Lottman Named Nissen-Emery Award Finalist

Nebraska men’s gymnast Ethan Lottman is one of eight finalists for the 2016 Nissen-Emery Award, becoming Nebraska’s first finalist since Kyle Shanahan in 2010.

College gymnastics’ highest honor, the Nissen-Emery Award, has been presented annually since 1966 to an outstanding senior collegiate gymnast based on gymnastics achievement, sportsmanship and academic excellence. It is considered to be the “Heisman Trophy” of college gymnastics. Three Huskers have earned the prestigious award, including Tom Schlesinger (1988), Wes Suter (1986) and Jim Hartung (1982).

“I am incredibly honored to be a Nissen-Emery Award finalist,” Lottman said. “The fact that I am being put into the same category as so many amazing athletes is mind-blowing. I’ve really looked up to past finalists and winners for so many years. Now I’m being compared to them and we are finalists for the same award. It has always been my goal to be on that level and now that goal is a reality.”

Lottman, a 2015 NCAA All-American and a CoSida Academic All-American, has proven to be one of Nebraska’s top gymnasts. The Omaha, Neb., native shattered the school record on pommel horse earlier this season with a score of 15.55. His resume includes a fifth-place finish on pommel horse at the 2015 NCAA Championships and four-career individual event titles on pommel horse. Lottman was also awarded the 2015 Elite 89 Award and the 2015 Hartung Award.

Lottman’s success extends much farther than the gym walls though. He was a Big-Ten Distinguished scholar in 2014 and 2015 and is a  three-time First Team CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete. He earned Academic All-Big Ten honors in 2014 and 2015 and has been named to the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll each semester he’s been at the university.

Additionally, Lottman has been recognized for his community service and leadership earning a spot on the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and winning the Nebraska Student-Athlete HERO Leadership Award in 2015.

Lottman becomes Nebraska’s 21st finalist and the first in Chuck Chmelka’s tenure as head coach.

“I am very excited for Ethan to be our first Nissen-Emery Award finalist in six years,” Chmelka said. “Ethan is a very hard working and determined gymnast and I am very proud of his accomplishments.”

Online voting will run March 9-April 4 for eligible coaches, team captains, judges and honorary CGA members. The 2016 Nissen-Emery Award Winner will be announced following the voting period.

2016 Nissen-Emery Finalists

1)  Ethan Lottman - University of Nebraska

2)  Logan Bradley - University of Illinois

3)  Jesse Glenn - United States Military Academy

4)  Kevin Wolting - University of California Berkeley

5)  Brian Knott - Stanford University

6)  Kanji Oyama - University of Oklahoma

7)  Trevor Howard - Penn State University

8)  Jack Boyle - University of Iowa