Huskers Victorious on Floor

Columbus, Ohio - The No. 11 Nebraska men's gymnastics team traveled to Ohio State University for the 2014 Arnold Challenge. The Huskers competed against No. 2 Michigan, No. 3 Ohio State, No. 8 Iowa, Arizona State and the Canadian National Team at St. John Arena at 2 p.m. CST on Saturday. NU earned a team score of 424.750, finishing in fourth behind the Wolverines (437.500), the Hawkeyes (431.600) and the Buckeyes (429.500).

The Huskers started on still rings, where they continued to see strong results with a team score of  71.700. Redshirt freshman Austin Epperson led the Huskers on the event, tying for tenth overall with a score of 14.65. Junior Robbie Kocks, ranked No. 13 on the event nationally, earned a 14.60, tying him for the No. 12 spot with Ohio State's Alex Johnson.

NU then moved to vault for their second rotation. True freshmen Antonio Castro and Travis Gollott struggled on the event, earning a 13.75 and 13.80 respectively. Senior Wyatt Aycock earned the highest score for Nebraska, grabbing a 14.45. This put the All-American in a three-way tie for seventh overall. He was followed by juniors Josh Ungar (T13, 14.20) and Grant Perdue (T17, 14.05).

Nebraska then moved to parallel bars to finish up the first half of the meet. Aycock led the team once again, earning a 14.85 and finishing in fourth behind three Michigan gymnasts. Teammate Eric Schryver finished eighth with a score of 14.50. Returning All-American on parallel bars, Sam Chamberlain, struggled on the event, earning a 14.00. Gollott and Epperson rounded out the lineup, grabbing a score of 13.55 and 13.35 respectively.

The Huskers then moved to high bar, earning a team score of 69.950 on the event. Schryver led Nebraska with a solid routine, earning a 14.65 and tying for ninth place overall. Epperson just barely missed his personal best on the event, earning a 14.50. This score placed him at No. 11, just behind Schryver. Junior Louis Klein, Castro and sophomore Ethan Lottman all finished behind the two, unable to beat 13.80

NU pushed to improve their performances late in the meet, seeing a team score of 73.950 on floor. Perdue, a former All-American on the event, came in second overall, earning a score of 15.25. Gollott came close behind, finishing in fourth overall with a score of 15.15. Andrew House returned to the competitive scene with a bang, earning a 14.90 for his routine. This placed him at sixth, tied with Iowa's Matt Loocthan. Ungar (14.35) and Epperson (14.30) followed behind the three.

The Huskers looked to finish the meet strong on their final rotation, pommel horse. An event where they have struggled in the past, Nebraska finished the event with a team score of 68.600. Gollott led on the event, tying for the No. 13 spot with a score of 14.00. Aycock finished just behind with a 13.95, followed by Schryver with a 13.90. Castro (13.65) and Lottman (13.10) rounded out the lineup on the event.

Nebraska finished out the meet with a total team score of 424.750. The team earned the best team score on floor exercise, beating out second place, Iowa, by 1.15 points. Junior Grant Perdue claimed the only top three individual finish for the Huskers, claiming second on floor. Travis Gollott (4th, floor) and Wyatt Aycock (4th, parallel bars) finished in the top five individually.

NU will continue on to Norman, Okla., where they will face the No. 1 Oklahoma Sooners on March 9 at 4 p.m. They will then return home to host Iowa, Minnesota, Air Force and Illinois for senior night on March 15.

Name	Floor	Horse	Rings	Vault	P.Bars	High Bar	All-Around
Donovan Arndt	---	---	14.55	---	---	---	---
Wyatt Aycock	---	13.95	---	14.45	14.85	---	---
Antonio Castro	---	13.65	---	13.75	---	13.60	---
Sam Chamberlain	---	---	---	---	14.00	---	---
Austin Epperson	14.30	---	14.65	---	13.35	14.50	---
Travis Gollott	15.15	14.00	---	13.85	13.55	---	---
Zach Hedval	---	---	14.45	---	---	---	---
Andrew House	14.90	---	---	---	---	---	---
Louis Klein	---	---	---	---	---	13.80	---
Robbie Kocks	---	---	14.60	---	---	---	---
Ethan Lottman	---	13.10	---	---	---	13.40	---
Grant Perdue	15.25	---	13.45	14.05	---	---	---
Eric Schryver	---	13.90	---	---	14.50	14.65	---
Josh Ungar	14.35	---	---	14.20	---	---	---

 

Team Score	Total
Michigan	437.400
Iowa	431.600
Ohio State	429.500
Nebraska	424.750
Canadian National Team	401.300
Arizona State	401.050