Men’s Gymnasts Earn Honors at Big Ten Individual Championships – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/18/2000 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
March 18, 2000
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State men’s gymnasts Daren Lynch (Jr., Londonderry, N.H.) and Jamie Natalie (Jr., Hockessin, Del.) each claimed event titles and Raj Bhavsar (Fr., Houston, Texas) was named the Big Ten Freshman of theYear at the 2000 Big Ten Championships individual event finals held Saturday in East Lansing, Mich. Each gymnast placing first on an event was named to the all-Big Ten team. Ohio State placed second as a team in the Big Ten Championships held Friday.
Bhavsar has had a standout freshman year so far, as he placed sixth in the all-around at the Big Ten Championships Friday to earn all-Big Ten accolades as well. In the dual meet season he claimed five event titles and had six runner-up finishes. Bhavsar was sixth on the floor exercise and third on the parallel bars in the individual event finals at the Big Ten Championships.
“Earning this award is an honor,” Bhavsar said. “I knew about it going into the season and I wanted to win it. I’m happy I’ve been able to step into the college ranks so well. I’m proud of myself so far.”
On the floor exercise, Natalie earned all-Big Ten honors with a school-record 9.950, breaking the old mark of 9.925 set by Blaine Wilson at the NCAA Championships in 1996. Natalie placed fourth on the parallel bars and was sixth on the pommel horse with a 9.7375. He finished third in the all-around on Friday to earn all-Big Ten honors in that event as well. He also competed in the vault finals.
“It was exciting to win on floor because I was so close last year when I placed second. I wanted to come out on top this time,” Natalie said. “Breaking the school record was the icing on the cake for a great weekend for the 2000 Buckeyes.”
Lynch scored 9.7125 to tie for first on the vault and receive all-Big Ten accolades. He also competed on the still rings in the individual event finals.
“Making the Big Ten team has been a goal of mine for a long time,” Lynch, a team co-captain, said. “I was very proud of the way my teammates represented Ohio State well this weekend.”
Michael Morgan (Sr., Cincinnati, Ohio) placed third on the vault with a career-high tying 9.700. Freshman Dick Huntwork (Pickerington, Ohio) also competed in the vault finals after scoring a 9.550 on Friday to advance.
Michigan’s Scott Vetere was named the Big Ten Gymnast of the Year, while Kurt Golder earned conference Coach of the Year accolades.
The Buckeyes will return to action when they travel to Iowa City, Iowa to compete in the NCAA Championships March 30-April 1.
2000 Big Ten Champions/All-Big Ten honorees Floor Exercise Jamie Natalie, Ohio State (9.950) Pommel Horse Scott Vetere, Michigan (9.875) Still Rings Scott Vetere, Michigan (9.8625) Vault Daren Lynch, Ohio State (9.7125) Scott Vetere, Michigan (9.7125) Parallel Bars Kris Zimmerman, Michigan (9.9125) Horizontal Bar Brian Hamilton, Iowa (9.8125) Daniel Diaz-Luong, Michigan (9.8125)
Individual Event Finals March 18, 2000, East Lansing, Mich. Top finishers plus Ohio State results
Floor Exercise 1. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State 9.9500* 6. Raj Bhavsar, Ohio State 9.4125 * school record (9.925, Blaine Wilson, 1996)
Pommel Horse 1. Scott Vetere, Michigan 9.875 6. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State 9.7375
Still Rings 1. Scott Vetere, Michigan 9.8625 9. Daren Lynch, Ohio State 8.4125
Vault 1. Daren Lynch, Ohio State 9.725 Scott Vetere, Michigan 9.725 3. Michael Morgan, Ohio State 9.700 10. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State 8.950 11. Dick Huntwork, Ohio State 8.700
Parallel Bars 1. Kris Zimmerman, Michigan 9.9125 3. Raj Bhavsar, Ohio State 9.7875 4. Jamie Natalie, Ohio State 9.7000
Horizontal Bar 1. Brian Hamilton, Iowa 9.825 Daniel Diaz-Luong, Michigan 9.825 No Ohio State competitors
–GO BUCKS!–
