INTRO
INTRO
HUSKERS LOOK TO BUILD ON 2014
Desire’ Stephens
Jennie Laeng
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THIS IS NEBRASKA
FINISHING WITH FLAIR
EVENT PREVIEW: FLOOR
- All-American: DeZiel
- All-Big Ten: Blanske, DeZiel
Easily the Huskers’ most entertaining and show-stopping
event, the floor exercise lineup will shine once again in 2015.
Assistant coach Dan Miller noted that every gymnast on the
squad has a floor routine, while several Huskers will feature
new routines this season. Although the Huskers lose AllAmerican and Big Ten floor champion Wong, DeZiel and Blanske
are poised to take over and anchor the floor lineup this season.
DeZiel capped her junior campaign on a high note at the Big
Ten Championships on floor, notching a 9.925, and is set to
provide a crucial routine this season. Blanske, the Big Ten floor
runner-up, brings stellar power and sharp edge to the Husker
rotation and is ready to have an outstanding year on floor.
Stephens also brings powerful skills, as she returns to
Nebraska’s lineup. Along with Stephens, Lambert, Laeng and
Martin will all provide powerful routines this year.
The Big Red will again boast an array of depth in floor exercise
with each gymnast battling for a spot in the lineup. “On floor,
it is going to be very competitive to make the lineup, which is
great for the team,” Miller said. “I truly do not know right now
who those six athletes are going to be. I do know that the
girls are working very hard and are excited to get this season
started.”
HISTORY
BALANCING ACT
EVENT PREVIEW: BEAM
- All-American: DeZiel, Blanske
- All-Big Ten: Blanske
The Huskers, who finished 2014 with a bang on the event
are looking to build off what they started. At the NCAA Semifinals NU hit an incredible 49.45 beam score to place them in
the Super Six finals the following day. Led by four straight 9.90
scores from Blanske, DeZiel, Jamie Schleppenbach and Wong
who all earned All-America honors on the event, this season
the Big Red is only looking to grow from last season.
All-Americans Blanske and DeZiel are ready to lead the attack
on the most difficult of events. NU will welcome back Amanda
Lauer who was the team’s rock on the event, never missing a
meet on beam. Lauer is poised to have a very exciting season
on the event. Laeng also brings powerful skills as she returns
to the lineup.
In addition to this experienced group of returnees comes
freshmen Williams and Moore, who will both look to break into
the lineup in their first year at Nebraska.
Assistant coach Heather Brink wants the Huskers to have
confidence and believe in themselves as they approach the
event. “Coming off a strong finish last season, the team has
been very focused and motivated to start where we left off,”
Brink said. “We have a good group of freshmen that add to an
already talented group of returners. The key is we have to hit
routines when it counts. Beam rotation in competition can
swing momentum either way so we have to put together six
solid beam routines that are near perfection.”
REVIEW
HUSKERS’ SOAR TO NEW HEIGHTS
EVENT PREVIEW: BARS
- All-Big Ten: DeZiel
The Huskers lose first-team All-American Emily Wong from
last year’s squad, but return a solid nucleus of gymnasts to
the 2015 roster. DeZiel, an All-Big Ten Championship team
selection, will anchor and lead Nebraska on the event.
The Big Red will also return several consistent competitors
from the 2014 squad, including Blanske, Stephens and Amanda
Lauer. Laeng is set to be a key contributor in the lineup coming
off a shining freshman season on bars.
With a great deal of depth at the position, NU is also looking
for the newcomers to step up and break into the lineup.
“I feel right now we have the ability for 10 girls to put
together competitive routines,” Kendig said. “It is a matter
now of putting together a lineup. It will be an interesting team
because there are going to be people that cannot go every
week. That creates competition, which I like.”
OPPONENTS
NEBRASKA’S POWER PUNCH
EVENT PREVIEW: VAULT
- All-American: DeZiel
- All-Big Ten: DeZiel
Nebraska returns five members of its vault lineup from 2014,
making it one of the deepest events for the Huskers this season.
DeZiel will headline the rotation, as she is an All-American on
the event; she is considered one of the strongest vaulters in NU
history.
Stephens also returns with valuable experience in the event.
Blanske will look to build on a strong sophomore campaign
and up-and-coming sophomores Laeng and Martin are set to
improve upon their inaugural years with the Huskers on vault.
Along with valuable veteran experience, NU will look to
newcomers Williams and Breen to break into the lineup.
With increased depth, the Huskers see themselves in a strong
position to remain consistent across the board in the event.
“Vault is typically a high scoring event for us and this year
should be no different,” assistant coach Dan Miller said. “ With
the return of some great vaulters, as well as the addition of the
freshmen, this vault lineup may prove to be one of the most
explosive in the country.”
2015 HUSKERS
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE:
HUSKERS WELCOME TALENTED NEWCOMERS
Nebraska welcomes three talented newcomers with a
wealth of experience at every level of gymnastics. These three
freshmen will help fill important roles with the loss of two
seniors.
“I think our freshmen came in ready to make a splash, and
they have shaken things up a little bit and I think that is a great
thing for competition.”
Danielle Breen joins the Huskers from Ames, Iowa and will
open her Husker career with hopes of contributing to multiple
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