Huskers Picked Second in B1G 2018 Coaches Poll

CHICAGO – The Big Ten Conferenced announced on Thursday the Nebraska women’s gymnastics team was selected to finish second in the conference in the 2018 Preseason Coaches Poll.

”It’s great to see that we are viewed as being a competitive team in the conference. We have some work to do to prove it. I know everyone in the conference is thinking they want to win the conference championship, so we are all in the same boat which is great for the conference. We are excited to get out there and compete,” Head Coach Dan Kendig said. 

The Huskers shared the 2017 Regular Season Championship with Michigan, who returns as the top coaches selection in the preseason poll. Iowa was picked to finish third, with Ohio State and Penn State rounding out the top five.

In addition, juniors Megan Schweihofer and Sienna Crouse were selected as 2018 Gymnasts to watch by the conference. Sienna Crouse earned first team All-American in 2017 on vault and was second team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten. Schweihofer was named second team All-Big Ten and Academic All-Big Ten in 2017.

Nebraska finished in seventh at the NCAA Championships in 2017 and returns nine letterwinners and two All-Americans. The Big Red was also voted ninth in the NACGC/W Preseason Coaches Poll.

The Cornhuskers will host five home events in 2018 including the annual Masters Classic at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. On the road, Nebraska will face reigning national champions Oklahoma, and top-five finishers UCLA and Florida.

Nebraska will open the 2018 season at Penn State on Jan. 13 and will begin a three-meet home stretch on Jan. 20 when the squad faces Rutgers. The meet is scheduled for 7 p.m.

Season tickets to Nebraska gymnastics are available now at Huskers.com or by calling 800-(8)BIG-RED. Season tickets are $25 for adults, $13 for seniors and youth, and all meets are free to UNL students and kids aged six and under. Tickets include access to both men’s and women’s gymnastics meets.

BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS PRESEASON COACHES’ POLL

1. Michigan
2. Nebraska
3. Iowa
4. Ohio State
5. Penn State
6. Minnesota
7. Illinois
8. Michigan State
9. Maryland
10. Rutgers

BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTS TO WATCH LIST

Rae Balthazor, So., Illinois

Bridget Hodan, Sr., Illinois*

Clair Kaji, So., Iowa

Lanie Snyder, Sr., Iowa*

Alecia Farina, So., Maryland

Audrey Barber, Fr., Maryland

Olivia Karas, Jr., Michigan*

Brianna Brown, Sr., Michigan*

Gabriella Douglas, So., Michigan State

Lea Mitchell, Fr., Michigan State

Hannah Hitchcock, Sr., Minnesota

Lexy Ramler, Fr., Minnesota

Megan Schweihofer, Jr., Nebraska*

Sienna Crouse, Jr., Nebraska*

Jenna Swartzentruber, Fr., Ohio State

Alexis Mattern, Sr., Ohio State

Briannah Tsang, Sr., Penn State*

Lauren Bridgens, Fr., Penn State

Elizabeth Groden, Sr., Rutgers

Makenzey Shank, Sr., Rutgers