Six Huskers Advance to Second Day of NCAAs

Norman, Okla.--The Nebraska men’s gymnastics team competed at the NCAA Championships afternoon preliminary session, where a total of six Huskers punched their tickets to the second day of competition in the all-around finals and event semifinals.

NU put together a collection of quality routines across multiple events to help boost the effort. Sophomore Chris Stephenson earned a massive career high on floor with a 15.30 to earn a berth into the event semifinals tomorrow evening. Freshman Daniel Leal made his way back into the lineups after sitting out for three weeks due to sickness, grabbing career highs on vault (14.60) and high bar (14.10). Senior Robbie Kocks also bid farewell to his collegiate career, knocking out a season high 14.20 on rings. Fellow classmate Louis Klein delivered an excellent high bar routine to tally a 15.00, claiming a spot in the event semifinals.

The Huskers opened up the afternoon preliminary session on rings with a team total of 69.200.  Junior Ryan Irick led the way for the Big Red with a 14.25, just half a tenth shy of his career high. Senior Robbie Kocks entered back in the lineup for only the third time this season, scoring a 14.20 for his effort. Sophomore Austin Epperson was close behind wit h a 14.10, followed by a 14.00 from freshman Alex Magsam. Classmate Daniel Leal, who suffered a grip malfunction and had to redo his routine, fought through some struggles to earn a 12.65.

NU next moved to vault, where the team hit some steady landings to notch a 72.250. King set the tone with his two and a half twisting vault, notching a 14.65. Leal redeemed himself in the second rotation, grabbing a 14.60. Gollott stood up his double front to earn a 14.40, while Klein and Chamberlain added a pair of 14.30 marks to close out the rotation.

After two rotations, the Huskers sat in fifth place with a running total of 141.450. Stanford took control of the meet after the second rotation with a 148.350, followed by California in second (146.400) and Minnesota in third (145.950). Penn State locked in the fourth place spot (145.300), while Air Force sat in sixth (138.550).

For the third rotation Nebraska headed to parallel bars as Chamberlain set the tone with his 14.65 performance. Leal returned to the lineup to tally a 14.00, while King grabbed a clean 13.85. Stephenson pushed through some minor errors to earn a 13.75, as Gollott rounded out the rotation with a 13.60 to help the Huskers to its 69.850 total.

Nebraska had a running total of 211.300 after three events. California took the lead with a 220.400, followed by Stanford (219.150) and Minnesota (219.100) to round out the top three. Penn State sat in fourth (217.400), as Air Force maintained the sixth-place spot (207.950).

NU came out blazing to begin the second half of the meet on high bar, grabbing a season best total of 70.850. Klein led the way for the Big Red, scoring a huge 15.00 for his effortless routine. Epperson delivered a seamless performance to tally a 14.20, while Leal and Stephenson followed suit with a 14.10 and 14.00 respectively. Gollott rounded things out on high bar with a 13.55 to help his all-around score.

After four rotations, Stanford regained the lead with a 294.550 score, followed closely by Minnesota (291.150) and California (289.850).  Penn State held tight in fourth with a 289.100, with Nebraska in fifth (282.150) and Air Force in sixth (277.650).

On floor, the fifth rotation of the afternoon, the Huskers posted a 72.450 with help from Stephenson’s huge 15.30 routine. Gollot delivered a clean performance and picked up a 14.60. King fought through some tough landings to tally a 14.45, as Tokar suffered a fall on his middle pass to earn a 13.45.

Stanford stayed steady in first place after five rotations with a 363.750. Minnesota held in second (360.850) while California stayed in third (360.500). Penn State hovered in fourth with a 357.650, followed by Nebraska (354.600) and Air Force (347.950).

The Huskers closed out competition on pommel horse for the final rotation, where the team strung together a series of seamless routines to total an even 70.000. Lottman came out firing to lay the groundwork, earning a big 15.10. House broke his career best mark for the second time in two weeks, grabbing a 14.60 for his performance. Irick and Gollott teamed up to produce matching 13.60 scores, as King put forth a solid effort to notch a 13.10.

NU ended the meet with a 424.600, its second highest score of the season, but the score was vacated by the NCAA due to the use of an ineligible student-athlete. Stanford took the top spot in the preliminary with a team total of 435.850, clinching its spot in the team finals tomorrow. Joining the Cardinals and advancing to the finals is California, who finished second with a 433.700. Penn State, in exciting fashion, upset Minnesota to take the third place spot, edging out the Golden Gophers 432.900-432.700. Air Force placed in sixth with a 416.700.

The top three finishers on each event not part of an advancing team will compete in the event semifinals tomorrow night. Five Huskers will be represented across five events in the semifinals. Stephenson will compete on floor, Lottman on pommel horse, King on vault, Chamberlain on parallel bars and Klein on high bar. Gollott qualified to the all-around finals tomorrow, which will crown the all-around champion.

The evening preliminary session is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. CT tonight and will feature Oklahoma, Illinois, Michigan, Iowa, Ohio State and Army. The top three teams will also advance to the team finals tomorrow evening, which will take place at 7 p.m. CT.

Name	Floor	Horse	Rings	Vault	P.Bars	High Bar	All-Around
Connor Adamsick	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Antonio Castro	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Sam Chamberlain	---	---	---	14.30	14.65	---	---
Austin Epperson	---	---	14.10	---	---	14.20	---
Josh Everitt	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Travis Gollott	14.60	13.60	12.85	14.40	13.60	13.55	82.600
*Andrew House	14.65	14.60	---	---	---	---	---
Ryan Irick	---	13.60	14.25	---	---	---	---
Kyle King	14.45	13.10	---	14.65	13.85	---	---
Louis Klein	---	---	---	14.30	---	15.00	---
Robbie Kocks	---	---	14.20	---	---	---	---
Daniel Leal	---	---	12.65	14.60	14.00	14.10	---
Ethan Lottman	---	15.10	---	---	---	---	---
Alex Magsam	---	---	14.00	---	---	---	---
Grant Perdue	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Sanjaya Roy	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Brenon Sommers	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Chris Stephenson	15.30	---	---	---	13.75	14.00	---
Coleman Tokar	13.45	---	---	---	---	---	---
Josh Ungar	---	---	---	---	---	---	---
Andrew Zymball	---	---	---	---	---	---	---

 

Team Scores:

1. Stanford- 435.850

2. California- 433.700

3. Penn State- 432.900

4. Minnesota- 432.700

* Nebraska- 424.600

6. Air Force- 416.700

 

*Scores and team standings vacated by the NCAA due to use of ineligible student-athlete. Andrew House delivered a clean performance on floor and picked up a 14.65. On pommel horse, the senior grabbed a 14.60 for his performance.