Wassung Named Hartung Award Recipient

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? Nebraska senior Jason Wassung completed his illustrious career as a Husker on Sunday by being awarded the prestigious Jim Hartung Award at the 2007 Nebraska gymnastics banquet. The award celebrates the top senior gymnast for Nebraska each season.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Wassung recently wrapped-up long relationship with Nebraska gymnastics at the 2007 NCAA Championships, helping the Huskers to a 10th-place national finish. NU’s top all-arounder and a co-captain of the 2007 team, Wassung finished his career with five all-around titles and reached as high as third in the national all-around rankings.

 

Wassung was one of four Huskers honored during the banquet on Sunday, including sophomore T.J. Schmidt and freshmen Kyle Shanahan and Tony Maras. Schmidt was named Most Valuable following an outstanding season during which he led the Huskers in event titles and finished the season as an All-American on the pommel horse.

 

Shanahan earned special recognition as the team’s Top Newcomer, a tremendous feat considering the Husker roster featured 10 newcomers this season alone. Shanahan was Nebraska’s only freshman all-arounder in 2007 and owned a team-high score of 9.35 on the floor exercise.

 

Maras was also recognized with the Huskers Perseverance award, a tribute to his ceaseless dedication. The Ramsey, Minn., native was the only NU freshman to earn an event title in 2007 and led the Huskers on the still rings with a team-high score of 9.45. However, a broken hand midway through the season kept Maras out of competition until the NCAA Championships, where he made his triumphant return for a score of 9.00.

 

Nebraska will return 15 gymnasts to its 2008 roster, including All-Americans Stephen T?trault and Schmidt, and welcome a five-man recruiting class in the fall. Meanwhile, the Huskers will have a major hole to fill with the loss of Wassung, as well as fellow senior co-captain Jon Charter.