Huskers Add Canadian National Star Spence

Nebraska Head Coach Heather Brink added another outstanding performer to the Husker women’s gymnastics class with the signing of Canadian National Team standout Emma Spence on Friday, Nov. 20.  Spence, who celebrated her signing day in Canada on Friday afternoon, joins previously announced future Huskers Ayzhia Hall, Halle Rourke, Emma Simpton and Savanah Warren in Nebraska’s incoming class for 2021-22.

A member of the Canadian National Team program since 2017, Spence will join the Huskers as a Senior International Elite level gymnast. Earlier this year, Spence finished eighth on both balance beam and floor exercise at the Melbourne World Cup in Australia. She also placed third on vault and fourth in the all-around at Elite Canada in January of 2020.

“We are thrilled to be adding Emma to our signing class, her accolades and accomplishments speak for themselves,” Brink said. “She will bring a great wealth of competitive experience that will add to the depth on all four events. Her grace and poise will make her one to watch, and I cannot wait to see her compete at the Devaney Center.” 

Spence, whose first language is French, said she chose Nebraska because of the overall strength of the program.

“I chose Nebraska because the facilities are amazing and because the coaches are very friendly and welcoming,” Spence said. “I can really see myself enjoying my time there and growing as a student and as an athlete.”

 

Spence made her Senior International Elite debut in 2019, taking fourth on floor and seventh in the all-around at Elite Canada. She closed 2019 with a bronze medal on balance beam at the World Challenge Cup in Szombathely, Hungary, where she added a fifth-place finish on floor and a sixth-place showing on vault. As a Junior Elite gymnast in 2018, Spence took bronze on vault at the Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires, Argentina, while adding a fifth-place finish on floor. She was also chosen as Canada’s flag bearer at the closing ceremonies.

Spence added a pair of fifth-place finishes in the all-around and on beam at the Junior Pan American Championships, after capturing silver medals in the all-around and beam at the 2018 Canadian Championships. She also earned a bronze on bars. At 2018 Elite Canada, Spence captured gold medals in the all-around, on floor and on bars while adding a bronze on vault.

Spence has trained with coaches Elvira Saadi and Denis Vachon for the Dynamo club team. She attends Père-René-de-Galinée secondary school in Cambridge, Ontario. Spence is the great-granddaughter of Canadian sprinter Mary Vandervliet, who advanced to the semifinals of the women’s 100-meter dash at the 1932 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.