Nebraska Moves Onto NCAA Championship Finals

Champaign, Ill.- No.4 Nebraska competed in day one of the 2026 NCAA Championships on April 17 at the State Farm Center. NU was in session one, and it began at 1 p.m. Nebraska finished third out of six with a score of 320.059. This third-place finish qualified them for finals on Saturday, April 18, at 6 p.m.

Nebraska competed against the Oklahoma Sooners, who scored a 322.825, the Ohio State Buckeyes, who ended with a 320.294, the Cal Bears, who finished with a 312.026, the Greenville Panthers, who received a 307.059 and the Springfield Pride, who got a 306.426.

NU started the competition off on the floor. Max Odden started the meet off strong with a 12.90. Nathan York followed with a 13.666. Luke James notched a 13.40. Chase Mondi anchored with a 13.266. They ended with an event score of 53.232. 

Oklahoma was in the lead with a 56.498. Nebraska was in second place.

The Big Red moved over to pommel horse, where Wyatt Reynolds led them off with a 13.30. Caden Clinton went next and scored a 13.533. Nik Tarca went third and received a 13.666. York finished up with a 13.70. The Huskers ended with an event score of 54.199, which is their highest score of the season.

Oklahoma was in the lead with a 110.230. Nebraska was in second place with a 107.431.

Nebraska competed on rings for the third rotation. Odden went first for the Huskers with an 11.933. Ty Roderiques followed up with a stuck landing and a 13.133. Sam Rakita notched a 13.666 with a massive stuck dismount. Asher Cohen, the Big Ten rings champion, ended with a 14.40, and another stuck landing for the Huskers. NU finished with an event score of 53.132.

Midway through the competition, Oklahoma was in the lead with a score of 162.428. Nebraska held second place with a 160.563.

The Huskers then traveled over to vault, where York took the lead-off spot. He recorded a 14.266 with a stuck landing. Roderiques went second and received a 14.10. James followed and received a 14.033. Mondi anchored for Nebraska with a 13.666. They ended with a team event score of 56.065.

After the fourth rotation, Nebraska was in the lead with a 216.628. Oklahoma was in a close second with a 214.927. 

Nebraska moved on to parallel bars. Clinton led the way for the Huskers with a 13.50. York, the Big Ten champion on parallel bars, went second and hit a 14.20 with a stuck dismount. Alex Nitache notched an 11.00 after a fall mid-routine. Cohen finished up with a 12.70. NU ended with an event total of 51.40. 

Headed into the final rotation, Oklahoma was on top with a 269.426. Nebraska had control of second place with a score of 268.028.

The Huskers ended the competition on high bar. Anthony Koppie went first for a 13.166. Rakita recorded a 12.133 after a small fall on the dismount. Nitache went next and received a 13.366. Odden took his usual anchor spot and ended with a 13.366. They finished up with an event score of 52.031.

Nebraska wrapped up the competition in third place with a score of 320.059. They will compete in finals on April 18 at 6 p.m. against the top three teams in session two. Finals will be broadcast on ESPN2.