Austin Epperson Season 2015-16

Austin Epperson Photo Gallery

Honors & Awards

• 2017 All-American (Floor)
• 2017 NCAA Individual Event Finals Competitor (Floor, Still Rings, Parallel Bars)
• 2017 NCAA Team Qualifier & Finals Competitor (Floor, Still Rings, Parallel Bars)
  
• 2017 Hartung Award
• 2016 All-American (Floor)
• 2016 NCAA Individual Event Finals Competitor (Floor)
• 2016 NCAA Team Qualifier Competitor (Floor, Still Rings, Parallel Bars)
• CGA Second Team All-America Scholar-Athlete (2016, 2017)
• Nebraska Men's Gymnastics Perseverance Award (2016)
• Six Individual Titles (Floor (4), Parallel Bars (1), High Bar (1))
• 2015 NCAA Team Qualifier Competitor (Rings, High Bar)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
• Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll (Fall 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016; Spring 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017)
• Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award (2017)
• Tom Osborne Citizenship Team (2015, 2016, 2017)

2017 Season Highs

• Floor - 14.85 (vs. Minnesota, March 25, 2017) 
• Still Rings - 14.45 (vs. Cal, Stanford, Arizona State, Feb. 11, 2017)
  
• Parallel Bars - 14.40  (vs. UIC, Feb. 26, 2017)

Career Bests

• Floor Exercise - 15.40 (at Penn State, March 11, 2016)
• Still Rings - 14.80 (at Rocky Mountain Open, Jan. 16, 2016)
• Parallel Bars - 14.50 (at Arnold Classic, March 5, 2016)
• High Bar - 14.95 (vs. Air Force, Jan. 23, 2016)

2017 (Senior)
Austin Epperson finished his career by leading the Huskers to the NCAA Championship Team Finals for the first time since 1999 and taking home his second All-America award on floor. Epperson helped NU to a top-six national finish and a fifth-place conference finish. Epperson competed on floor, still rings and parallel bars for Nebraska in every single meet during the 2017 season. He earned season-high scores on floor (14.85), still rings (14.45) and parallel bars (14.40). Epperson's best performance came against Minnesota on Senior Night when he helped the Huskers post a team score of 425.550 which ranked as the fourth-highest score in the country.  

Epperson was a leader outside of the gym as well, earning a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in fall 2016. He also participated in Nebraska Life Skills No Filter service trip to Nicaragua in May 2017. 

2016 (Junior)
After injuries plagued the Huskers in 2016, Epperson was forced to step up as one of only four upperclassmen who regularly competed for Nebraska. The Allen, Texas, native accepted the challenge and became one of Nebraska's top competitors on floor, still rings, parallel bars and high bar. He competed in every meet for the Huskers and posted career-best scores on all four events as a junior.

Epperson also competed in the postseason, where he helped the team finish seventh at the NCAA Championships, its best finish since 1999. He earned a spot at the Event Finals for the first time in his career. Epperson posted a 14.70 on floor and claimed his first All-America award after tying for fifth on the event.

In the classroom, Epperson earned Academic All-Big Ten honors for the third consecutive year and clinched a spot on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in fall 2015 and spring 2016. He was also recognized for his efforts in the community, by being named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team in 2016.

2015 (Sophomore)
Epperson maintained important positions in Nebraska's rings and high bar lineups in 2015. He also helped round out the floor and parallel bars squads to give the Huskers depth.

Epperson competed in six regular-season meets on rings, stepping up to the plate as NU's most valuable rings performer. The Allen, Texas, native posted a season-best 14.60 at the Stanford quadrangular on Jan. 24. On floor, Epperson earned a then-career high on floor with a score of 15.00 against Minnesota and UIC Feb. 7.

In the classroom, Epperson claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2014-15.

2014 (Freshman)
Epperson made his long-anticipated collegiate debut as a regular competitor in the Huskers' lineup in 2014. Epperson competed in all eight regular-season meets for the Huskers, as well as making his first appearances at the Big Ten and NCAA Championships.

Epperson became a key member of the Husker lineup, setting personal bests of 14.30 or higher on all four of his events. He recorded a 14.70 on high bar and a 14.45 on floor exercise in Norman, Okla. He also posted a 14.65 on still rings at the Arnold Challenge in Columbus, Ohio.

Epperson ended his first season competing on rings, parallel bars and high bar at both the Big Ten and NCAA Championships. He topped his career bests on rings and parallel bars during the first night of the Big Ten Championships, earning a 14.75 and a 14.30, respectively.

In the classroom, Epperson earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2014 and claimed spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in both the fall and spring semesters of 2013-14.

2013 (Redshirt)
Epperson redshirted in his first season at Nebraska after undergoing surgery on his wrist. He worked on rehabilitating after surgery and focused on making the adjustment to collegiate gymnastics.

In the classroom, Epperson earned spots on the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll in the fall and spring semesters of 2012-13.

Before Nebraska
Epperson trained with Elite Champion Gymnastics under the coaching of his father, Mike Epperson. Austin attended the Junior Olympic Nationals and 2011 Visa Championship Qualifiers. He previously trained at the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy, the most decorated gymnastics club in the nation. He graduated from Allen High School in 2012.

Personal
Born on Nov. 22, 1993, Austin is the son of Mike and Lisa (McCrady) Epperson, both of whom are former gymnasts for Nebraska. Austin has a sister, Abbie who is a junior on the Nebraska women's gymnastics team. A criminology and criminal justice major, Epperson earned his bachelor's degree from Nebraska in December of 2016. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors all four years he was eligible. He is also a 10-time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll.

He started his college education at Nebraska early by taking summer classes in 2012. Austin chose Nebraska over Oklahoma, Minnesota and Illinois.