Huskers Set Season Best Score in Loss to Illinois

The No. 11 Nebraska men’s gymnastics (4-9, 0-4 Big Ten) team rallied to a season best team score in a loss to No. 4 Illinois (7-1, 5-0 Big Ten) on the road, 437.600-423.450.

The Huskers and Illini competed in a head-to-head format, meaning both teams competed in an alternating pattern throughout the meet. Both teams began the meet on floor, where NU dominated to a season best 74.050 mark. Stephenson led the way with a huge 15.10 career high, followed closely behind Gollott’s seamless 14.85 routine. Tokar and House put up matching 14.75s to keep the momentum, as King rounded out the rotation with a solid 14.60.

Illinois started off strong on floor paved by a 15.55 for senior C.J. Maestas. After the first rotation, Nebraska gained the lead over the Illini 74.050-72.050.

The Huskers and Illini both traveled to pommel horse for the second rotation, where NU notched an even 70.000. Lottman set the tone with his big 15.000 score, earning second on the event. Gollott and Irick added matching 14.10 marks to continue, while House overcame a late fall to deliver a 13.50. King rounded out the pommel rotation with a 13.30 to push the Huskers over the 70 mark.

The Illini took control of the meet on pommel horse after an event-winning 15.10 performance from Maestas. Illinois took the lead after two rotations 145.600-144.050.

The teams next moved to rings, where the Huskers put together a season high of 70.600 paced by Magsam’s beautiful 14.65 routine. Epperson kept things moving for NU, adding a 14.30 for his performance. Irick put up a career best 14.10, while Sommers notched a respectable 13.90 for his effort. Senior Robbie Kocks made his much anticipated return to the rings lineup, delivering a respectable 13.65 in his first meet back.

Senior Mike Wilner led the way for Illinois on rings, putting up a huge 15.20. The Fighting Illini maintained control of the meet after three rotations 219.500-214.650.

The two teams began the second half of competition on vault, with NU posting an impressive 72.900. Chamberlain paved the way for the Huskers with his 14.80 score, followed closely behind by a duo of 14.75s for King and Ungar. Klein took a sizable step on the landing to garner a 14.55, while Gollott barely sat down his vault to earn a 14.050 and conclude the rotation.

The Illini never waivered on vault, notching a big 73.750 score thanks to junior Fred Hartville’s stuck 15.30. After four rotations, the Huskers continued to trail 293.250-287.550.

The Huskers and Illini took to parallel bars for the fifth rotation of the afternoon, as NU pulled together to produce a 68.150. Leading the way for the Big Red was King, who tallied a personal best 14.15 for his routine. Gollott was not far behind with a 14.10, which included a near-stuck dismount. The Huskers encountered a couple uncharacteristic falls from Stephenson and Chamberlain, achieving scores of 13.55 and 13.35 respectively. Magsam made his parallel bars debut for the Huskers, posting a 13.00 for his clean performance.

Illinois took hold of the reigns on parallel bars after a pair of event-winning 15.35s from Maestas and fellow classmate Jordan Valdez. The Illini extended the lead after the fifth rotation 365.550-355.700.

Both teams finished competition on high bar after the Huskers rallied to a 67.750 event score with help from Gollott’s 13.90. Klein continued to show prominence on the event, delivering a 13.70 for his performance. Stephenson and Lottman pushed through some early struggles to earn a 13.45 and 13.40 respectively, as Tokar rounded out the rotation on high bar with his 13.30 mark.

After suffering a fall early on in the high bar lineup, Illinois picked things back up after a seamless performance from Valdez’s event-winning 15.45. The Huskers scored a season best 423.450 team total, but could not overtake Illinois at home. The Illini enjoyed a sweep of the individual events with Maestas winning floor and pommel horse and tying with Valdez on parallel bars. Valdez also took home the high bar crown for Illinois, while Wilner took rings. Hartville earned the title on vault as sophomore Tom Gibbs stole the all-around show with an 86.050.

The Huskers will return home after its long road stretch next weekend for Senior Night. Nebraska will honor its class of four seniors in Andrew House, Louis Klein, Robbie Kocks and Josh Ungar as NU welcomes Iowa, Minnesota and Penn State to the Devaney Center for a Big Ten quadrangular. The meet is scheduled to being Sunday, March 15 at 1 p.m. CT. Senior presentations and ceremonies will begin following the conclusion of the meet.

 

Name	Floor	Horse	Rings	Vault	P.Bars	High Bar	All-Around
Connor Adamsick	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Antonio Castro	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Sam Chamberlain	---	---	---	14.80	13.35	---	---
Austin Epperson	---	---	14.30	---	---	---	---
Josh Everitt	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Travis Gollott	14.85	14.10	---	14.05	14.10	13.90	---
Andrew House	14.75	13.50	---	---	---	---	---
Ryan Irick	---	14.10	14.10	---	---	---	---
Kyle King	14.60	13.30	---	14.75	14.15	---	---
Louis Klein	---	---	---	14.55	---	13.70	---
Robbie Kocks	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Daniel Leal	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Ethan Lottman	---	15.00	---	---	---	13.40	---
Alex Magsam	---	---	14.65	---	13.00	---	---
Grant Perdue	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Sanjaya Roy	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Brenon Sommers	---	---	13.90	---	---	---	---
Chris Stephenson	15.10	---	---	---	13.55	13.45	---
Coleman Tokar	13.90	---	13.60	---	---	13.60	---
Josh Ungar	---	---	---	14.75	---	---	---
Andrew Zymball	---	---	---	---	---	---	---

Team scores:

1. Illinois- 436.700

2. Nebraska- 423.450