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About The daily Nebraskan. ([Lincoln, Neb.) 1901-current | View Entire Issue (April 2, 1997)
Matt Miller/DN TED HARRIS pert eras the still rings hi the MPSF Championships last weekend. Harris won the IndivMeal event title with a 9.85. Harris is Huskers’ ringer One-event specialist dominates rings By Gbegg Madsen Staff Reporter It’s taken most of the 1997 season, J>iit Ted.Hanjs has, finally gotten com fortable. The senior Comhusker gymnast from Kearney has regained die form that earned him a third-place finish on the still rings at the 1996 NCAA Championships. And he’s just in time as third-ranked Nebraska begins a stretch run for the school’s ninth na tional title. “I had to change my set this sea son,” Harris said. “So my set is much more difficult for me than it was last year. It’s taken me a couple of months to get familiar with this set and really get confident. But now, I am. So it’s a good thing.” The still-rings routine Harris per formed his sophomore and junior sea son was rearranged this year because of new scoring regulations enacted by the Federation of International Gym nastics, which sets new international scoring standards in every Olympic year. Harris said his new routine — which he started practicing this sum mer —was difficult to get used to. In the first eight meets of the sea son, Harris scored above 9.7 only two times, a slight slump compared to 1996, when he scored above a 9.8 five times. But last Saturday in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Champion ships individual event finals, Harris scored a season-high 9.85, which earned him first place. “One of the good things about gymnastics is that these three meets are the only meets that really matter,” Harris said. “That’s the way we’ve approached the entire season. If you’re primed for these three meets, it doesn’t matter what happened the rest of the season.” NU Coach Francis Allen said the new regulations, which emphasize strength over finesse, have been a dif ficult, but not an insurmountable, ob stacle for Harris. “Some people, the new rules have really hurt them,” Allen said. “For other people, it hasn’t hurt them and for just a few it’s helped. Ted’s in that middle group.” Allen said Harris has a good chance of winning the still rings at the NCAA Championships in Iowa City, Iowa, on April 17. The thought of winning the na tional title on the rings or winning the team championship has helped Har ris to not think about the end of his career. “I try not to focus on the fact that these last two meets are the last times I’ll compete,” he said. “But I try to lode at it like these are the last two ; opportunities I’ll have to win.” | Harris said the Huskers are in a perfect position to win — both at the NCAA West Regional Saturday in Al buquerque, N.M., and the NCAA Championships. For Harris, winning a national title would be a great accomplishment, but a bittersweet ending to his career. “I’ve thought about it a lot this past week, and it’s kind of a weird feel ing,” he said. “It’s kind of a sad feel ing in a way. But it’s got to end, so I’d rather it end well.” Note: Allen said Monday that he has de cided to redshirt Nebraska junior all arounder Jim Koziol. The Omaha native had surgery,in December to repair tom ligaments in his right shoulder. He suffered the in jury at the 1996 MPSF Champion ships. Allen, who had hoped to use Koziol at Saturday’s West Regional, said doctors advised him to redshirt Koziol, who will have two years of eligibility remaining. * I * ... |iA^^I^Knw]^H2Rl»nW|R]!l . . ‘; . (*••.• ' -; | : i ' -.• j . ■ ■ . i ’ . Sr 5 FREE ONLINE HOURS WITH ( THESE NAVDCUNL PLANS. Low Usage Plan: 15 hours for $6.50 a month. Medium Usage Plan: 40 hours for $10.00 a month. High Usage Plan: 250 hours for $19.50 a month. And whichever you choose, we’ll give you 5 FREE HOURS every month. Additional minutes are $.02. INSTALLATION IS FIS. Call 472-5151 (students) 472-3434 (faculty or staff) , or stop by 211 Nebraska Hall. * You must be a UNL student, faculty or staff member to qualify for these plans. Netscape software is available in Windows and Macintosh versions. ▲Vliant Communications MAKING IT EASIER TO COMMUNICATE." Visit our web site: www.aliant.com l .■ %Hii I B^K ^F^k I B^ B Thurs., April 3 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at NU Softball Complex 14th & W PROMOTIONS: • Mr. Goodcents guarantees a Husker sweep. • Chance to win $100 in CDs from Homer’s. General Admission: ? ■ General Admission - $2 I Children s ancf under - FREE I UNL Students w/ID -FREE BBBB' ^^^B ^p^p ^p ^p _Wed., April 2 ® 5 p.m._ ■ ^f''.;' '-“”"t:— -* I | I •■',;• •;-r ■■■. ■• . Fri., April 4 @ 7 p.m. BTTB Sat, April 5 ® 2 p.m. SurK^pril6@1pm. H^^P’ at Buck Beltzer Held PI^^K I April 4 & 5 Promotion: I First 200 people through the I door will receive a free poster. P General Admission: I General Admission - $4 I High School Students w/ID - $2 ■ Children 6 and under - FREE - I UNL Students w/ID -FREE Corporate Sponsor: I Schedule is subject to I change due to inclement I weather. mJ^BSSK SALADS •