Chmelka Announces 2026 Team Captains

Asher Cohen, Luke James and Max Odden have been selected as Nebraska men’s gymnastics team captains for the 2026 season, Head Coach Chuck Chmelka announced Wednesday.

Cohen is a senior who is a two-time All-American on rings. He was second-place on rings in the individual finals of the 2025 Big Ten Championships. At the 2025 NCAA Championships finals, Cohen received seventh-place on rings with an impressive score of 13.933. His personal best on rings is a 14.45, which he received during the competition against Michigan during last season. This is also his second year serving as team captain. 

James is a senior who is a consistent competitor for the Huskers on vault and floor. He has a total of three individual titles. One title on vault and two on floor. He hit his career vault high of 14.20 five times during the 2025 season, including at the Big Ten and NCAA competitions. He has competed at NCAA championships every year since he joined the team as a freshman. 

Odden is a junior who mainly competes on high bar, and he became an All-American in the event during the previous season. His career high on high bar is a 14.10, which he hit in a meet against Greenville and in a meet against Michigan last season. He has three individual titles on high bar as well. Odden had the opportunity to compete at the NCAA Championships both his freshman and sophomore years. 

Cohen, James and Odden are committed to building off of last season's success. They hope to lead this young but eager team back to the NCAA Championship finals, where the Huskers earned a fourth-place finish in 2025.