Huskers Take Second at RMO, Ingrelli Captures Rings Title

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Junior Anthony Ingrelli notched a score of 14.65 to capture his fifth career still rings title, as the No. 9 Nebraska men's gymnastics team finished second at the Rocky Mountain Open. The Huskers earned a team score of 337.05, while third-ranked Oklahoma topped the standings with a score of 347.40 and No. 14 Air Force placed third with a 325.85. Club teams Arizona State (319.40) and Washington (277.95) placed fourth and fifth, respectively.

As the first meet of the season, the Rocky Mountain Open serves as a benchmark for the Huskers to see how they have progressed from the previous season. Comparatively, NU scored nearly five points higher than the 2009 RMO, blasting last season's score of 332.40.

While Ingrelli was the only Husker to top an event at the RMO, senior co-captain Kyle Shanahan placed within the top-three finishers in two events, including a second-place finish on parallel bars (14.65), a second-place finish on high bar (13.90). Newcomer Andreas Hofer earned a 13.85 on high bar for third place behind Shanahan on high bar.

For the first time since the 2005 season, Nebraska competed three gymnasts in the all-around, including Shanahan, Hofer and senior John Robinson. Shanahan earned a third-place finish in the all-around  (83.40).  Robinson (83.35) and Hofer (81.20) finished fourth and fifth, respectively.

Nebraska came out swinging on high bar in the first rotation, notching a score of 54.90, which is more than three points higher than last year's RMO score of 51.45. The three all-arounders led the way on high bar, as Shanahan put up a 13.90 for second place. Hofer posted a 13.85 for third and Robinson scored a 13.80 for fourth. Junior Bear Danley rounded out the top-five high bar scores with a 13.35.

The Huskers posted a score of 55.95 on floor exercise, again besting last season's RMO score of 52.60. Newcomer Michael Heredia's score of 13.45 started a string of outstanding performances for the Huskers, including a team-best 14.60 from Shanahan. Sophomore Josh Dilworth earned a 14.50, while Robinson earned a 13.40.

Suffering the loss of last year's seniors and pommel horse specialists T.J. Schmidt and James Mauldin, Nebraska struggled on pommel horse in the third rotation. Several falls caused the team to put up a score of 51.35, one of the worst scores on the event in two seasons. Senior Josh Rusler stepped up for the Huskers, scoring a team-high 13.00. Robinson followed close behind Rusler with a 12.90, while Hofer posted a 12.85. Sophomore David Jacobs opened his collegiate career on pommel horse with a score of 12.60, while Danley posted a matching 12.60.

Despite a tough go at pommel horse, NU gained momentum in the fourth rotation on still rings, historically one of NU's best events. The team held true to tradition, posting a solid score of 56.40, as still rings specialist Ingrelli earned a team-high score of 14.65 for first place. Robinson put up a score of 14.05, while Hofer earned a 13.90 and Maras notched a 13.80.

The Huskers maintained the intensity, as junior Cory Baumgarten opened a strong vaulting night for the team with a career-high score of 15.60, besting his former career-high by two-tenths of a point. Heredia notched a huge score of 15.70, while Robinson earned a team-high 15.75.  The Huskers earned a score of 62.10 on vault, blasting last year's Rocky Mountain Open score of 59.50.

Nebraska wrapped up the RMO with a strong finish on parallel bars with a score 56.35, again bettering last season's RMO score of 55.15. Shanahan's score of 14.65 was his best parallel bars score since the 2008 season, while senior Tony Maras earned a career-high score of 13.25.

Upon the completion of the Rocky Mountain Open, Nebraska holds a 3-1 season record (1-1 in NCAA-sanctioned team competition).

The Huskers will have a two-week break before heading to Minneapolis, Minn., for a triangular against Minnesota and Air Force at 7 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 30.

For updates on Nebraska men's gymnastics, follow Huskers.com or Twitter.

RMO Results
Floor Exercise
Tony Maras: 12.80
*Mike Heredia: 13.45
*Josh Dilworth: 14.50
Andreas Hofer: 11.35
*John Robinson: 13.40
*Kyle Shanahan: 14.60
Event Score: 55.95

Pommel Horse
*David Jacobs: 12.60
*Bear Danley: 12.60
*Josh Rusler: 13.00
*Andreas Hofer: 12.85
*John Robinson:12.90
Kyle Shanahan:12.40
Event Score: 51.35

Still Rings
Cory Baumgarten: 12.85
*Andreas Hofer: 13.90
*John Robinson: 14.05
Kyle Shanahan: 13.75
*Anthony Ingrelli: 14.65
*Tony Maras: 13.80
Event Score: 56.40

Vault
*Cory Baumgarten: 15.60 (career-high)
*Mike Heredia: 15.70
*Josh Dilworth: 15.05
Kyle Shanahan: 14.10
Andreas Hofer: 14.75
*John Robinson: 15.75
Event Score: 62.10

Parallel Bars
Tony Maras: 13.25 (career-high)
Stefan Wallof: 12.20
*Bear Danley: 13.75
*Andreas Hofer: 14.50
*John Robinson: 13.45
*Kyle Shanahan: 14.65 (best since the 2008 season)
Event Score: 56.35

High Bar
*Bear Danley: 13.35
Josh Rusler: 12.50
Josh Dilworth: 12.90
*Andreas Hofer: 13.85
*John Robinson: 13.80
*Kyle Shanahan: 13.90
Event: 54.90