Men’s Gymnastics Wins Big Ten Title – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/23/2001 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
March 23, 2001%^$
%^$%^$%^$
%^$STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The No. 4 Ohio State Buckeyes won Big Ten bragging rights for the first time since 1997 by winning the Big Ten Championships tonight. The Buckeyes eclipsed their previous season best score, recording the second highest team score in the nation this season with a 217.275. Michigan and Penn State took second and third place in the meet, recording scores of 216.000 and 214.275 respectively.%^$
%^$The Buckeyes’ big guns were as good as advertised, winning two of the six events and the all-around competition. Jamie Natalie (Sr., Hockessin, Del.) took first on high bar with a score of 9.500. Raj Bhavsar (So., Houston, Texas) took the parallel bars crown, scoring 9.250.%^$Natalie and Bhavsar dominated the all-around competition as well, taking first and second with scores of 55.350 and 54.925 respectively. Daren Lynch (Sr., Londonderry, N.H.) placed third on rings, scoring 9.550. The scores are the highest for both Buckeyes this season.%^$
%^$Ohio State jumped out to a quick lead in the competition with a score of 36.200 on vault. Bhavsar led the team with a 9.150, followed closely by a 9.100 by Earnest Nelson (Jr., Rowlett, Texas). Lynch recorded a score of 9.000 while Natalie and Michael Evans (So., Houston, Texas) tied with scores of 8.950. Bhavsar led the all-around competition at the end of the first rotation, with Natalie in third place.%^$
%^$The momentum followed the Buckeyes as they moved to the parallel bars. Again Bhavsar and Natalie led the charge, scoring a 9.25 and 9.15 respectively. However, Penn State trailed the Buckeyes by only .05 points as the third rotation got underway.%^$
%^$Natalie and Bhavsar entered the fourth rotation running No. 1 and No. 2 in the in all-around competition. A score of 9.5 on high bar by Natalie, who is ranked No. 2 in the country on that apparatus, propelled him in front of Bhavsar for the all-around lead. At the start of the fourth rotation, Ohio State had recorded 108.0 points and trailed only Penn State’s 109.0 for the lead.%^$
%^$Natalie and Bhavsar continued their personal duel for supremacy on floor exercise. After an inactive fifth rotation, Ohio State trailed Penn State, Iowa and Michigan. Strong scores from Dick Huntwork (So., Pickerington, Ohio), Nelson and Jamey Houle (Fr., Enfield, Conn.) helped the Buckeyes close the gap, then Bhavsar torched the event with a 9.325. Natalie followed that with a 9.3 of his own and brought Ohio State within striking distance of the Nittany Lions.%^$
%^$The winner of the Big Ten Championship came down to the final rotation. With leader Penn State inactive, Ohio State and Michigan battled to decide who would walk away with the trophy. The Buckeyes came through in stellar fashion on rings, led by co-captains Lynch (9.55) and Natalie (9.40). As Huntwork finished the last routine of the night for Ohio State, it was clear the Buckeyes had more than enough points to claim the victory.%^$
%^$Competition continues tomorrow when the Big Ten Individual Event Finals kicks off. Ohio State will have a large portion of the team competing, including the three captains (Natalie, Lynch and Nelson), Huntwork, Bhavsar and Houle.%^$
%^$OSU head coach Miles Avery hopes the victory over its Big Ten opponents will give the team the confidence and momentum it needs to win the NCAA Championships April 5-7 in St. John Arena.%^$
%^$
%^$2001 Big Ten Championships%^$Final Team Standings%^$1. Ohio State 217.275%^$2. Michigan 216.000%^$3. Penn State 214.275%^$4. Illinois 214.175%^$5. Michigan State 211.950%^$6. Iowa 210.850%^$7. Minnesota 208.800%^$%^$
%^$
###ohiostatebuckeyes.com###
