Huskers Host 29th Annual Masters Classic

No. 18 Nebraska Cornhuskers (10-5, 6-3 Big Ten) hosts 29th Annual Masters Classic

Featuring: No. 9 Kentucky (6-6, 3-4 SEC), No. 13 Boise State (11-2, 5-1 MRGC) and Illinois State (2-8, 1-1 MIC)

Saturday, March 16, 7 p.m. CT -- Lincoln, Neb. (Bob Devaney Sports Center) [7,907]

Live Scores: Huskers.com

Live Video: Huskers.com

Events: Senior Night presentation following award ceremonies.

               Pepsi Pack the House - Dollar admission and Pepsi products.

               Light up the night with 1,000 light up baton giveaway.

Huskers Head Home for 29th Annual Masters Classic

Lincoln, Neb. -- The No. 18 Nebraska women's gymnastics team is set to take the stage for the final time this season at home with the 29th Annual Masters Classic on Saturday March 16 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. 

The annual quadrangular will feature No. 9 Kentucky, No. 13 Boise State and Illinois State and will also serve as senior night for the team's four seniors, Kelli Chung, Sienna Crouse, Catelyn Orel and Megan Schweihofer. 

The Huskers did not move as they remain at No. 18 in the latest Road to Nationals poll after coming in second at the Denver meet. Nebraska owns a NQS of 196.345 and is once again, ranked top 20 in all four events. On vault, the Huskers moved up to No. 14 with a NQS of 49.125, on uneven bars they sit at No. 20 with a NQS of 49.090, on balance beam, the team is ranked No. 16 with a NQS of 49.125 and on floor exercise, the team's best event, Nebraska is No. 12 with a NQS of 49.255. 

SENIORS TO BE HONORED ON SENIOR NIGHT

NOTING KELLI CHUNG Kelli Chung has been one of the most vocal teammates for the Huskers in her four years on the team. It was not until this season she stayed healthy through the off-season as she began to really impact things on the competition side of things as a big player on uneven bars, usually finding herself anchoring for the Huskers in four of the six meets she has competed in this season. She currently holds a career high of 9.70 on uneven bars. Chung is one of the hardest working athletes on the team. A biological sciences major, Chung looks to attend medical school when she is done competing. She was awarded the Arthur Ashe Jr. Sports Scholar Award in 2018, earned the Big Ten Sportsmanship award for her energy and contributions outside of the gym, was academic All-Big Ten in 2017 and 2018, named to the Tom Osborne Citizenship Team and has been a member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll every semester. 

NOTING SIENNA CROUSE Sienna Crouse, one of the most dominate all-arounders from Fargo, N.D., has been a constant leader inside and outside of the gym for the Huskers in her four years. She leads by example and always expects really big things from herself as a gymnast. She is confident in her routines and has always been one of the hardest workers since her freshman year. Crouse was nominated for the AAI award earlier this year. All of her career highs are 9.925 or higher. She has earned herself multiple All-American and All-conference accolades throughout her career, including a first team All-American honor on vault in 2017, second team honors in 2018, and a first team All-American honor on floor exercise in 2018 as well. She has accumulated 26 event titles so far in her career and will for sure end with more once the 2019 season concludes. Crouse has been named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week and was Event Specialist of the Week twice in her career.  She is a NACG/W regular season All-American in 2018 and was First-Team All-Big Ten in 2018. She is a scholastic All-American and has been Academic All-Big Ten in her last two seasons and has been named to Nebraska’s Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll each year she has been enrolled. 

NOTING CATELYN OREL Catelyn Orel is one of the prettiest and most consistent performers, known mostly for her contribution on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise for the Huskers. She provides tons of energy and is constantly uplifting those around her. The Blue Springs, Mo. native has been consistent for Nebraska, being limited to uneven bars and floor exercise last season she was a large help in getting the Huskers to their 12th appearance at the Super Six Finals with a career high on uneven bars with a 9.825, on balance beam a 9.825 and on floor exercise a 9.90. Orel outside of the gym gives the same energy as inside. A management major, she was named Academic All-Big Ten last year, was a NACGC/W Scholastic All-American in 2016, awarded the Sam Foltz Hero 27 Leadership Award in 2018, awarded the Big Ten Sportsmanship Award in 2017 and is a six time member of the Nebraska Scholar-Athlete Honor Roll. Orel also makes huge contributions in her charity work, as well as taken a mission trip to Columbia to help in any way she could at local churches, schools and parks.

NOTING MEGAN SCHWEIHOFER Megan Schweihofer is one of the most consistent and poised competitors on the roster. A force in the all-around, she has accumulated 18 event titles so far in her four year career, eight of which come from floor exercise or the all-around. Schweihofer was a two time second team All-American last season on floor exercise and in the all-around, she was named first team All-Big Ten, part of the Big Ten All-Championship team, the Big Ten Floor Co-Champion,  as well as being named a NACGC/W Regular Season All-American. She was named event specialist of the week for her performance on balance beam this season, as well as all of her career highs exceeding a 9.90, and an all-around career high of 39.525. Outside of the gym, Schweihofer, an accounting major, was named Academic All-Big Ten in 2017 and 2018, a NACG/W Scholastic All-American in 2016 and 2018, and was awarded the Tom Osborn Citizenship Team Award.

SCOUTING THE WILDCATS Kentucky comes to Lincoln with an overall record of 6-6 and a conference record of 3-4 including wins over LSU and Alabama. The Wildcats are currently ranked ninth in the Road to Nationals poll, tied with Big Ten foe Minnesota, and has a NQS of 196.845 and a team season-high score of 197.525. Kentucky is coming off of its best meet of the season so far with a 197.525-195.875 win against Central Michigan. Kentucky’s best event is balance beam where they are ranked No. 8 nationally with a NQS of 49.295 and a high of 49.450. Against Kentucky, Nebraska is a perfect 10-0 with the last regular season meeting coming in  2014 where the Huskers defeated the Wildcats 196.850-195.200.

SCOUTING THE BRONCOS Boise State is currently ranked No. 13 in the Road to Nationals Poll with a NQS of 196.610 and a season team high 197.175. The Broncos are 11-2 on the season overall and 5-1 in conference competition. Last time out, Boise State was defeated by No. 16 BYU 197.000-196.325. The Bronco’s best events are uneven bars and balance beam where they are ranked No. 9 and No. 7 respectively. On uneven bars they have a NQS of 49.315 and a high of 49.575, while on balance beam they have a NQS of 49.320 and a high of 49.550. Nebraska also has a perfect record against Boise State, defeating them all nine times the two teams have met with the last regular season meeting coming in 2017 where the Huskers came out victorious 196.625-196.150.

SCOUTING THE REDBIRDS Illinoise State will come to Lincoln with a 2-8 overall record and a 1-1 record in conference play. The Redbirds have a NQS of 193.660 and a team season-high if 195.075. Last time out, Illinois State took part in the Illinois Classic where they finished fourth, falling to UIC, Illinois and Northern Illinois. Their best event is uneven bars where they have a NQS of 48.520 and a team high of 48.975. Nebraska is unbeaten against Illinois State, 5-0 all time. The last regular season meeting between the two teams came in 2001 where Nebraska won 196.200-193.625.

MASTERS CLASSIC HISTORY AND RECORDS Nebraska began the Masters Classic in 1989 and have held the meet annually with the exception of 1994 and 2008. The meet traditionally serves as Senior Day for Nebraska Women’s Gymnastics. This will be the first Masters Classis for Heather Brink as Head Coach of Nebraska who has competed in the event herself, winning four as an athlete. Masters Classic records can be found in the women’s gymnastics media guide. Nebraska has won the Masters Classic all but four times, and was the reigning champion dating back to 1995 before UCLA defeated the Huskers last season. Nebraska boasts the Masters Classic meet record for the team score, with a score of 198.025 in 2003.

LAST TIME OUT The Huskers took a trip to Denver to take on the No. 6 Pioneers along with No. 21 Arizona State and Pittsburgh. Nebraska finished second out of the four teams falling to Denver 197.576-196.225, but claimed two victories over Arizona State and Pittsburgh. In that meet, freshman Adnerys De Jesus set a new career high on floor exercise, 9.85. 

UP NEXT Nebraska will then begin the postseason with the Big Ten Championships on Saturday, March 23 in State College, Pa. before awaiting selections for regional and post season competition.