Huskers Fall to No. 3 Sooners

Norman, Okla. - The No. 9 Nebraska men's gymnastics team scored a team mark of 335.450 at the McCasland Field House in Norman, Okla., against No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday night. Despite a strong effort, NU's performance wasn't quite enough to prevail over OU, which posted a team score of 356.500 for the win.

Two Huskers cracked the top-three individual event standings, including senior John Robinson, who earned a third-place finish on parallel bars with a 14.25. Junior Bear Danley also earned a third-place finish on high bar with a score of 14.25.

Senior Kyle Shanahan placed second in the all-around competition with a score of 82.35, while Hofer earned a third-place finish with a score of 80.75.

Nebraska got off to a rough start in the first rotation, pulling together an abnormally low score of 51.75 on pommel horse. Sophomore David Jacobs began the night with a strong routine, posting a 13.10 on pommel horse. However, the middle of the lineup suffered several falls, causing lost points. Shanahan rounded out the lineup with a season-high score of 13.35.

Despite the rocky start on pommel horse, the Huskers bounced back on floor exercise in the second rotation, earning a score of 56.10. Sophomores Cory Baumgarten and Michael Heredia each earned career-highs on the event, notching scores of 13.20 and 13.80, respectively. NU saw two new competitors on floor exercise, as seniors Josh Rusler and Daniel Brûlé tried their hands on the event for the first time this season. Rusler posted a 12.85 on the event, while Brûlé earned a 13.95. Shanahan had another strong showing in the second rotation, earning a score of 14.85. After two rotations, Oklahoma led the Huskers, 118.700-107.850.

The Huskers struggled on vault in the second rotation, posting its lowest score of the season with a 58.85. Baumgarten started off the lineup with a solid score of 15.10, but the Huskers were unable to stick a landing for the rest of the lineup. Senior John Robinson earned the team's highest vault score with a 15.25. After three rotations, Oklahoma remained in the lead with a 178.950-166.700.

NU kept swinging on the still rings in the fourth rotation, tallying a season-high team mark of 57.80. Although the Huskers were unable to crack the top-three individual standings, two Huskers earned career-high scores on the event. Freshman Andreas Hofer earned a career-high score of 14.55, while Shanahan notched a career-high 15.00. After four rotations, Oklahoma led the Huskers, 242.750-224.500.

The Huskers had a strong showing on high bar in the fifth rotation, notching a score of 55.55. Danley started the Huskers off on the event, tying his season-high score of 14.25 for third place. Rusler wowed his Norman, Okla., hometown crowd with his season-high score of 13.75, while Brûlé competed on high bar for the first time, earning a score of 14.20. Despite NU's solid performance on high bar, the Sooners kept forging ahead, 298.750-280.050.

Nebraska finished strong on parallel bars with a score of 55.40. Senior Stefan Wallof had an impressive showing on the apparatus, notching a career-high score of 13.40. Brûlé and Jacobs competed on the event for the first time this year, earning impressive scores of 13.70 and 13.90. Robinson earned a second-place finish with a score of 14.25, while Hofer earned a third-place finish with a 14.05. The Huskers are now 4-3 on the season and Oklahoma improves to 40-28-1 all-time against Nebraska.

Nebraska is back in action on Sunday, Feb. 21, for its first home competition against Ohio State, Air Force and the University of Illinois Chicago, at 2.p.m, in the Devaney Sports Center. The first 50 UNL students or faculty and staff to present an NCard will receive a free slice of Valentino's pizza.

 

Individual and Team Statistics

Name							A-A
Cory Baumgarten	13.20*^	---	13.60	15.10	---	---	---
Daniel Brule	13.95*	---	---	---	13.70	14.20	---
Bear Danley	---	12.55	---	---	---	14.25	---
Michael Heredia	13.80*^	---	---	13.15	---	---	---
Andreas Hofer	13.50	10.60	14.55*^	14.70	14.05	13.35	80.75
Anthony Ingrelli	---	---	13.90	---	---	---	---
David Jacobs	---	13.10	---	---	13.90	12.70	---
Tony Maras	---	---	14.15	13.80	---	---	---
John Robinson		12.75	14.10	15.25	14.25
Josh Rusler	12.85	10.50	---	---	---	13.75	---
Kyle Shanahan	14.85	13.35*	15.00*^	13.25	13.05	12.85	82.35
Stefan Wallof	---	---	---	---	13.40*^	---	---
Oklahoma	60.85	57.85	60.25	63.80	56.85	56.90	356.500
Nebraska	56.10	51.75	57.80	58.85	55.40	55.55	335.45

*denotes season-high score
^denotes career-high score