Former Buckeyes Named to U.S. Men’s Gymnastics National Team – Ohio State Buckeyes
8/28/1999 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Aug. 28, 1999
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Former Ohio State gymnasts Blaine Wilson (Columbus, Ohio) and Doug Stibel (Canton, Mich.) were named to the U.S. Men’s Gymnastics National Team after finishing among the top 14 Friday at the 1999 John Hancock U.S. Gymnastics Championships in Sacramento, Calif.
Wilson won the all-around title to become the first U.S. gymnast to claim four straight national titles. He won the still rings and placed second on vault and parallel bars in the individual event finals on Wednesday.
Stibel, who completed his eligibility at OSU last season, tied for second place on the horizontal bar in the individual event finals. He placed 14th in the all-around to earn a spot on the national team.
Current Buckeye Jamie Natalie (Jr., Hockessin, Del.) claimed the horizontal bar title and tied for fifth place on the pommel horse in the individual event finals on Wednesday. He was unable to compete on floor and vault because of a knee surgery performed three weeks before the competition. Natalie was a U.S. National Team member in 1998-99.
All-American Jay Nardelli (Jr., Centerville, Va.) also competed at the event but did not finish among the top 25 gymnasts.
Wilson, Stibel and the rest of the U.S. National Team will compete at the World Team Trials, Sept. 15-18, in Kansas City, Mo. From there, the top six performers will represent the U.S. at the World Championships, Oct. 8-16, in Tiajnin, China. The U.S. team has to finish 12th or better at that event in order to qualify for the 2000 Olympic Games in Australia.
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