Men’s Gymnastics Sets New Season High Against MSU – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/9/2001 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Feb. 9, 2001
COLUMBUS, Ohio— The Ohio State Buckeyes entered their first home co-ed meet of the season determined to improve on their No. 3 ranking. The squad came through with an impressive performance, defeating 6th-ranked Michigan State 216.450-212.950. The total marks their highest score of the season, and bests the previous NCAA high score of the season. The Buckeyes were led by team co-captain Jamie Natalie (Sr., Hockessin, Del.), who delivered easily his best performance of the season, winning four of the six events. Natalie also captured the all-around title with a score of 55.450. The Buckeyes were without one of their best gymnasts, All-American Raj Bhavsar (So., Houston, Texas), who was competing in the U.S. National Team trials. The team didn’t seem phased by his absence however, as they went on to take all but one of the events.
Jamie Natalie took the meet into his own hands from the beginning, taking first place on floor exercises, vault, parallel bars and high bar. Buckeyes owned at least three of the top four spots in each of those events. Among Natalie’s highest scores of the meet were a 9.450 on vault, 9.35 on parallel bars and 9.300 on floor exercises. Michigan State’s Jon Plante, who finished second to Natalie in the all-around recorded the highest single score of the meet, winning the pommel horse event with a 9.55.
Other impressive Buckeyes included Dick Huntwork (So., Pickerington, Ohio) and Michael Evans (So., Houston, Texas). Huntwork came through with consistently high scores in four events, scoring no lower than an 8.850. Evans recorded a 9.150 on vault to finish second behind Natalie. Also contributing to the victory was co-captain Earnest Nelson (Jr., Rowlett, Texas), who turned in a 9.050 on floor exercises and 8.950 on vault.
OHIO STATE RESULTS
Floor Exercise
1 – Jamie Natalie. (9.300)
2 – Michael Evans (9.200)
4 -Earnest Nelson (9.050)
Pommel Horse
1 – Jon Plante, MSU (9.550)
2(tied) – Jamie Natalie (9.100)
2(tied) – Eric Van Sickle (9.100)
Vault
1 -Jamie Natalie (9.450)
3 – Michael Evans (9.150)
4 – Dick Huntwork (9.050)
High Bar
1 – Jamie Natelie (9.200)
2 – Mitch Claman (9.000)
4 – Michael Evans (8.800)
Still Rings
1 – Taft Dorman, MSU (9.400)
3 – Jay Nardelli (9.250)
5 – Daren Lynch (9.100)
Parallel Bars
1 – Jamie Natalie (9.350)
2 – Dick Huntowork (8.850)
4 – Jay Nardelli (8.700)
