No. 12 Huskers Make Big Improvements in Loss to Stanford

Palo Alto, Calif.-The No. 12 Nebraska gymnastics team put up several season-high numbers in its 357.60-341.15 loss to Stanford at the Burnham Pavilion in Palo Alto, Calif., on Saturday night. Despite falling to a 2-7 record on the season, the Huskers made huge team strides against the Cardinal.<?xml:namespace prefix="o" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office"?>

“We did better in a lot of spots,” Head Coach Francis Allen said. “We made a few mistakes, but from here on I really think we’re just going to get better and better.”

Not only did <?xml:namespace prefix="st1" ns="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"?>Nebraska earn season-high team marks in every event except for high bar and vault, the Huskers saw a few new faces crack the top-three individual standings.

Sophomore Tony Maras tied for first on still rings after notching a career-high score of 14.90 on the event.

“I was really impressed by our rings squad this meet,” Allen said. “Maras won rings and (Anthony) Ingrelli did really good, so we’re certainly coming together as a team.”

Sophomore John Robinson made his first-ever collegiate all-around debut, where he placed second with a score of 80.20 behind Stanford’s Ryan Lieberman (87.05).

“Johnny competed in the all-around this meet, which was a breakthrough for him,” Allen said. “Hopefully we’ll get Shanahan in the all-around next meet so we can get a score from all three all-arounders.”

Junior T.J. Schmidt also cracked the top-three on parallel bars, as he tied for second with a score of 14.90.

The Huskers came out swinging on pommel horse, scoring a season-high team score of 54.60 to top their previous best of 53.80. Nebraska was led by senior Stephen T?trault, who scored a career-high 14.05 on the event. Maras also posted a career-high score of 12.20 on the event.

 

Freshman David Spitdowski kept things going for Nebraska on floor exercise, scoring a career-high mark of 14.80 over his previous best of 14.75. Sophomore Josh Rusler also blasted his previous score of 13.70, with a score of 14.50 on the event against Stanford. Robinson capped off the order with a 13.90, which was one of the top scores on floor for the Huskers. Impressively, the all-arounder was competing on the event for the first time this season.

Nebraska struggled on the vault in the third rotation, mounting a team score of 58.90, nearly four points behind its season-high score of 63.35.

 

The Huskers regained their rhythm on the still rings, led by an amazing set from Maras who tied for the event crown with a career-high score of 14.90. Maras’ performance was one of a slew of strong routines from the Huskers, including a career-high mark from Schmidt (14.45), and a strong routine from freshman Anthony Ingrelli (14.65). Nebraska’s individual strength led to a season-best team score of 58.20.

 

Unfortunately, the Huskers continued on a roller coaster evening, as they scored a 55.15 on high bar. Although NU was unable to set a new season-high on the event, two Huskers managed to set career-highs. Robinson posted a score of 13.60 to top his previous career-high of 13.20. In just his first meet back from an ankle injury, freshman Bear Danley also set a career-high of 13.55.

 

Nebraska finished the meet with another season-high score of 57.20 on the parallel bars behind several career-high scores. Junior James Mauldin (13.70), sophomore Kyle Shanahan (14.75) and Danley (13.70) each set new career bests while Schmidt tied for second on the event (14.90). However, the late surge wouldn’t be enough to top the Cardinal, who improved to 6-0 all-time against NU.

 

Nebraska's road tour will conclude in two weeks, when they travel to Minnesota to take on the Gophers on Saturday, March 1, at 7 p.m.

 

Team Results                                       Score

1. Stanford                                            357.60
2. Nebraska                                          341.15

 

All-Around Results                               Score

1. Ryan Lieberman, Stanford                   87.05

2. John Robinson, Nebraska                80.20

 

Individual Event Results

Floor Exercise                                     Score

1. Greg Ter-Zakhariants, Stanford            15.75

2T. Ryan Lieberman, Stanford                 15.00   

2T. Dylan Carney, Stanford                     15.00

 

Pommel Horse                                     Score

1. Chris Harper, Stanford                        15.15

2. Bryant Hadden, Stanford                     15.05

3. Eric Hergenrader, Stanford                  14.20               

 

Still Rings                                            Score

1T. Tony Maras, Nebraska                      14.90

1T. Bryant Hadden, Stanford                   14.90

3. Tim Gentry, Stanford                          14.75

 

Vault                                                    Score

1. Eli Alcaraz, Stanford                           15.80

2. Ryan Lieberman, Stanford                   15.60

3. Greg Ter-Zakhariants, Stanford            15.50

 

Parallel Bars                                        Score

1. Bryant Hadden, Stanford                     15.20

2T. T.J. Schmidt, Nebraska                   14.90

2T. Josh Dixon, Stanford                         14.90

2T. Ryan Lieberman, Stanford                 14.90

 

High Bar                                              Score

1. Josh Dixon, Stanford                          15.00

2. Bryant Hadden, Stanford                     14.70

3. Tim Gentry, Stanford                          14.60