Friday Five: Lincoln is the place to be this weekend
Welcome to that time of the year where a lot is happening all at once.
Welcome to that time of the year where a lot is happening all at once. In Nebraska’s case, that’s hosting multiple events, including a Big Ten Championship for men’s gymnastics.
Even more, you can head just up the road to Omaha Saturday evening and witness Jordan Larson’s final home match as a professional player with LOVB Nebraska. The Hooper native and three-time All-American at Nebraska is set to retire professionally following this season. More on that to come.
For now, let’s take a look at what’s going on in Lincoln. It’s certainly not going to be a boring one around here.
Let’s get into it.
Nebraska gymnastics hosts with something to prove
Nebraska men’s gymnastics isn’t just competing for a Big Ten title this weekend. It’s getting to do so at home.
Pinnacle Bank Arena will host the conference championships April 3-4, with a field that feels a bit like a national preview. Michigan enters as the regular-season champion but Nebraska isn’t far behind, sitting at No. 4 nationally and coming off its best team score of the season despite a loss in Ann Arbor.
The Huskers left that meet knowing exactly where the ceiling is and, more importantly, how close they are to hitting it. The margins at this level are small and Nebraska is trending in the right direction at the right time.
Individually, the lineup has a lot of promise across multiple events. Asher Cohen enters as the top-ranked rings specialist in the country and a Nissen-Emery finalist, which is one of the sport’s highest honors. Nathan York, Ty Roderiques and Max Odden are all positioned near the top nationally in their respective events.
And when Nebraska hits, it hits. The stuck landings in Ann Arbor—five of them—weren’t just cosmetic. They’re the difference between a good meet and a championship-level one.
Hosting adds another layer. It’s an advantage, especially with Husker fans in attendance. Nebraska knows that better than anyone.
A season ends but not without clarity
Nebraska women’s gymnastics didn’t advance out of Baton Rouge, but that’s summing it all up simply. The longer version of that story is that this team battled through a loaded regional, put together a 195.000 team score and showed consistency when it mattered.
There weren’t any glaring collapses and no single rotation derailed everything. Instead, it was a night where Nebraska stayed within itself, hit routines and ultimately ran into teams that had just a little more.
Lauren Homecillo set the tone early with a 9.900 on floor. Nya Kraus continued to be steady on bars. Isabel Sikon contributed across multiple rotations. The pieces were there, just like they’ve been all year. But postseason requires everything happening at the exact right time.
In Nebraska’s case, the Huskers were good. LSU, on the other hand, was great. Sometimes, that’s the difference.
Still, this doesn’t read like an ending that resets expectations when we look back at it. Nebraska is in the room and is competing at the level it needs to. Next season will provide the opportunity to keep taking it one step futher.
Track and field finally comes home
Seven years is a long time. That’s how long it’s been since Nebraska hosted an outdoor track meet. On Friday though? That changes.
The Husker Spring Kickoff isn’t just another early-season meet. It’s the unveiling of a completely renovated outdoor facility and a signal of where the program is headed, especially with the Big Ten Outdoor Championships coming to Lincoln later this spring.
Because of weather, everything is condensed into one day, which creates a different kind of energy. Field events and running events stacked closely together, a tighter window and a meet that will move quickly from start to finish.
Nebraska comes into the weekend following a strong showing in Miami. Xavier Bogan swept the horizontal jumps, while Arina Razina climbed into the top tier of Nebraska pole vaulters. Noa Isaia and Seth Schnakenberg made statements in the hammer throw.
At the same time as this weekend’s event in Lincoln, a portion of the roster heads west to the Stanford Invitational, splitting the squad between two competitive environments. That kind of distribution only works when there’s depth and Nebraska has it.
But more than anything, Friday marks the reintroduction of a home outdoor track for the Huskers. That’s pretty exciting, no?
Softball is getting national attention
Three Huskers landed in Softball America’s midseason position rankings and it’s not hard to see why.
Jordy Frahm has been one of the most complete players in the country, producing at the plate and in the circle at a level that’s difficult to replicate. A .400+ average paired with a conference-leading ERA isn’t normal. It’s the kind of production that changes games in multiple ways.
Alexis Jensen has been just as impactful in her role, piling up wins and strikeouts while limiting free passes. The efficiency stands out as much as the volume. When a freshman is already beating ranked teams and controlling innings the way she has, it shifts expectations quickly.
Then there’s Hannah Camenzind, who has quietly become one of the most consistent bats in the lineup. Starting every game, producing extra-base hits and getting on base at a high clip is the kind of reliability that holds everything together for a team working through a long season.
Ultimately though, Nebraska isn’t leaning on one player. It’s built around multiple pieces that can take over games in different ways. That balance is why the Huskers have been able to sustain success, not just flash it.
Dylan Carey is producing like one of the best in the country
Nebraska baseball has had a strong start as a team. Dylan Carey is a big reason why.
The numbers jump immediately with a .400 average, extra-base hits, run production and consistency across the board. But what stands out even more is how steady it’s been. Sixteen multi-hit games and 10 multi-RBI performances highlight sustained production from Carey. That’s exactly what Nebrasak needs.
Carey’s impact isn’t limited to this season either. Becoming Nebraska’s all-time doubles leader is the kind of milestone that puts his career in context. That record stood for a reason and breaking it speaks to both longevity and production.
For a team that’s already ranked and positioning itself well early in the season, having a player operating at this level changes the ceiling.
Bonus: a Saturday built for being outside
If you’re looking for a reason to be around Haymarket Park and Bowlin Stadium this weekend, Nebraska is making it easy.
Ballpark Bash runs from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, with everything from games and inflatables to food and giveaways. It’s built to be accessible— no tickets required—and designed to bring people into the space before both softball and baseball get underway.
Softball hosts Rutgers at 1 p.m. Baseball follows against Penn State at 2 p.m.
It might be a bit chilly though—bring a jacket!—but not a bad way to spend a Saturday in Lincoln.