Huskers Finish Fourth in Season Opener

The No. 23 Nebraska women’s gymnastics team placed fourth in the American Gold Women’s Gymnastics classic at the Nashville Municipal Auditorium on Saturday night.

Emma Spence (seventh, 39.175), Whitney Jencks (ninth, 39.025) and Sophia McClelland (tenth, 39.000) represented the Huskers in the all-around.

No. 1 Oklahoma took first in the event with a 197.550, No. 17 Auburn followed with a 195.950, No. 27 BYU was third with a 194.625, and Nebraska was fourth with a 194.475.

Rotation One
The Huskers kicked off the evening on beam with a team score of 48.850. McClelland led Nebraska with a score of 9.850, followed by Spence with a 9.800. Emma Simpton and Isabel Sikon both notched a 9.750. Jencks (9.700) and Nya Kraus (9.425) rounded out the lineup.

Rotation Two
Nebraska continued the night with a 48.125 on floor. Emma Spence posted a strong 9.800, followed by both Jencks and McClelland with a 9.775. Halle Rourke followed with a 9.650, with Simpton (9.125) and Allie Gard (8.950) finishing out the rotation.

Rotation Three
Behind 9.750 scores from Spence and Sikon, NU notched a 48.450 on vault. Jencks followed that up with a 9.700, with Katie Kuenemann scoring a 9.650. The scoring was rounded out by Kraus and McClelland with a 9.600.

Rotation Four
NU concluded the contest on bars, posting a 49.050 in the event. Jencks led the team with a 9.850, with Spence and Simpton close behind with a 9.825. McClelland and Emalee Frost both scored a 9.775, and Kraus finished the event with a 8.350.

Up Next
NU will travel to Gainesville, Fla. on Friday, Jan. 9 to take on No. 3 Florida. The meet is set to begin at 5:45 p.m. (CT).