Huskers Sweep Big Ten Weekly Awards

The Nebraska men’s gymnastics team swept the conference accolades this week, as Taylor Christopulos, Chase Mondi and Zac Tiderman each received weekly honors following Saturday’s tri-meet against Army and Greenville. Christopulos was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, Mondi earned his second Big Ten Freshman award, and Zac Tiderman collected Big Ten Specialist accolades, announced by the conference Monday afternoon.

Christopulos’ accomplishments feature an impressive performance on floor, earning him the event title and registering a new career-high score of 14.75 on the event, only .10 below the Nebraska individual record set in 2017 by former Husker Austin Epperson. Christopulos also helped the squad set a new season-best team score on the floor exercise (70.800), beating out last season's record. The captain also competed on pommel horse where he put up a 13.20. On vault, the Layton, Utah native, collected a new season-best of 14.85, taking second place overall and helped the Big Red secure a new season-best team score on vault. 

Mondi had a stand out performance where he competed on floor and secured a 13.80, just one-tenth below his career-best and good for sixth place. The freshman helped the Huskers earn a season-best team score on the floor exercise (70.800), surpassing last season's mark. On vault, the freshman notably made a historic impact after setting a new career-best (14.85) and completing a Kaz double full on vault, being the first Husker to complete this skill on vault in Nebraska school history. Mondi tied teammate Christopulos for a strong second-place finish and helped NU set a season-best team score on vault (72.300).

"Freshman Chase Mondi, the first Husker ever to perform the Kaz double full vaulting was an amazing feat," Head Coach Chuck Chmelka said. "There’s only a handful of people in the world doing this vault and we’re fortunate to have one of those guys and he’s only a freshman."

Tiderman highlighted his craft after setting another historic, record-breaking performance by breaking a Nebraska school record on high bar after scoring a new career-best 14.65, good for the event title. The record was previously set by Anton Stephenson in 2018 with a 14.60. The Wilsonville, Ore., native helped the Huskers set a new season-best team score on high bar (70.100), surpassing the Huskers’ previous top score in 2023. Tiderman also impressed on vault after registering a 14.75, good for fourth overall. 

"I couldn’t be more proud of the record Zac Tiderman attained today on high bar," Coach Chmelka said. "He’s a beautiful bar swinger. A very hard worker and he has earned his spot in the elite ranks on high bar."

Each athlete contributed to Nebraska’s success in the tri-meet against Army and Greenville where they played a critical role in setting the Huskers new season-best team score at the meet (412.900).

Two Husker gymnasts, Christopulos and Toby Liang, will compete at the USA Gymnastics Winter Cup in Louisville, Ky., next Friday-Sunday, Feb. 23-25 at the Kentucky International Convention Center.