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Lincoln, Neb.- The Nebraska men's gymnastics team is ranked at No. 7 in the Big Ten preseason Coaches' Poll, the conference released Thursday. Ohio State, which finished second at the 2014 Big Ten Championships, claims the No. 1 spot.
Big Ten and defending national champion Michigan is ranked at No. 2 in the poll. Illinois and Penn State come in at No. 3 and No. 4, respectively. The Huskers will face Minnesota (No. 5) twice during the regular season, including a quadrangular with Penn State and Iowa (No. 6) on Senior Night at the Bob Devaney Sports Center March 15.
In addition to NU's preseason conference ranking, seniors Robbie Kocks and Grant Perdue were named to the Gymnasts to Watch list for 2015.
Once a walk-on, Kocks enters in his final season looking to earn his first All-America honors. He was the Big Ten bronze medalist on rings at the 2014 Big Ten Championships, setting the school record with a 15.60. At the 2014 NCAA Championships, Kocks led the rings lineup on the first night of competition and earned a berth into the Individual Finals.
Joining Kocks on the Gymnasts to Watch list is All-American Grant Perdue, who is expected to return as NU's leader on vault and floor for his senior season in 2015. Over the course of his career, Perdue has claimed 11 vault and seven floor titles, including one on each event in the 2014 season. Perdue competed in the Individual Finals on both events at the 2014 NCAA Championships, coming up just shy of All-America honors.
The Huskers will begin 2015 competition at the Rocky Mountain Open on Jan. 17 at 7p.m. in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Big Ten Men's Preseason Coaches' Poll:
- Ohio State
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Penn State
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- Nebraska
Big Ten Men's Gymnasts to Watch List:
Christopher “C.J.” Maestas, Jr., Illinois
Jordan Valdez, Sr., Illinois
Lance Alberhasky, Sr., Iowa
Matthew Loochtan, Jr., Iowa
Adrian de los Angeles, Sr., Michigan
Michael Strathern, Jr., Michigan
Steve Jaciuk, Sr., Minnesota
Ellis Mannon, Sr., Minnesota
Robbie Kocks, Sr., Nebraska
Grant Perdue, Sr., Nebraska
Jake Martin, Jr., Ohio State
Sean Melton, So., Ohio State
Trevor Howard, Jr., Penn State
Nestor Rodriguez, Sr., Penn State