Lincoln, Neb.- Head Coach Chuck Chmelka announced that six gymnasts will be added to the Nebraska men’s gymnastics roster for the 2025-26 season. The gymnasts include Tristen Nye, Ethan Cox, Ty Roderiques, Wyatt Reynolds, Sam Rakita and Alex Shybitov. Reynolds is signed as a walk-on.
Chmelka on the new signees: “We are so happy about the 2025-26 class. We have junior national team members and individual event national champions. We have good gymnasts, as well as good kids. Many of them are Academic all-Americans through USAG, and we feel they're going to fit very nicely with the team we have now. We're going to continue to improve and excel and challenge for the national title. I think these boys will become great men and leaders and challenge for individual titles on their own. I look forward to next year when we get them on campus and we get a chance to train them.”
Ethan Cox- Arvada, Colo.
Homeschool
5280 Gymnastics, Head Coach Sasha Artimov
3rd place at State Championships
Junior national team member 2022, 2024
Put pen to paper. 📝
— Nebraska Men's Gymnastics (@HuskerMGym) November 14, 2024
Welcome to Husker Nation, Ethan! 🌽 pic.twitter.com/Zf0CJcED05
Sam Rakita- Aurora, Ontario
Dr. G. W. Williams Secondary School
East York Gymnastics Club, Head Coach Slava Sytnik
Team Ontario - 2023 Canada Winter Games Champions
1x Jr National Team Member
2024 Canadian National Champion in All-Around, Floor and High Bar
2023 Elite Canada Pommel Horse champion
Rakita on Nebraska: “I chose Nebraska because of its amazing opportunities and benefits for student-athletes, educational support, athletic resources, and all-around positive environment; I feel as if I belong as a Husker.”
Sam’s all N‼️
— Nebraska Men's Gymnastics (@HuskerMGym) November 14, 2024
Welcome to Husker Nation, Sam! 🌽 pic.twitter.com/q8p3MtVQPu
Tristen Nye- Cleveland, Ohio
Strongsville High School
Above The Barre, Head Coach Jeff Vacha
National Champion 2021 in Pommel Horse
State Champion:
Floor 2016, 2018; Pommel Horse 2017, 2019, 2021, 2024; Still Rings 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2024; Vault 2016, 2018,2021, 2024; Parallel Bars 2016, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2024; High Bar 2018, 2021
All-Around Champion at State 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2024
Regional Champion Still Rings 2016; Pommel Horse 2019, Vault 2023; Parallel Bars 2024
5x Elite National qualifier
2x United States Championships qualifier
Nye on Nebraska: “Coach Chuck Chmelka, Jim Hartung and John Robinson made Nebraska feel like home. The team culture is what I have been preparing for my entire career. The discipline, level of athleticism, commitment to the program from the Athletic Department, and facilities afforded to the athletes is remarkable. The Business School and professors value growth and development for me to thrive in my career.”
OH ➡️ NE
— Nebraska Men's Gymnastics (@HuskerMGym) November 13, 2024
Welcome to Husker Nation, Tristen! pic.twitter.com/MaDMGaHHW8
Ty Roderiques- Knoxville, Tenn.
Farragut High School
Gymtek Academy, Head Coach Matt Henry
National Team Member
2X USA Junior National team member
2023 U.S. Vault champion, 3rd All-Around
2023 Junior Elite National Vault champion, 3rd place All-Around
2024 U.S. Championships second place Vault, fourth place Pommel Horse, All-Around
Grizzly classic 3rd place High Bar
1X ETC Qualifier, Vault finalist
2025 Winter Cup qualifier
Roderiques on Nebraska: “I chose Nebraska because of the fantastic facility and coaches as well as student-athlete accommodations, as well as the great team culture.”
BIG RED BOUND 🎯
— Nebraska Men's Gymnastics (@HuskerMGym) November 14, 2024
Welcome to Husker Nation, Ty! 🌽 pic.twitter.com/WUT9xl1H7W
Alex Shybitov-Chicago, Ill.
Saint Ignatius College Prep
Lakeshore Academy, Head Coach Arkadiy Andryushchenko
2024 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, 5th Pommel Horse
2024 Men's Development Program National Championships, 7th Parallel Bars
2023 Xfinity U.S. Gymnastics Championships, 2nd Floor Exercise, 6th All-Around 8th Pommel Horse
2023 Core Hydration Classic, 2nd All-Around, Floor Exercise, Parallel Bars, High Bar, 5th Vault, 8th Still Rings
2023 Men's Development Program National Championships, 3rd High Bar, 8th Floor Exercise
2022 Men's Development Program National Championships, 2nd-Floor Exercise, 4th High Bar, 5th All-Around, 6th Pommel Horse, Still Rings
2021 Men's Development Program National Championships, 2nd Floor Exercise, 3rd High Bar, 4th All-Around, 5th Still Rings, 8th-Vault
2019 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, 3rd-Vault, High Bar, 4th Parallel Bars, 6th All-Around, Floor Exercise
2018 Men's Junior Olympic National Championships, 1st-Vault, 3rd-Floor Exercise 5th-Still Rings, 7th-High Bar, 8th-All-Around
Shybitov on Nebraska: “I chose Nebraska because of one word, "home". Everything about the school, whether it’s the campus or the people that you encounter, it just makes you feel at home. The guys on the team as well as the coaching staff are very welcoming and made me feel like I belonged the second I touched down in Lincoln. Can’t wait to have an amazing four years at the greatest university!”
Joining the Big Red ‼️
— Nebraska Men's Gymnastics (@HuskerMGym) November 15, 2024
Welcome to Husker Nation, Alex! 🌽 pic.twitter.com/aSDl0KTzys
Wyatt Reynolds-Simi Valley, California
Royal High School
Gymnastics Olympica USA Head Coach, Paul Sargsyan
2x National Pommel Horse Champion
Region 1 Elite Team Cup Member
2x US Championships Qualifier
Reynolds on Nebraska: “I chose Nebraska because I always wanted to be a part of a Big Ten university and I feel honored to join the University of Nebraska's Men's Gymnastics Team while completing my college education and receiving my degree in Business Management at an amazing school. The family culture at Nebraska that has been created by the coaches and the team made it an easy choice for me. I believe I can contribute to the Nebraska program and I am truly blessed to have this opportunity. Go Big Red!”
Made it official. 💪
— Nebraska Men's Gymnastics (@HuskerMGym) November 14, 2024
Welcome to Husker Nation, Wyatt! 🌽 pic.twitter.com/hrL6Ep9fFr