Huskers Take Third at Rocky Mountain Open

<?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Colorado Springs, Colo. ? The No. 10 Nebraska men's gymnastics team opened its 2008 season by earning a third-place finish with a score of 327.65 at the Rocky Mountain Open on Saturday night. <?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

The U.S. Olympic Training Center won the six-team competition with a score of 347.90, while No. 3 Oklahoma placed second with a score of 343.55. Air Force managed a fourth-place showing (323.20), while Arizona State took fifth (305.85) and Washington settled for sixth (194.10).

"This was our first meet and we made little mistakes and errors,” Nebraska Coach Francis Allen said. “Once we get these first meet jitters out of our system we’ll be fine. We need to go home and clean up those little areas and we have the potential to be a great team.”

The Rocky Mountain Open saw several changes in 2008.  Not only was the meet changed to a one-day competition, but it was also formatted to the new NCAA scoring system.  

Returning All-American T.J. Schmidt won the pommel horse with a score of 14.30, while sophomore Daniel Br?l? placed third on high bar with a score of 13.75. Senior All-American Stephen T?trault also notched a sixth-place finish in the all-around for Nebraska.

Nebraska got off to a slow start, scoring a 51.25 on the pommel horse. Freshman Bear Danley opened the event with a solid score of 13.40, but several falls in the middle of the lineup hurt the Huskers.  Schmidt, a 2007 NCAA pommel horse All-American, helped NU pull together by posting a score of 14.30 to win the event.
 
Nebraska shook off the nerves in the second rotation, sticking a score of 56.20 on still rings. NU's efforts to build the event have paid off, as no Husker scored below 13.00.  Newcomer Anthony Ingrelli shined in his first collegiate event, scoring a 14.80.  Sophomore Tony Maras also added a strong 14.25.

The Huskers continued to gain momentum with an impressive score of 60.35 on vault in the third rotation. Br?l? executed a near-perfect routine in the middle of the lineup to produce a 5.35.  Sophomore John Robinson (15.00) and T?trault (15.20) also produced solid efforts on vault.

The Huskers were slowed by a 54.45 team score on parallel bars in the fourth rotation. Br?l? led the Huskers with a 14.25 on the event.  

NU again struggled on the high bar, managing a team score of 52.10. Br?l? led the Huskers for the third straight event, notching a score of 13.75.

The Huskers finished the meet strong with a score of 53.30 on the floor exercise, but the late surge was not enough to push NU in front of OU or the USOTC.

 

Nebraska will host its first home meet at the BobDevaneySportsCenter next weekend against familiar foes Oklahoma and Air Force on Sunday, Jan. 20, at 2 p.m.   

 

 

Team Results                            Score

1. USOTC                                 347.90*

2. Oklahoma                              343.55
3. Nebraska                              327.65                                              

4. Air Force                               323.20             

5. Arizona State                         305.85

6. Washington                           194.10

 

All-Around Results                                 Score

1. Stephen Legendre, Oklahoma             84.95

2. Kyle McNamara, Oklahoma                84.15

3. Greg Stine, Air Force                          81.70

4. Ivan Kovenshnikov, Washington           78.40

5. Anthony Naddour, Arizona State          77.95

6. Stephen T?trault, Nebraska             77.00

 

Individual Event Results

Floor Exercise                                       Score

1. Stephen Legendre, Oklahoma             15.40

2. Russell Czeschin, Oklahoma              14.90

3. Greg Stine, Air Force                       14.60

 

 

Pommel Horse                                       Score

1. T.J. Schmidt, Nebraska                    14.30

2. Jacob Messina, Oklahoma                  13.80   

3. Kyle McNamara, Oklahoma                13.60

 

Still Rings                                             Score

1T. T. Abdullah-Simmons, Oklahoma       15.00

      Jacob Schonig, Air Force                  15.00

3. Greg Stine, Air Force                          14.90

 

Vault                                                     Score

1. Kyle McNamara, Oklahoma                15.55

2. Russell Czeschin, Oklahoma              15.50

3. Stephen Legendre, Oklahoma             15.40

 

Parallel Bars                                          Score

1. Kyle McNamara, Oklahoma                14.75

2. Stephen Legendre, Oklahoma             14.35

3. Chris Brooks, Oklahoma                     14.30

 

High Bar                                                Score

1. Chris Brooks, Oklahoma                     14.60   

2. Jason Laughton, Oklahoma                 13.85

3. Daniel Br?l?, Nebraska                    13.75

 

*USOTC’s team score topped the competition, however their individual and team scores do not count toward the official results, as they are not sanctioned by the NCAA or a conference.