. She entered the season by earning the second all-around title of her career at Washington. Scaffidi totaled six individual titles in 2010, including four in the all-around. She hit career highs of 9.85 on vault, 9.85 on beam, 9.90 on floor and 39.30 in the all-around during her junior campaign. In addition, she was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll for the second time and received Second-Team Academic All-Big 12 accolades.

Junior Maddie Steinauer started her Husker career as a solid contributor for NU on vault, beam and floor in 2010. She hit career-high scores on all events, highlighted by a 9.90 performance on vault at the 2010 Big 12 Championships, giving her a share of the vault crown. She notched another individual title at the Masters Classic. Steinauer earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Championship team and was named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll.

Sophomore Kristin Fyffe finished her second year with NU with career-high marks of 9.875 on vault and 9.80 on beam. She was honored as a First-Team Academic All-Big 12 selection an earned her second spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll.

Sophomore Lora Evenstad became a two-time All-American in 2010, earning first-team accolades on vault and second-team honors on floor at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Evenstad notched career-high scores of 9.90 on vault, 9.875 on bars and 9.925 on floor, as she eventually tallied eight individual titles on the season. She was the 2010 Big 12 vault and floor champion and earned All-Big 12 honors on vault. She hit nine score of 9.90 or better on floor during her sophomore campaign. Evenstad was also named a First-Team Academic All-Big 12 selection and earned a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll for the second time.

Sophomore Kassandra Nathe was named a second-team All-American on bars at the 2010 NCAA Championships. In her second year as a Husker, she tallied a career-high 9.85 on bars and 9.875 on beam, en route to posting two individual event titles. She earned a spot on the All-Big 12 Championship Team for placing second on beam at the Big 12 Championships. Nathe was also named a First-Team Academic All-Big 12 selection.

Freshman Hannah Bower played a key role as a reserve competitor for the Huskers in 2010. Although she did not see competition, her encouragement and support helped the Huskers achieve great success in 2010.

Freshman Janelle Giblin came on strong for the Huskers in postseason competition, earning second-team All-America honors on bars with a score of 9.85. She also hit a 9.725 on the event at the NCAA Lexington Regional. In addition, Giblin earned a spot on the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll.

Freshman Brittany Skinner earned First-Team All-America awards on vault at the 2010 NCAA Championships. Skinner competed in four meets as an all-arounder for NU, totaling career-highs of 9.875 on vault, 9.85 on bars, 9.825 on beam, 9.85 on floor and 39.125 in the all-around.

With the Huskers' 23-8 record, Head Coach Dan Kendig finished his 17th season at Nebraska with a program-best 394-151-4, continuing his impressive career as the winningest coach in NU women's gymnastics history. During Kendig's tenure, the Huskers have qualified for the NCAA Championships 13 times, making nine appearances at the Super Six Finals. Kendig has coached 38 All-Americans to 113 first- or second-team honors.

2010 Season Highlights

• NU finished with a 23-8 record and placed seventh at the NCAA Championships.
• Five Huskers earned a total of five All-America awards: senior Kathryn Howard (UB),  sophomore Lora Evenstad (V), sophomore Kassandra Nathe (UB), freshman Brittany Skinner (V), freshman Janelle Giblin (UB).
• Two Huskers earned All-Big 12 honors: sophomore Erin Davis (V), Evenstad(FX).
• Seven Huskers earned Academic All-Big 12 accolades: Evenstad (first-team), sophomore Kristin Fyffe (first-team), Brittnee Habbib (first-team), Howard (first-team), Nathe (first-team), senior Kylie Stone (first-team) and Scaffidi (second-team).
• Two Huskers were named Big 12 Event Specialist of the Week at least once in 2010: Davis (Jan. 19, March 16) and Stone (Feb. 2). One Husker earned Big 12 Gymnast of the Week honors in 2010: Scaffidi (March 23).
• 10 gymnasts were named to the Big 12 Commissioner's Fall Honor Roll: freshman Hannah Bower, Evenstad, Fyffe, Giblin, Habbib, Howard, Scaffidi, junior Maddie Steinauer, Stone and former Husker Tricia Woo.