Romania Captures Title at 2000 Pontiac International Team Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
11/11/2000 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Nov. 11, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio–The Romania Team edged out the United States and China Thursday in Syracuse, N.Y. at the 2000 Pontiac International Team Championships, the first major competition of the upcoming Olympic quadrennium. Romania scored 225.075, the U.S. came in second with 224.550 and China finished third with 223.825.
The U.S. team was helped by current Buckeye Jamie Natalie (Sr., Hockessin, Del., all-around) and coached by Ohio State head coach Miles Avery. Natalie’s high score came on the high bars with a 9.6. This was Avery’s first time as the head coach of a U.S. team at an international meet.
The Romanian team led for the entire competition, briefly faltering after the fourth rotation when the U.S. gained the lead after vault. Romania won floor exercise, pommel horse and high bar. The U.S. won the parallel bars while the Chinese team took the rings and vault.
“The energy level was great tonight–the crowd was awesome,” Natalie said. “We came in and hit our routines and did more than we expected tonight. I was really happy with my performance.”
The Pontiac International Team Championships will be televised at 4 p.m. on NBC, Dec. 16 and at 2 p.m., Dec. 17.
Natalie will join Buckeye teammate Raj Bhavsar (So., Houston, Texas, all-around) at 7:30 p.m. tonight in the Value City Arena at the Jerome Schottenstein Center for the TJ Maxx 2000 Tour of World Gymnastics Champions.
