Chmelka Named CGA West Region Assistant Coach of the Year

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>State College, Pa. ? Nebraska assistant coach Chuck Chmelka was honored on Wednesday evening as the 2007 College Gymnastics Association West Region Assistant Coach of the Year. This is the first Assistant Coach of the Year award for Chmelka, who is in his 20th year coaching the Huskers this season.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

“It’s an honor to be recognized by my peers,” Chmelka said. “I truly enjoy working with these collegiate gymnasts, and to be given an award for doing that is just icing on the cake.”

 

Chmelka began his association with Nebraska gymnastics in 1978 as an athlete under the tutelage of head coach Francis Allen. In his four years with the Huskers, Chmelka was a member of NU’s first three national championship teams (1979, 1980, 1981).

 

Since Chmelka joined the staff in 1986, he has helped coach Nissen-Emery Award winners Wes Suter (1986) and Tom Schlesinger (1988) and helped guide the Huskers to three national titles and eight of Nebraska’s 15 conference titles.

 

In addition to his collegiate work, Chmelka is also the program director for the Nebraska School of Gymnastics club program, and is responsible for sending 23 athletes into the collegiate ranks, including current Huskers Jason Wassung, Stephen T?trault, T.J. Schmidt and Garret Durst.

 

“It’s very rewarding to see athletes progress from a bunch of little kids running around the gym climbing on things to the talented competitors they are today,” Chmelka said.

 

This season, Chmelka has helped the Huskers improve from a score of 189.70 in their first meet of the year, to a season-high of 207.75 and their fifth-consecutive trip to the NCAA Championships, which begins with the team qualifier tonight at 7 p.m.

 

Chmelka is married to former Husker gymnast and Lincoln native Kim Grabowski.  A four-year letterwinner, Grabowski helped the Huskers win the 1983 Big Eight Championship and was crowned the all-around champion the same year.  The couple has a 9-year-old son, Alex, who is an aspiring gymnast.