Asher Cohen performed a fitting tribute for the late Jim Hartung by capturing the first Nebraska Gymnastics still rings national title since the legendary Husker did so in 1982.
Cohen won the championship with a score of 14.50 at the men’s gymnastics NCAA Championships in Champaign, Ill. on April 18. The senior all-around competitor is the Big Red’s first national champion since Jason Hardabura won the all-around and floor competitions in 1999.
“I have worked four years for this, and to be able to do it in Jim’s honor this year means everything and more to me,” Cohen told Huskers.com. “I am very proud of the work that I’ve put in, the work our team has put in, because I could not have done it without them.”
The College Gymnastics Association recognized Asher’s accomplishments even before he became a national champion, awarding him Specialist of the Year on April 16. He’s the first Husker to take home the honor.
“It’s always nice to win national awards, but for somebody that’s worked so hard and endured so much in his time and just has continued to have a smile on his face, it’s great,” head coach Chuck Chmelka said. “I could not be more proud of the man he has become.”
Prior to qualifying for the NCAA Championships, Cohen won his first Big Ten title on still rings with a score of 14.125. This marked his final home meet at Pinnacle Bank Arena.
“I feel like the medal, the win is a representation of all the work that I’ve put in over these past four years,” Cohen told Hail Varsity. “I feel like it definitely shows that I’m kind of stepping into the role that I’ve wanted to be in this season. I was recruited mainly for the rings out of high school, and I feel like I’m living up to expectations I had set for myself as a freshman, so it means a lot. It’s very rewarding, and I feel a great amount of pride being able to win the Big Ten title on rings.”
Cohen finished day one of the competition with a score of 14.30. He said he was shocked after winning the individual title on day two.
“I was waiting for the score to pop up of the last guy that went, and that would have determined if I got the title or not,” Cohen said. “When the score came up, I bowed my head in disbelief, and then I was pretty much met with a wave of emotion. I was very happy, I was excited, I was proud. I just felt everything in that moment.”
The Lakewood, Colo., native is no stranger to big competitions. Before joining the Huskers, Cohen competed at the 2021 Junior Olympic National Championships, taking first on still rings and eighth in the all-around competition. His finish qualified him for the 2021 USA Championships.
At the USA 2021 championships, Cohen earned fourth-place finishes on the floor and pommel horse as well as 10th in the all-around competition.
“I wasn’t even in contention to go to the USA Championships before my junior year, which was in 2021, so competing at that meet kind of put my name out there and I was able to get connected to a larger gymnastics community,” Cohen said. “I think that’s where Chuck and (assistant coach) John (Robinson) kind of took note of me as a gymnast, and that’s where other schools started to notice me. That’s where I heard of guys like Nathan York and heard of other top gymnasts in the country. So, it was cool to kind of get connected to the bigger gymnastics community there.”
Cohen spent his entire career at Nebraska, leaning on his USA experiences to help him with the Huskers.
“Competing against some of the best gymnasts in the country on the junior stage kind of shows where you’re at as a gymnast,” Cohen said. “It’s obviously not great to compare yourself to people all the time, but being able to compare yourself to the best in the country shows you what you need to work on, it shows you what you need to improve. Competing in that environment with a lot of pressure, a lot of energy, really prepares you for every college gymnastics meet that you could experience.”
His Big Ten title on the still rings this season improved upon his silver medal finish in 2025. The two-time team captain finished his career as a three-time All-American on the rings. He finished sixth on the rings as a sophomore at the 2024 NCAA Championships and seventh as a junior in 2025.
“I think I have a very strong work ethic,” Cohen said. “Whenever something goes wrong or I’m not that good at something, I will always work as hard as I can to improve at it. I can only be successful if I have an environment around me that’s supporting me, so having my teammates cheer me on and support me and push me through those hard times, and having my coaches lift me up and give me corrections and all of that. So, it’s not just my work ethic alone, it’s having 18 other guys in the gym going through the same thing I’m going through. It’s having my coaches push me. It’s a full team endeavor.”
Cohen said it means a lot representing Nebraska.
“It’s very special, and it’s something that I dreamed about when I was a kid,” Cohen said. “Being able to represent a college team and pursue my dreams and study at the same time with this opportunity that’s been given to me and this opportunity that I’ve worked for. So, I think it’s a good representation of my determination to get where I wanted to be, and I’m very grateful for every time I get to compete with the n on my chest.”
With Cohen’s college career complete, he wants younger gymnasts to understand the importance of enjoying the journey while putting in the work.
“My message would be to stay disciplined, to have fun in the gym, and to work as hard as you can,” Cohen said. “There are times when you feel like you can’t do anymore, and you can always take another turn. It’s mental. You can always do another rep of conditioning. You can always try a little bit harder. You just have to find it in you to stay disciplined in your nutrition, stay disciplined in your training and then having fun, just enjoying the people around you, enjoying your time in the gym.”
