The Nebraska women's gymnastics team concluded the 2023 season with a post-season berth for the first time since 2019. The Huskers traveled to the NCAA Denver Regional, finishing fourth in the first session of the second round.
The Huskers saw numerous improvements as a team, notching the best team-score since 2018. NU saw team scores on floor and uneven bars that ranked in the top 10 in school history. Individually, Nebraska gymnastics claimed 31 event titles and 30 career-high scores.
Assistant coaches Brian Amato and Oleksii Koltakov earned Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year, Emma Spence earned Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year and Sport Administrator Dr. Lawrence Chatters was named Regional Administrator of the Year by the Women's College Gymnastics Association.
Outside of the gym, the Huskers continued to excel as 10 Huskers earned Academic All-Big Ten honors, 14 gymnasts were named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll and the entire team was recognized for their work within the Lincoln community and were named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship team.
2023 Individual Titles
Clara Colombo
- Uneven Bars - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
Martina Comin
- Vault - 9.850 - at Penn State (2/10)
Kinsey Davis
- Vault - 9.900 - at Lindsey Ferris Invitational (1/15)
- Uneven Bars - 9.850 - at Lindsey Ferris Invitational (1/15)
- Vault - 9.850 - Iowa (2/6)
- Uneven Bars - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
Ayzhia Hall
- Beam - 9.875 - at Lindsey Ferris Invitational (1/15)
Sophia McClelland
- Beam - 9.900 - Arkansas (1/7)
- Beam - 9.875 - at Lindsey Ferris Invitational (1/15)
- All-Around - 39.225 - at Lindsey Ferris Invitational (1/15)
- Beam - 9.925 - Iowa (2/6)
- Floor - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
- Beam - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
Kylie Piringer
- Floor - 9.925 - Masters Classic (3/11)
Emma Simpton
- Beam - 9.875 - at Lindsey Ferris Invitational (1/15)
- Beam - 9.925 - at Penn State (2/10)
- Beam - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
Emma Spence
- Floor - 9.875 - Arkansas (1/7)
- All-Around - 39.325 - Arkansas (1/7)
- Vault - 9.900 - Maryland (1/21)
- Floor - 9.900 - Maryland (1/21)
- All-Around - 39.400 - Maryland (1/21)
- Uneven Bars - 9.825 - Iowa (2/6)
- All-Around - 39.425 - at Penn State (2/10)
- Uneven Bars - 9.900 - Big Fives (2/25)
- Vault - 9.900 - at Utah State (3/3)
- Floor - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
- Beam - 9.925 - at Utah State (3/3)
- All-Around - 39.650 - at Utah State (3/3)
- Uneven Bars - 9.975 - Masters Classic (3/11)
- All-Around - 39.650 - Masters Classic (3/11)
2023 Huskers Make Their Mark on History
The 2023 Nebraska women's gymnastics team made their mark on the history books. The Huskers tallied a 197.500 team score at Utah State, the highest team score since 2018, and the sixth-best away score in school history.
NU added a 49.500 on uneven bars twice throughout the season, the 10th-best score on the event in program history. It also marked the sixth-best score at the Bob Devaney Sports Center and the fourth-best bars score in Masters Classic history.
The Huskers recored a 49.500 on floor exercise during the 2023 season. This marked the 10th-best score on the event in school history and the 10th-best score recorded at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. Finishing with a 49.450 on floor at the Masters Classic, NU claimed the third-best team score in event history.
Nebraska Gymnastics Honored with Regional Awards
Nebraska Gymnastics was honored with three regional awards announced the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA). Emma Spence received Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year, Brian Amato and Oleksii Koltakov earned Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year, and Dr. Lawrence Chatters was named Regional Administrator of the Year for the South Central region.
Spence received the honors after completing an impressive sophomore campaign that ended at the NCAA Denver Regional. She competed in the all-around at all 12 meets during the 2023 season, going 48-for-48 without recording a fall. A first-team All-Big Ten selection, Spence claimed 14 individual titles throughout the 2023 season. She set career-high scores on every event including the all-around. Spence finished the season ranked 27th in the NCAA in the all-around competition. Helen Hu of Missouri was also named Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year.
Brian Amato and Oleksii Koltakov earned Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of Year honors after helping the Huskers to a postseason appearance for the first time since 2019. Both coaches played critical roles in Nebraska's improvements this season, which included top-10 program records in both team and event scores. The Huskers finished the season ranked 23rd nationally and saw improvements in every event ranking as well. Casey Jo Macpherson and Whitney Snowden of Missouri were also honored as Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year.
Dr. Lawrence Chatters received Regional Administrator of the Year honors after serving as the sport administrator for women's gymnastics during the 2023 season. As the executive associate athletic director for strategic initiatives, Dr. Chatters focused his energy on developing and educating the program on diversity, equity and inclusion. Leading the Nebraska women's gymnastics leadership council, he not only helped the student-athletes address and work through situations, but he brought to light ways in which the team could develop individually and as a group. Dr. Chatters helped support the growth of the support as scheduled meets saw a significant increase in attendance as well as lead Nebraska's efforts in adding two additional meets this season.
Three Huskers Earn All-Conference Honors
Three Nebraska women's gymnasts were named All-Big Ten as Emma Spence earned first-team All-Big Ten honors while Kinsey Davis and Sophia McClelland were named to the second team.
Spence, a sophomore from Cambridge, Ontario, has led the Huskers throughout the 2023 season, competing in the all-around at all 10 meets. She earned 14 individual event titles in 2023, including five all-around titles. She is ranked seventh in the Big Ten in the all-around heading into the Big Ten Championships this weekend. Spence has posted scores of 9.925 or better in all four events in 2023. She has team-high scores in all four events, including the all-around.
Davis, a junior from Huntersville, N.C., has competed in all 10 meets on vault and uneven bars, earning Second-team All-Big Ten honors. This season, she has earned a career-high score of 9.900 on vault three times while claiming two individual titles on the event. On uneven bars, she notched a season best 9.925 during each of the final two meets of the regular season. Davis has also earned two individual titles on the event in 2023. This is Davis' second all-conference honor.
McClelland, a junior from Camarillo, Calif., made an immediate impact for the Huskers as a transfer from BYU. She was named Second-Team All-Big Ten after finishing seventh in the Big Ten on beam with a national qualifying score of 9.890. McClelland has earned six individual titles this season, including four on beam. She tied Spence for the team-best score on both balance beam (9.925) and floor exercise (9.925).
Kathryn Thaler was also honored, earning the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award.
10 Gymnasts Named Academic All-Big Ten Honorees
10 Nebraska women’s gymnasts were named Academic All-Big Ten honorees by the Big Ten Conference including Clara Colombo, Martina Comin, Kinsey Davis, Genesis Gibson, Katie Kuenemann, Kylie Piringer, Halle Rourke, Emma Simpton, Emma Spence and Kathryn Thaler.
To be eligible for Academic All-Big Ten selection, students must be on a varsity team (as verified by being on the official squad list), have been enrolled full time at the institution for a minimum of 12 months and carry a cumulative grade-point average of 3.0 or higher.
Five Gymnasts Earn Nebraska Academic Medallions
Five Nebraska women’s gymnasts earned Nebraska Academic Medallions.
Kinsey Davis, Genesis Gibson and Emma Spence led the team, receiving the highest honors and the Nebraska Gold Academic Medallion. Clara Colombo received high honors and the Nebraska Silver Academic Medallion. Kylie Piringer earned honors and the Nebraska Bronze Academic Medallion.
14 Nebraska Women’s Gymnasts Named to Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll
14 Nebraska women’s gymnasts were named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll during the 2022-23 school year.
Csenge Bacskay, Katelyn Barth, Clara Colombo, Martina Comin, Kinsey Davis, Emalee Frost, Genesis Gibson, Lauren Homecillo, Katie Kuenemann, Sophia McClelland, Halle Rourke, Emma Spence, Kathryn Thaler and Annie Worley were all named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll for both the fall semester.
Genesis Gibson and Kathryn Thaler Named Sam Foltz 27 Hero Leadership Award Recipients
Genesis Gibson and Kathryn Thaler were named Sam Foltz 27 HERO Leadership Award Recipients at the 2023 Night at the Lied Award ceremony. The Sam Foltz 27 HERO Leadership Award, named in honor of late Husker punter Sam Foltz, awards student-athlete leaders from each varsity sport. The criteria for the HERO Award include exceptional leadership, consistent and dedicated community service, and positive influence on the team. Nominees are identified by the Life Skills staff with approval from the Academic staff and Head Coaches.
Entire Team Named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team
The Nebraska women’s gymnastics team had the entire team named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team during the 2022-23 season.
The annual Tom Osborne Citizenship Team pays tribute to legendary Nebraska Head Football Coach and Athletic Director, Tom Osborne. Under Osborne, Nebraska was among the first institutions nationwide to implement a comprehensive Life Skills program. To be named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team, student-athletes must complete a minimum of six new service projects, and/or mentoring activities in the academic calendar year, while being in both good academic and athletic standing.
NU Athletic Communications