Burtle, Matthews among 53 Husker Graduates

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Lincoln ? Former Husker gymnasts Tony Burtle and Nic Matthews were among 53 Nebraska student-athletes who received their diplomas during spring commencement on Saturday, May 5 at the BobDevaneySportsCenter.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

 

Both Burtle and Matthews completed their eligibility with the Huskers in 2006 and were among 16 student-athletes from the state of Nebraska to graduate this spring. Burtle, a native of Grand Island, received his degree in child development/early childhood education, while Lincoln native Matthews graduated with a degree in management.

 

A four-year letterwinner for Nebraska, Burtle competed for the Huskers from 2002 to 2006, receiving a medical redshirt during the 2005 season. One of NU’s premier acrobats, Burtle excelled on the floor exercise, vault and high bars for the Huskers, setting career-high marks of 9.05, 9.525 and 9.10, respectively. During his senior season in 2006, Burtle received an invitation to the prestigious Winter Cup in Las Vegas, Nev., before going on to advance to the event preliminaries at the 2006 NCAA Championships.

 

A product of the Nebraska School of Gymnastics and NU assistant coach Chuck Chmelka, Matthews lettered for the Huskers from 2003 to 2006. The Southeast graduate competed as both an all-arounder and an event specialist for Nebraska, placing particular emphasis on the floor exercise and vault, where he earned career-high marks of 9.10 and 9.35, respectively. Matthews’ score of 9.35 on the vault came at the MPSF Championships during his senior season in 2006, earning him a team-best third-place finish in the event.

 

The 53 Husker graduates this May represent all 23 of Nebraska’s varsity sports and nearly 30 different majors. The graduating class also includes nine student-athletes who combined for 16 All-America awards.