Laeng Wins Bars, Huskers Take Third at Big Tens

Ann Arbor, Mich.--The No. 10 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team battled through some early wobbles to take third at the Big Ten Championships with a 196.875, placing behind title-winner Michigan (197.825) and Illinois (197.350).

A series of career highs highlighted the meet for NU, helping the team to its third place finish while competing in the evening session. Sophomore Jennie Laeng grabbed the first Big Ten title of her career with a personal best 9.95 on bars, tying with Michigan’s Nicole Artz. Senior Desire’ Stephens added a career high 9.90 on bars, while freshman Danielle Breen put up two career bests of the night on bars (9.875) and beam (9.85). Junior Hollie Blanske led the floor lineup once again with a 9.90, tying for fifth on the event. Senior Jessie DeZiel tied for fifth on vault with a big 9.90.

The Huskers began the evening on beam for the first rotation, where the team fought through some wobbles and balance checks to attain a 48.725. Leading the way for the Big Red was freshman Danielle Breen, who earned a career high-tying 9.85 in the leadoff spot. Sophomore Jennie Laeng followed up with a 9.775, while Blanske notched a 9.75 for her routine. Williams chipped in a 9.725, while DeZiel overcame some wobbles to earn a 9.625.

Illinois began competition on vault with a powerful 49.400 led by junior Giana O’Connor’s 9.925. Minnesota was right behind coming off of a 49.325 floor rotation. Junior Lindsay Mable paved the way for the Gophers, earning a 9.925 for her performance. Penn State began on bars, putting up a 49.275 with help from freshman Briannah Tsang’s 9.90. After one rotation, the Huskers trailed in fourth with its 48.725 beam score. Illinois took the lead, followed by Minnesota and Penn State. Michigan and Ohio State began on a bye.

Nebraska and Illinois moved to a bye in the second rotation of the evening. Michigan opened up its competition on floor tumbling to a strong 49.450, with a pair of 9.925’s from Talia Chiarelli and Sachi Sugiyama. Minnesota took to the vault with a nice 49.375 paced by Mable’s near-stuck 9.95. Penn State rotated to beam and earned a 49.000 even with a 9.85 from Christina Postiglione. Ohio State began on bars for its first event of the evening, earning a 48.875. Tenille Funches led the Buckeyes with a 9.85.

For the third rotation of the night, NU went to floor and scored an impressive 49.350. Blanske led the way for NU with a near-perfect 9.90. Lambert and Williams followed up with identical 9.875 marks, while DeZiel and Stephens added matching 9.85s. Lauer closed out the floor squad with a 9.825 to give the Huskers a boost after a shaky beam rotation.

Illinois wrapped things up on bars in the third rotation paced by Mary Jane Horth’s 9.925, leading the Illini to a 49.425 score. Michigan moved to vault and put up a powerful 49.400 led with a 9.90 from Chiarelli. Ohio State encountered a few mistakes on beam to grab a 48.875, led by a 9.85 from Funches. Minnesota and Penn State both had byes.

For the fourth rotation of the meet, Nebraska went to vault to tally a 49.350. DeZiel set the tone with her almost-stuck 9.90. Williams followed suit with a stuck 9.875, as Blanske, Lambert and Laeng produced a trio of 9.85s. Stephens wrapped things up on vault with a 9.80 to put the Huskers at a running total of 147.400.

Illinois moved to beam in the fourth rotation, notching a 49.275 led by senior Sunny Kato, who posted a 9.90. Penn State took to the floor for the fourth rotation and garnered a 49.175. Minnesota encountered a couple falls on bars, but mustered a 48.575 led by Jenny Covers’ 9.90. Ohio State and Michigan each had byes in the fourth rotation.

Both the Huskers and Illinois went to byes in the fifth rotation of the evening. Michigan produced a stellar bar rotation with a 49.525 led by a 9.95 from Nicole Artz. Penn State put up a 49.275 on vault paced by a pair of 9.90s from Sidney Sanabria-Robles and Emma Sibson. Minnesota grappled beam to earn a 49.175 with a 9.90 from Mable. Ohio State earned a 48.975 after suffering an injury on floor led by 9.825s from Taylor Harrison and Alexis Mattern.

For the last rotation of the evening, the Huskers closed out the meet on bars as the team posted an incredible season best 49.475. Leading the way for the Big Red was Laeng with her career best 9.95, followed by a career best 9.90 from Stephens. Breen put up a career high 9.875 to follow, while Blanske and DeZiel added the same score to match. Williams grabbed a 9.85 to close out the season best rotation.

Michigan traveled to beam in the last event and achieved a 49.450, where Artz set the tone for the Wolverines with a 9.95 mark. Illinois finished on floor, tumbling to a solid 49.250 with a 9.90 from O’Connor. Ohio State wrapped things up on vault with a 49.200 with help from Harrison’s 9.90.

Michigan could not be stopped throughout the meet and came out on top after both sessions with a huge 197.825 team score. Illinois posted a season best score to take second with a 197.350, while Nebraska placed third with a 196.875.

Penn State took fourth with a 196.725, followed by Iowa (196.500), Minnesota (196.425), Maryland (196.075), Michigan State (195.650), Ohio State (196.250) and Rutgers (193.125) between both sessions.

Michigan’s Nicole Artz took home the all-around crown with a 39.650, followed by 2014 Big Ten Champion Lindsay Mable of Minnesota with a 39.625. Mable also won the vault title and tied for the floor title with a 9.95 and 9.925 respectively. Atrz took home the beam crown with a 9.95 mark, as teammates Chiarelli and Sugiyama also shared the floor title with Mable. Laeng was named Big Ten co-Champion on bars, tying Artz with their matching 9.95 scores.

Laeng represented Nebraska as the sole Husker on the Big Ten All-Championship team with her first-place bar finish. Further Big Ten awards were also announced, with Mable winning Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. Michigan’s Brianna Brown and Penn State’s Briannah Tsang were named co-Big Ten Freshmen of the Year.

The Huskers will have a week off before the NCAA Regionals on April 4. The top 36-ranked teams in the country will earn slots for regionals based on RQS scores, with six teams competing in each of the six regional sites. This year’s six regionals sites will be in Oklahoma City, Okla., Morgantown, W.V., Columbus, Ohio, Auburn, Ala., and Ames, Iowa. The NCAA regional selection show will take place on Monday, March 23 at 2 p.m. CT. Fans will be able to watch live at NCAA.com.

Name	Vault	Bars		Beam		Floor		All-Around
Hollie Blanske	9.85	9.875		9.75		9.90		39.375
Danielle Breen	--	9.875		9.85		---		---
Jessie DeZiel	9.90	9.875		9.625		9.85		39.250
Jennie Laeng	9.90	9.95		9.775		---		---
Ashley Lambert	9.85	---		---		9.875		---
Amanda Lauer	---	---		---		---		---
Jennifer Lauer	---	---		9.35		9.825		---
Ariel Martin	--	---		---		--		---
Madison McConkey	---	--		---		---		---
Kamerin Moore	---	---		---		---		---
Desire' Stephens	9.80	9.90		---		9.85		--
Grace Williams	9.875	9.850		9.725		9.875		39.325

Team Scores:

1. Michigan- 197.825

2. Illinois- 197.350

3. Nebraska- 196.875

4. Penn State- 196.725

5. Iowa- 196.500

6. Minnesota- 196.450

7. Maryland- 196.075

8. Michigan State- 195.650

9. Ohio State- 195.250

10. Rutgers- 193.125