Nebraska Debuts 2020 Team at Annual Intrasquad Meet

Lincoln, Neb. -- The Nebraska women's gymnastics team held its first annual intrasquad meet at Mabel Lee Hall on Friday evening in front of an estimated 230 fans. The Huskers competed on all four events in Olympic order. No official team scores were given.

"I thought tonight was a really great starting point for us," Head Coach Heather Brink said. "It gave the girls an opportunity to see where we are in the season. I thought there were some really great things, a lot of the girls stepped up tonight. I think we have a few errors that we need to focus on, and then it's just fine tuning the details. After that, I think it was a great start tonight. I think this group has a lot of potential in attaining our goals and working toward achieving them."
 
Returning 10 letter winners from last year's team, the Huskers will look to build upon the foundation set from last season. Nebraska finished No. 14 in the country under first-year head coach Heather Brink and reached a fourth-place finish at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional.
 
The Huskers welcome back two standout seniors, All-American and WCGA Academic All-American Taylor Houchin and First-Team All-Big Ten and WCGA Academic All-American Sierra Hassel. Houchin concluded the 2019 campaign with solo competition at the NCAA Nationals in Fort Worth, Texas after tying her career high on vault with a 9.975 at the NCAA Ann Arbor Regional. Hassel is coming off a career high year as well where she posted career highs on balance beam and floor exercise with scores of 9.975 and 9.925, respectively. NU will rely heavily on their two veteran seniors who will look to post once again, another impressive year.

"I think we're looking really good," Houchin said. "We were a little nervous coming into this because we always are. We kind of see our first bit of pressure with our new freshmen and seeing how everyone has been progressing, so seeing that in performance gives us a little bit of anxiety. But I think we killed it. Everyone got those first nerves out."

The Huskers will also return three juniors for the 2020 season. Makayla Curtis will look to build upon the foundation laid her sophomore season where she saw action in 10 meets last season on vault and balance beam. Anika Dujakovich competed in 13 meets last season and provided consistency for the Huskers on vault. Megan Verceles Carr took a large leap from her freshman to sophomore season competing in every meet of the season and setting three career highs on vault, uneven bars and balance beam.

Redshirt sophomore Kynsee Roby returns to action after a season ending injury sidelined her for the 2019 season. 
 
Four sophomores will build on the foundation they laid their freshman season. Adnerys De Jesus is coming off an impressive freshman season where she was named Second-Team All-Big Ten. De Jesus will look to continue her strong efforts from last season on vault, uneven bars and floor exercise. Sarah Hargrove returns after being a huge contributor on uneven bars, balance beam and floor exercise. Abby Johnston provided consistency on floor exercise for the Huskers and will continue to do so. Kaylee Quinn rounds out the sophomore class and will be one of the most consistent vaulters on the team this season.
 
Head Coach Heather Brink also welcomes in three freshmen. Clara Colombo from Caravaggio, Italy will become the first Italian to compete in NCAA women's gymnastics competition this season. Kyle Piringer from Ramsey N.J., and Kathryn Thaler from Katy,Texas round out the freshman class. All are here to make an immediate impact for the Huskers this season.

"Freshman year is a whirlwind and we're only halfway through their first year here," Houchin said. "I think they're doing a really good job of managing all the new stuff that comes in and I think they did a really good job today. I think they have really bought into the team environment and they've never been hesitant about our team goals." 
 
The Huskers will continue the off season with another intrasquad meet on December 21, at 6 p.m. at Mabel Lee Hall before beginning the 2020 season in Provo, Utah again BYU on Monday, January 6.