58 | nebraska men’s Gymnastics | 2013-14
Nebraska’s Olympians
One of the nation’s premier programs, Nebraska
has produced nine athletes who have earned 11 U.S.
Olympic positions, including a two-time Olympic
appearance by current Nebraska assistant coach Jim
Hartung. Former Head Coach Francis Allen was also a
two-time Olympic team head coach for the 1980 and
1992 teams.
Larry Gerard: 1980
One of three Huskers on the Francis Allen-coached
1980 U.S. Olympic team, Larry Gerard was a seventime NCAA All-American while at Nebraska. In
1979, Gerard finished fifth in the all-around to help
Nebraska win its first national championship.
Kevin Davis: 1988
A member of the 1988 U.S. Olympic team, Kevin
Davis was a seven-time NCAA All-American for the
Huskers. Davis was a two-time NCAA champion,
winning parallel bars titles in 1987 and 1988. He
helped NU to the 1988 national title, finishing third
in the all-around.
Jim Hartung: 1980, 1984
A two-time Olympian, Jim Hartung helped the 1984
U.S. squad to the gold medal. It marked the only time
in Olympic history that the U.S. men have claimed the
team gold medal. A 22-time NCAA All-American and
seven-time NCAA champion, Hartung won NCAA allaround titles in 1980 and 1981, was second in 1982
and third in 1979. In addition, Hartung won three
straight NCAA still rings titles (1980-82) and backto-back NCAA parallel bars crowns (1981-82). As a
freshman in 1979, Hartung led NU to its first national
championship. During his Husker career, Hartung
guided NU to four straight national championships.
An Omaha native and South High School graduate,
Hartung was a product of the Cahoy School of
Gymnastics. In 1982, Hartung became NU’s first
Nissen Award winner.
Jim Mikus: 1984
Tom Schlesinger: 1988
The alternate for the gold medal winning 1984 U.S.
squad, Jim Mikus was a five-time NCAA All-American
at Nebraska. He was a valuable contributor for NU’s
national championship teams in 1981, 1982 and
1983. Mikus was a two-time NCAA All-American on
the floor exercise and horizontal bar, and finished
fourth in the all-around in 1982.
One of three Huskers on the 1988 U.S. Olympic
team, Tom Schlesinger was a seven-time NCAA
All-American at Nebraska. At the 1987 NCAA
Championships, Schlesinger won the all-around and
parallel bars national titles on his way to winning the
Nissen Award in 1988.
Scott Johnson: 1984, 1988
Phil Cahoy: 1980
One of three Huskers on the 1980 Francis Allencoached U.S. Olympic team, Phil Cahoy was a 10-time
NCAA All-American at Nebraska. Like Jim Hartung,
Cahoy was an Omaha South High School graduate. He
trained under his father, Phil Cahoy Sr., at the Cahoy
School of Gymnastics before coming to Nebraska. As
a Husker, he was a key figure on four NU squads that
won national championships (1980-83). Individually,
he was a four-time NCAA champion, winning back-toback NCAA parallel bars and horizontal bar national
titles in 1980 and 1981.
One of two Huskers who were two-time Olympians,
Scott Johnson was a member of the gold medal
winning U.S. squad in 1984. An 11-time NCAA
All-American, Johnson was a three-time national
champion at NU. At the 1983 NCAA Championships,
Johnson won the floor exercise, parallel bars and
horizontal bar national titles and placed second in
the all-around.
Wes Suter: 1988
One of three Huskers on the 1988 U.S. Olympic squad,
Wes Suter became NU’s second Nissen Award winner
in 1986. A five-time NCAA All-American at Nebraska,
Suter finished his Husker career as a three-time NCAA
champion. At the 1985 NCAA Championships, Suter
won national titles in the all-around, floor exercise
and horizontal bar.
history | 176 ALL-TIME ALL-AMERICA AWARDS
Trent Dimas: 1992
A standout on the high bar, Trent Dimas won the only
U.S. gymnastics medal at the 1992 Olympics with a
9.875 for a gold medal on the high bar. Dimas picked
up two NCAA All-America awards for the Huskers
in 1990, placing second in both the floor exercise
and horizontal bar. Dimas’ gold medal is the only
individual gold medal an NU gymnast has won.
Francis Allen: 1980, 1992
A two-time Olympic team head coach, Francis Allen
was selected to guide the U.S. squad in 1980 and in
1992. During his 40 seasons at NU, the Huskers won
eight national titles, including an unprecedented
five straight titles from 1979 to 1983, and finished
second on seven other occasions. In addition, Allen’s
gymnasts captured 42 individual titles and three
Nissen Awards.Allen retired as NU’s head coach
following the 2009 season.