Nebraska gymnasts Emma Spence and Csenge Bácksay were dubbed Big Ten gymnasts to watch on Wednesday.
This is the third year in a row that Spence, a junior, has received the accolade. Spence had an impressive sophomore campaign and offseason. In the 2023 season, she earned First-Team All-Big Ten honors and was a Co-Regional Gymnast of the Year. She also saw new personal bests in all four events and the all-around. Spence recorded a 9.975 on uneven bars at the Masters Classic last year, the third-best score in program history. She grabbed 14 individual titles on the season, including five in the all-around. The junior competed in the Gymnova Cup in November and grabbed a floor title, a second-place all-around finish, and was fifth in the vault.
Sophomore Bácksay earned the award for the first time. In October, she competed in the FIG World Gymnastics Championships, where she placed eighth in the vault finals to qualify for the 2024 Paris Olympics as an individual in the event. Bácksay will represent Team Hungary. In her freshman season with the Huskers, Bácksay competed in four meets and notched personal bests of 9.800 on beam and vault and 9.700 on bars.
2023-24 BIG TEN WOMEN’S GYMNASTICS – GYMNASTS TO WATCH
Amelia Knight, Sr., Illinois
Mia Takekawa, Gr., Illinois
Adeline Kenlin, Sr., Iowa
Karina Muñoz, So., Iowa
Natalie Martin, Fr., Maryland
Emma Silberman, Gr., Maryland
Sierra Brooks, Gr., Michigan
Gabby Wilson, Gr., Michigan
Gabi Ortiz, Fr., Michigan State
Nikki Smith, So., Michigan State
Gianna Gerdes, Sr., Minnesota
Mya Hooten, Sr., Minnesota
Csenge Bácskay, So., Nebraska
Emma Spence, Jr., Nebraska
Payton Harris, So., Ohio State
Tory Vetter, So., Ohio State
Kalea McElligott, Fr., Penn State
Isabella Salcedo, Jr., Penn State
Elia Aird, Jr., Rutgers
Emily Leese, Sr., Rutgers
