NU Signs Three Top Recruits

Nebraska men's gymnastics coach Chuck Chmelka has announced the signing of three talented gymnasts for the 2012-13 season. The team will welcome Ethan Lottman, Samual Chamberlain and Austin Epperson to their roster next year, and Chmelka expects to see big contributions out of each recruit.

"We are excited to have these three student-athletes become Huskers," Chmelka said. "We feel they will continue to help our team improve toward our goal of becoming national champions."

A native of Gretna, Neb., Lottman will join the Huskers after training at Cahoy's Gymnastics Training Center under former Husker assistant coach and Olympian Phil Cahoy. Lottman placed fourth in the All-Around at the 2011 Region IV Men's Gymnastics Championships with a score of 81.100, a performance that included a first place finish on pommel horse (14.700). Lottman is also a standout in the classroom and was named a 2011 Academic All-American by USA Gymnastics.

"Ethan is an outstanding student-athlete who excels on pommel horse," Chmelka said. "He will help our team immediately in that event, but we feel he can contribute on as many as four other events in the future."

Chamberlain hails from Franklin, Ohio and trains at The Gymnastics Training Center of Ohio under Don Sellman. Chamberlain is a Level 10 gymnast who has competed in the Junior Olympic Nationals, Ohio State Championships and the Houston National Invitational in multiple events.

"Samual is a very strong, explosive athlete," Chmelka said. "He could immediately help our team score on floor exercise, rings, vault and possibly pommel horse."

Epperson rounds out the recruiting class and will come to Nebraska from Allen, Texas.  Epperson currently trains with Elite Champion Gymnastics as a member of their Level 10 men's team and has also trained with the World Olympic Gymnastics Academy previously. Epperson has competed in the 2011 U.S. Men's Qualifier, the Pacific Coast Classic and the Texas State Team Championships.

"Austin is a physically gifted athlete," Chmelka said. "We feel he will excel on all six events for us in the future."

Four Huskers are on track to exhaust their eligibility after the 2012 season, and these three young recruits will look to help fill the gap left by the departing seniors.