Huskers to Host Intrasquad Meet

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team will hold an intrasquad meet this Friday in Mabel Lee Hall (third floor) at 6 p.m. The event is free and open to the public, as fans will get a look into the Huskers’ routines before the season begins in January. Doors will open to the public at 5:30 p.m.

 

The Huskers will go through their lineup in Olympic order. The event will begin with vault, followed by uneven bars, balance beam, and floor exercise. No official individual or team scores will be given out during the event. 

 

Posters and schedule cards will be available at the meet. The gymnasts will be available following the event for an autograph session.

 

The Huskers will have 11 returning letter winners from last season’s team, which finished sixth at the 2018 NCAA Championships. This marked the program’s highest finish since 2014 and its 12th appearance at the Super Six Finals. 

 

Nebraska welcomes back three All-Americans this season. Sienna Crouse will look to finish out her already stellar career in her senior season after earning first team honors on floor and second team honors on vault in 2018. Fellow senior Megan Schweihofer, who earned second team honors on both floor and in the all-around in 2018 will look to cap off her gymnastics career with another strong year. Rounding out the group of returning All-Americans is Junior Taylor Houchin earned her first and second All-America honors last season, as she earned first team honors on vault and second team honors on balance beam.

 

The Huskers are led by four seniors. Along with Crouse and Schweihofer, Catelyn Orel provides Nebraska and its senior class with a strong performer on balance beam and floor exercise. Big Ten Sportsmanship Award recipient Kelli Chung will add depth on bars, balance beam and vault.

 

Nebraska will return two juniors, including Houchin. Sierra Hassel will a be major contributor for the Huskers this season. Hassel competed in every regular-season meet on beam and floor, and scored a personal best 9.875 on beam on three occasions last season. 

 

The Huskers will have four returning sophomores for the 2019 season. Kynsee Roby looks to build off her freshman year where she worked her way into an all-around role for the Huskers. She is joined by Makayla Curtis who will add depth to Nebraska’s lineup on vault, balance beam and floor exercise. Megan Verceles Carr will look to break into the vault lineup, as she scored a season high 9.825 on the event last season. Anika Dujakovich, who competed in four meets last season for the Huskers will add depth of vault and floor. 

 

Redshirt freshman Rachel Thompson will look to work her way into the balance beam lineup in her second season.

 

Five freshmen will look to help Nebraska back to the NCAA Championships, Adnerys De Jesus from Greenwich, Conn.; Sarah Hargrove from Hendersonville, N.C.; Abby Johnston from Parkland, Fla.; Kaylee Quinn from Rockaway, N.J.; and Megan Thompson from Gilbert, Ariz.

The Huskers graduated All-Americans Danielle Breen and Grace Williams, as well as All-Big Ten performer Abbie Epperson. 

 

The 2019 women's gymnastics schedule is highlighted by five home meets, including the annual Masters Classic. Nebraska will first compete at home on Jan. 12 against Washington in the Devaney Center at 7 p.m. (CT). The Huskers will also host Illinois (Jan. 26), Minnesota (Feb. 9), Southern Utah (March 2), and Boise State, Kentucky and Illinois State at the Masters Classic (March 16). 

 

Nebraska will open its 2019 season on the road against the defending NCAA Champions, UCLA on Jan. 4 in Los Angeles, Calif.