Huskers Show Consistency in Iowa

Iowa City, Iowa--The No. 11 Nebraska men’s gymnastics team (4-8, 0-3 Big Ten) grappled lingering injuries and small mistakes to earn third with a 420.250 against No. 9 Iowa and No. 10 Minnesota in Iowa City, Iowa.

The Huskers were led by a series of career highs across all classes to boost NU to its third-place finish. Freshman Kyle King tied for the vault title with Minnesota’s Sean Bauer, achieving a 14.85 mark. Sophomores Travis Gollott and Chris Stephenson tabbed two career-high scores each. Gollott surged on high bar (14.05) and parallel bars (14.50), while Stephenson earned personal bests on floor (14.95) and parallel bars (14.50). Freshman Daniel Leal tied his career-best rings mark of 14.20 to help the Huskers in the Big Ten showdown.

The Huskers began the night on rings as the team overcame some uncharacteristic falls on dismounts to earn a 69.600. Leal led the way by tying his career-high 14.20 mark. Redshirt freshman Brenon Sommers added a personal best score of his own, notching a 14.05. Freshman Alex Magsam was close behind with a 13.95, while sophomore Coleman Tokar chipped in a 13.60.

Nebraska next moved to floor, where the team powered to a season-best 73.250 score led by Chris Stephenson. The sophomore tumbled to a personal best 14.95 to help the Huskers to its impressive event total. Freshman Kyle King put up a 14.85 in his meet debut, followed closely behind by sophomore Travis Gollott’s 14.80. Classmate Austin Epperson finished out the stellar floor rotation with a 14.75. The Huskers trailed Minnesota (145.550) and Iowa (144.950) after two rotations with a score of 142.850.

In the third rotation NU made its way to pommel horse as the Huskers struggled on dismounts, earning a 65.450. Leading the way for the Big Red was junior Ethan Lottman, who earned a 13.75 despite his fall. Junior Ryan Irick tied his personal-best 13.55 to boost the team, while senior Andrew House added a respectable 12.90 to round out the event. The Huskers remained in third behind Minnesota (219.500) and Iowa (218.650) with a running total of 208.400.

NU started out the second half of the meet on high bar powered by a pair of 14.05 scores from Gollott and Epperson, a career-high and season-high for the duo respectively. Stephenson offered a clean routine to add a 13.90, while Tokar pitched in a 13.60 to finish things up on the event. The Huskers continued to fight hard but trailed the Gophers (291.900) and the Hawkeyes (290.6500) with a 277.050 after four rotations.

On vault, the fifth event of the evening, Nebraska maintained momentum with clean landings to put up a 72.450. King set the tone on the event, earning a 14.85 for his effort. Leal notched a 14.55 to keep the pace, while Gollott contributed a 14.45 for his near-stuck vault. Senior Louis Klein finished things up with a 14.40, and the Huskers remained in third place with a team total of 349.600.

NU concluded the meet on parallel bars, where the Huskers scored a steady 70.650 paced by a 14.70 from Leal. Gollott and Stephenson added matching career-highs of 14.50 to keep things rolling for the Huskers. Junior All-American Sam Chamberlain battled injury throughout the week, but pushed through the pain to grab a 14.30.

The Huskers finished the meet with a team score of 420.250. Iowa took home the crown in front of the home crowd with a 435.600, while Minnesota earned second with a 433.600.

The Huskers will conclude its three-week road campaign by traveling to Las Vegas, Nev. for the Winter Cup Challenge. This meet is not affiliated with the NCAA and is based on individual competitors by invitation only. Freshman Kyle King will be Nebraska’s sole athlete competing in the meet. In addition to King, the competition will feature individuals from Air Force, Army, California, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio State, Stanford and UIC. Competition begins on Thursday, Feb. 19 and will be divided into two preliminary sessions in the morning and afternoon. Those who qualify to the Winter Cup Finals will compete again on Saturday, Feb. 21. More information about the meet will be released at a later date.

 

Name	Floor	Horse	Rings	Vault	P.Bars	High Bar	All-Around
Connor Adamsick	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Antonio Castro	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Sam Chamberlain	---	---	---	---	14.30	---	---
Austin Epperson	14.75	---	13.80	---	12.60	14.05	---
Josh Everitt	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Travis Gollott	14.80	12.65	---	14.45	14.50	14.05	---
Andrew House	---	12.90	---	---	---	---	---
Ryan Irick	---	13.55	13.20	---	---	---	---
Kyle King	14.85	12.60	---	14.85	---	---	---
Louis Klein	---	---	---	14.40	12.65	12.40	---
Robbie Kocks	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Daniel Leal	---	12.10	14.20	---	14.70	13.15	---
Ethan Lottman	13.40	13.75	---	---	---	---	---
Alex Magsam	---	---	13.95	14.00	---	---	---
Grant Perdue	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Sanjaya Roy	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Brenon Sommers	---	---	14.05	---	---	---	---
Chris Stephenson	14.95	---	---	---	14.50	13.90	---
Coleman Tokar	13.90	---	13.60	---	---	13.60	---
Josh Ungar	---	---	---	14.20	---	---	---
Andrew Zymball	---	---	---	---	---	---	---

 

Team Scores:

 

1. Iowa: 435.400

2. Minnesota: 433.600

3. Nebraska: 420.250