NU gymnasts finally break 350-point barrier
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BY LORI GRIFFIN / Lincoln Journal Star
Coach Chuck Chmelka has been touting the talent of his Nebraska men’s gymnastics team all season.
And that talent finally prevailed Saturday, as the No. 9 Huskers broke the magic 350-point barrier, finishing second in a triangular before 600 fans at the Devaney Sports Center.
Minnesota won the meet with a 352.150 score, followed by Nebraska (350.550) and Iowa (345.700).
“We had a really good meet. We broke 350 for the first time this season. We went 5-for-5 on high bar and didn’t count a miss tonight,” Chmelka said. “We gave Minnesota a good run, but they did just a little better than we did.
“Our practice went really well last week, so we just need to show the guys that if we do good in practice then we’ll do good at meets.”
The Husker seniors performed their best in their final home meet.
Stefan Wallof had a career best on the still rings, competing in the event for the first time this season and receiving a 13.750 score.
“They (the seniors) … will be missed, not only for their scoring and their skills, but for everything they have done for the program,” Chmelka said. “It’s a great group of seniors and I couldn’t be more happy and proud of how they’ve done.”
Senior Kyle Shanahan won the pommel horse (13.950) and high bar (15.1).
Freshman Andreas Hofer had NU’s top all-around score since the NCAA switched to the international scoring system in 2008. He finished with an 88.400. It was the first all-around title for the native of Heidelberg, Germany.
Two other Huskers won individual titles: as Anthony Ingrelli scored a career-high 15.300 in winning the still rings and senior Daniel Brule tied for first on the parallel bars (14.650). Senior Tony Maras was third on the still rings.
Nebraska led after the first rotation, finishing with a 61.150 on floor exercise.
Heading into the final rotation, the high bar, Nebraska had to make last-second changes after David Jacobs fell on the parallel bars and could not compete.
“We were kind of scrambling (for a lineup) on the high bar,” Chmekla said. “It’s the lastest I’ve had to put a lineup together.”
Two Huskers, including senior John Robinson, competed in the event without warming up. Robinson, who has been kept out of the all-around because of an injury, finished with a 15.10.
Nebraska will have two weeks off before traveling to Norman, Okla., for the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships.
Reach Lori Griffin at 473-7174 or lgriffin@journalstar.com.
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