Nebraska Gymnastics Honored with Regional Awards

Nebraska Gymnastics was honored with three regional awards announced the Women's Collegiate Gymnastics Association (WCGA) Monday afternoon. Emma Spence received Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year, Brian Amato and Oleksii Koltakov earned Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year, and Dr. Lawrence Chatters was named Regional Administrator of the Year for the South Central region. 

Spence received the honors after completing an impressive sophomore campaign that ended at the NCAA Denver Regional. She competed in the all-around at all 12 meets during the 2023 season, going 48-for-48 without recording a fall. A first-team All-Big Ten selection, Spence claimed 14 individual titles throughout the 2023 season. She set career-high scores on every event including the all-around. Spence finished the season ranked 27th in the NCAA in the all-around competition. Helen Hu of Missouri was also named Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year.                                

Brian Amato and Oleksii Koltakov earned Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of Year honors after helping the Huskers to a postseason appearance for the first time since 2019. Both coaches played critical roles in Nebraska's improvements this season, which included top-10 program records in both team and event scores. The Huskers finished the season ranked 23rd nationally and saw improvements in every event ranking as well. Casey Jo Macpherson and Whitney Snowden of Missouri were also honored as Co-Regional Assistant Coaches of the Year. 

Dr. Lawrence Chatters received Regional Administrator of the Year honors after serving as the sport administrator for women's gymnastics during the 2023 season. As the executive associate athletic director for strategic initiatives, Dr. Chatters focused his energy on developing and educating the program on diversity, equity and inclusion. Leading the Nebraska women's gymnastics leadership council, he not only helped the student-athletes address and work through situations, but he brought to light ways in which the team could develop individually and as a group. Dr. Chatters helped support the growth of the support as scheduled meets saw a significant increase in attendance as well as lead Nebraska's efforts in adding two additional meets this season.