Huskers Gymnastics Adds Six to 2023 Signing Class

The Nebraska men’s gymnastics team added six gymnasts to the 2023 signing class. Head Coach Chuck Chmelka received six national letters of intent from Luke James, Anthony Koppie, Chase Mondi, Alex Nitache, Max Odden, and Cole Partridge. 

Luke James comes to Nebraska all the way from Cape Town, South Africa, where he trained at City Of Birmingham Gymnastics Club under coach Lee Woolls. James competed in the British Team Championships, where the honors of taking first-place and being named champions were received. James will join the Huskers in January 2023 and compete with Nebraska this season. 

Anthony Koppie, a native of Fayetteville, Georgia, is set to join the Huskers after training at Roswell Gymnastics leading up to his commitment to the Big Red. Koppie is a six-time national qualifier and competed in the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. As a two-time Junior Olympic national championship competitor, Koppie earned a sixth-place finish on vault in 2021.

Chase Mondi will join the Cornhuskers from Lawrence, Kansas, after training under coach Mike Thomas and Steve Glickley at Emerald City Gymnastics. Mondi was a 2021 National Champion on floor, a four-time level ten Kansas State Champion in the all-around, 2021 all-around regional champion, and a 2022 Elite Team Cup Champion on vault. Mondi also is a four-time Academic All-American, in addition to being a two-time Region Three Elite team member.

Alex Nitache is set to join the 2023 signing class, a native of Knoxville, Tennessee, where he trained under Matt Henry at Gymtek Academy. Nitache qualified for the 2022 National U.S. Championships, where he prevailed to finish second in the all-around, and finished in first on vault in the competition. Nitache is also a two-time national team member, along with a 2021 U.S. National Champion.

Max Odden will join Nebraska next year from Scottsdale, Arizona. Odden competed for North Valley Gymnastics under coach Travis Rainer. Odden competed in the 2022 U.S. Gymnastics Championships, where he notched a fifth-place finish on still rings. At the 2022 Elite Team Cup, Odden earned first team honors. He also qualified for the 2022 Winter Cup in Frisco, Texas.

Cole Partridge, a native from Bountiful, Utah, is set to compete for NU during the 2023-24 season. Partridge competed under coach Adam Jacobs at USA Gymnastics World. Partridge finished third on pommel horse and fifth in the all-around at the 2021 U.S. Gymnastics Championships. Partridge qualified for the 2022 Winter Cup and competed at the 2021 Men’s Development Program National Championships, where he finished second on floor and third in the all-around.