NU Breaks Six School Records to Fly Past Falcons

Lincoln, Neb. --- The Nebraska men’s gymnastics team had an impressive performance in front of over 3,000 fans at the Bob Devaney Center on Saturday night, breaking six school records and defeating Air Force by a score of 434 .300 – 425.950, the highest team total in program history.

The Huskers got off to a great start on floor, setting a new school record with a score of 74.800. Kyle King led the Huskers with a new personal-best score and a new school record with his score of 15.85. Austin Epperson and Connor Adamsick added support with scores of 15.10 and 14.90, respectively. Freshman Anton Stephenson posted a career-best 14.70. Andrew Zymball finished with 14.25, while Daniel Leal scored 13.30.

The Huskers built on the momentum from floor through pommel horse, finishing with a team score of 72.700, another school record. Ethan Lottman paved the way for the team with a 15.55, a new personal-best and a new program record. A. Stephenson and Antonio Castro also scored new career bests on the event with scores of 14.35 and 14.50, respectively. Jordan King added 14.35 in his first collegiate appearance. Gollott and Leal both finished with 13.95. K. King chipped in with 13.50.

Nebraska moved to still rings next where Alex Magsam led the Huskers with 14.25. A. Stephenson posted another career-best score (14.15). Leal pitched in a score of 14.10. The team finished with a score of 70.200 on the event.

Halfway through the meet, Nebraska and Air Force were in a tight race. The Huskers led the Falcons by a score of 217.700 – 217.150.

On vault, Magsam (14.70), A. Stephenson (14.90) and Leal (14.80) all posted personal-best scores. K. King scored 14.85, while Adamsick and Zymball added scores of 14.15 and 14.10, respectfully. As a team, the Huskers scored 73.400.

Next up for the Huskers was parallel bars where the team finished with 70.50.  Epperson got the team off to a great start with a career-best score of 14.35. Leal led the team on the event with 14.55. Senior Sam Chamberlain posted 14.25 to give the Huskers a 361.600 – 357.350 edge going into the last event.

Nebraska finished the meet on high bar with 72.70, another school record. Four Huskers posted career-best scores. Castro (14.45), A. Stephenson (14.60), Epperson (14.95) and Leal (14.70) all broke their previous personal bests. Lottman and C. Stephenson scored 13.40 and 14.00, respectively, to help the Huskers breeze by Air Force.

A. Stephenson and Leal competed in the all-around for Nebraska, finishing with 86.00 and 85.40, respectfully.

Individually, Nebraska won four events on the night. K. King took home the floor title, Lottman finished first on pommel horse, Epperson on high bar and Leal earned first on parallel bars.

The Huskers begin conference competition next weekend when the team travels to Minneapolis, Minn., to take on the Golden Gophers on Jan. 30. The meet is set to begin at 7 p.m.