Men’s Gymnastics Looks to Run Streak to Four – Ohio State Buckeyes
4/6/1999 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
April 6, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State has had two weeks to mentally prepare itself for this weekend’s NCAA Eastern Regional, hosted by Illinois. For the last three years the Buckeyes have won the meet and are hoping to duplicate last year’s success. Hanging in the balance is whether the team will qualify for the NCAA Championship, hosted by Nebraska on April 22-24. Only the top three from the eastern and western regional move on to the Championship. Head coach Miles Avery views the weekend as a chance for the team to improve on its third-place showing at the Big Ten Championship. “My expectations are that we do a great job and qualify for the NCAA Championship. I also would like to send a message that Ohio State will be in the hunt for any Championship that is to be won.”
NCAA REGIONAL INFORMATION
Teams (seven from the East and five from the West) and two additional groups of individuals will qualify to each of two regional meets from the respective East and West regions. These additional groups at each site will consist of all-around competitors (seven from the East and five from the West) who are not members of a selected team, and individuals (seven from the East and five from the West) per event who are not members of a selected team or have not already been selected in the all-around group. Three teams and the top three all-around competitors not on one of the qualifying teams, plus the top three individuals on each event not already qualified on a team or as an all-around competitor will advance from each regional competition to the championships. The National Championship is April 22-24 at the Bob Devaney Sports Center at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.
EAST REGIONAL TEAMS
1. Michigan 2. Ohio State 3. Iowa 4. Penn State 5. Michigan State 6. Illinois 7. Massachusetts
OHIO STATE NCAA REGIONAL HISTORY
The Buckeyes have won the NCAA East Regional three years in a row. Last year Ohio State defeated Illinois, Iowa and Penn State en route to qualifying for teh NCAA Championships for the 18th straight year, which more than doubles that of any other university.
LANDRY NISSEN AWARD FINALIST
Peter Landry has been named one of eight finalsits for the prestigious Nissen-Emery Award. Each year, the Nissen is presented to teh most outstanding male collegiate senior gymnast in the nation. Landry has made a lasting impact on the Buckeye program. During his four years, his accomplishments include earning All-America status last year at the NCAA Championship, 1997 Big Ten Parallel Bars Champion, team captain of this season’s squad and member of the Ohio State team that claimed the NCAA National Championship in 1996 and Big Ten Championship in 1996 and 1997. Ohio State has had three prior winners of the Nissen. Mike Racanelli won in 1990, Kip Simons in 1994 and Blaine Wilson in 1997. The winner of this year’s award will be announced on April 21.
QUOTES FROM COACH AVERY
My expecations for the NCAA Eastern Regional are that we do agreat job and qualify for the NCAA Championship. I would also liketo send a message that Ohio State will be in the hunt for anychampionship that is to be won. For Ohio State to win and get toNebraska, the team will have to feel aggressive and hungry. The topgoal of this meet is not usually to win but to qualify for thefinals. I want to win to send a message to the other teams. Thereare no individual goals for this meet. It is entirely a teameffort. Losing the Big Ten Championship will impact this weekend’scompetition. We hate losing and want to get rid of that feeling forthe weeks leading up to the NCAA Championship.
