No. 4 Huskers Take Narrow Loss at No.2 Illinois

Champaign, Ill.- The No. 4 Nebraska men’s gymnastics team fell to No. 2 Illinois by a score of 321.300-320.800 on Friday night. Luke James claimed an event title on floor exercise. Hiser earned his sixth title on still rings and Nebraska’s 240th all-time rings title. Cole Partridge earned his title on high bar. Alex Nitache also scored a career high of 13.80 on vault. 

In the first rotation, Luke James tied for first with Illinois’ Ian Sandoval on the floor exercise. James scored a career high of 13.600. Nathan York took third on floor scoring a 13.40 against the Illini.  Chris Hiser made his floor debut for the season putting up a 13.20 and place seventh. Chase Mondi scored a 12.80 to put the Huskers at 53.000 to the Illini’s 53.650. 

In the second rotation, York earned a 13.95 to place in second. Yanni Chronopoulos started on pommel horse, matching his career high of 13.75 to earn third place. Travis Wong made his season debut on pommel with a 12.80 to place fifth. Taylor Christopulos rounded out the Huskers with a 11.80. The Illini took the title with Brandon Dang scoring a 14.25. Headed into the third rotation, Illinois topped the Huskers 107.400-105.300.

The halfway mark started with still rings, where Hiser earned his sixth career title in the event. The senior had an impressive routine which scored a 13.90. Chronopoulos tied for second with a 13.60. James Friedman and Christopulos each scored a 13.45 in a tie for fourth. The Huskers closed the gap and had 159.600 to the Illini’s 150.900.  

In the fourth rotation, Mondi tied for second place on vault with a 14.00. James scored a 13.95, earning him a fourth place finish. Nitache earned a career high of 13.70 and York also hit a 13.50, as the two tied for sixth place. Garrett Schooley earned the event title 14.40. The Illini still held the lead, 216.150- 215.150, over the Huskers.

The fifth rotation was on parallel bars. There was a three-way tie for first place between Nitache, York and the Illini’s Ian Sandoval. York stuck his landing and put up a 13.70 tying him with Nitache. With the tie, Nebraska hit 298 event titles. Chronopoulos scored a 13.10 for a fifth-place finish. Cole Partridge scored a 12.35 on the event for the Huskers. Heading into the final event, Illinois led 268.250-267.600. 

On the final rotation, Partridge’s high bar performance earned him an event title with a 13.60. Christopulos notched a 13.50 to put him in second place on the high bar. Zac Tiderman posted a 13.400 to take fifth. Max Odden earned a career high of 12.70. Despite the Huskers winning the event title, Illinois etched out a win, 321.300-320.800. 

Up next, Nebraska heads back home to face Greenville on Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. (CT) at the Bob Devaney Sports Center. The meet is free and available to stream on B1G+.