Husker Coach: Fans B1G Part of a ?Four-Ring Circus?

Buy, Print Your Own Big Ten Championship Tickets

Nebraska Hosts Big Ten Women’s Gymnastics Meet

2016 Big Ten Women's Gymnastics Central

Randy York N-Sider

Official Blog of the Huskers

Consistency and excellence are hallmarks for the Nebraska women’s gymnastics program and its head coach, Dan Kendig, who twice has been named NCAA Coach of the Year for a Husker program that has made 17 NCAA Championship appearances and 11 NCAA Super Six Finals.

We mention those credentials for one simple reason. With Nebraska hosting 10 institutions for Saturday’s Big Ten Conference Women’s Gymnastics Championships, fans who attend the event at the Bob Devaney Sports Center will play a pivotal role in the outcome.

“The biggest thing I can say is the more fans we can put in the arena Saturday, our chance to win goes up exponentially,” Kendig said. “This should be a pro-Husker crowd and if you’re a fan who hasn’t seen a gymnastics meet before, this would be a great time to come. You’re going to see some great gymnasts all the way around, and it’s going to be a four-ring circus because all the events will be going on at the same time.”

Seventh-ranked Michigan, 12th-ranked Nebraska and 16th-ranked Minnesota are pre-meet favorites. No. 28 Penn State, No. 29 Ohio State and No. 36 Michigan State will join the Wolverines, Huskers and Gophers in Saturday’s second session, beginning at 4 p.m. and ending between 6 and 6:30 p.m. No. 18 Iowa, No. 25 Illinois, No. 38 Maryland and No. 40 Rutgers will compete in Saturday’s first session, beginning at 11 a.m.

Both the morning and afternoon Big Ten Championships sessions will be shown live on the Big Ten Network and streamed on BTN2go.com.

“We’re excited to host the Big Ten Championship, even though we weren’t scheduled to host until 2018,” Kendig said. “Illinois had a facility remodel and Rutgers couldn’t do it, so we stepped up to the challenge. We’ve hosted the Big Eight Championship and the Big 12 Championship, and our fans are going to love hosting the Big Ten in the Devaney Center. It’s a big deal.”

All-Big Ten Honorees Blanske, Williams, Laeng, Breen Lead Huskers’ Hopes

It’s especially B1G for a Husker team which has six freshmen gymnasts that represent half the squad's student-athletes. Nebraska senior Hollie Blanske (Oak Grove, Minn.) and sophomore Grace Williams (Linden, Mich., pictured above) are 2016 first-team All-Big Ten gymnasts. Husker junior Jennie Laeng (West Middlesex, Pa.) and sophomore Danielle Breen (Ames, Iowa) are second-team All-Big Ten honorees.

Even with a decidedly young team, Kendig can’t help but wonder how quickly the years go by. “I can’t believe Hollie’s a senior,” he said. “It seems like yesterday that she came in from club competition. Four years flew by. She’s an All-American who’s had a 39.6 all-around performance. She’s on a mission. She knows this is it. After Big Ten, regionals and nationals are the only things left in her college career.”

Despite its youth, Nebraska’s depth is a strength because the freshmen and sophomores have adapted quickly to the program’s culture. “It doesn’t really matter what lineup we put out there,” Kendig said. “We’ve been able to be successful and hit our routines. Last week at the B1G Five meet in Columbus, Ohio, we hit the 197-point mark for a second straight week.”

Blanske’s Maturity Grew; Guatemala Trip Opened Her Eyes, Changed Views

Blanske (pictured while soaring above the crowd) came up with an interesting quip in Wednesday’s press conference at the Devaney Center, saying the youth movement “just keeps us older girls feeling young,” she said. “It’s just refreshing.”

Her maturity is a strength factor for Nebraska’s stability. Less than a year ago, Blanske was part of a student-athlete NoFilter trip to Guatemala. “One of the most poignant lessons I learned on that trip was realizing what a small part of life I occupy in this big world,” Blanske told me. “It truly makes you modest. I'd never been out of the country before, so traveling to a third-world country and experiencing a week in their shoes was truly humbling.

“Sharing those days of hard work, laughs, and experiences are something that I will hold onto forever,” Blanske said. “Every member of our NoFilter group was such a tremendous leader and a wonderful asset to the team. Sharing the same goals and passions, we learned lessons and built solid relationships. Other than coming to Nebraska, it was the most amazing opportunity I've ever encountered.”

Kendig is proud of his senior leader and happy to see bargain admission prices at a nationally televised event offered here on Huskers.com. One ticket is good for both the 11 a.m. and the 4 p.m. sessions. Prices are $7 for adults, $5 for youth (7-16) and seniors (60+) and $1 for children 6 & under. Ticket office windows also will be open at the Devaney Center.

Send a comment to ryork@huskers.com (Please include city, state)

Follow Randy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RandyYorkNsider

N-Sider Archives