No. 6 Ohio State Men’s Gymnastics Set To Battle No. 7 Michigan – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/10/2004 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
March 10, 2004
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Following a two-week hiatus, the No. 6 Ohio State men’s gymnastics team (8-4; 2-1 Big Ten) returns to action when it travels to Ann Arbor, Mich., to face the No. 7 Michigan Wolverines at 7 p.m. Saturday at Cliff Keen Arena.
The Buckeyes’ dual meet with the Wolverines will conclude the regular season schedule for both teams. OSU will commence post season competition when it competes in the 2004 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships March 19-21 in Champaign, Ill.
SCOUTING MICHIGAN
The No. 7 Michigan Wolverines have compiled a 7-5 record, including a 5-3 record in the Big Ten. UM is led by a pair of sophomores in Andrew DiGiore and Justin Laury. DiGiore, the 2003 NCAA vault champion was a part of a Wolverine squad that helped Michigan upset then-No. 1 Penn State earlier this year. With UM’s victory over PSU, the Maize and Blue halted the Nittany Lions’ unbeaten streak.
Justin Laury recorded a school-record 55.150 in the all-around during the Wolverines’ competition against then-No. 3 Oklahoma, then- No. 9 Minnesota and No. 8 Nebraska. Because of Laury’s efforts in the meet, he was named the Big Ten’s Co-Gymnast of the Week for Feb. 25. Laury’s honor was the first for UM this season. Laury was UM’s lone event qualifier during the Winter Cup Challenge ( Feb. 6-7), finishing sixth on high bar (9.075).
BUCKEYES VS. WOLVERINES
Ohio State holds a 33-32-0 advantage over Michigan, including the season-high, 221.2-214.35, victory last season at St. John Arena. In the win, the Buckeyes topped the Wolverines on every discipline and recorded season-highs on rings (38.25), vault (37.55) and parallel bars (36.35). HEAD COACH KURT GOLDER
Kurt Golder has been at the helm of the UM program for eight years and recently recorded his 150th victory this season when Michigan defeated Minnesota, 214.600-209.350. A 1977 graduate of Michigan, Golder returned to his alma mater in July of 1996 and since his return to the Maize and Blue, he helped the UM program claim the 1999 Big Ten and NCAA championships. In addition to the national crown in 1999, Golder has coached the Wolverines to five consecutive Top 4 team finishes at the NCAA championships. Golder was named regional and national coach of the year in 1999, along with earning Big Ten Coach of the Year honors in 1999 and 2000.
BUCKEYES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
As the No. 6 team in the nation, Ohio State has a team average of 216.317. The Buckeyes also are No. 3 on two events – parallel bars (35.592) and high bar (37.050).
Despite a two-week break from competition, junior Randy Monahan remains the top national all-arounder with an average score of 54.883 points per meet.
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN
Following the Buckeyes’ two-week hiatus, the squad slipped to fourth in the conference, but remain in the Top 3 in two events. OSU is second in the Big Ten on parallel bars and high bar, averaging 35.592 and 37.050 points, respectively. Ohio State also is third in the conference on pommel horse (36.183).
Identical to his national standing, Randy Monahan remains the top all-around competitor in the conference. Monahan also is third on both the rings and high bar disciplines, as he is averaging 9.558 and 9.6 points, respectively.
LAST TIME OUT – PENN STATE
Ohio State fell to No. 5 Penn State Feb. 21 in the team’s home finale at St. John Arena. The Buckeyes’ 218.750 was not enough to overcome the Nittany Lions’ 218.800, as the Buckeyes made a rally on the final event.
“I’m glad to see that the guys did a better job competing tonight, but we are not as good as we should be right now,” Miles Avery, Ohio State head coach, said.
Ohio State led after the first two rotations until Penn State evened the score at 145.750 in the third rotation. Following the fourth rotation, PSU claimed the lead. However, the Buckeyes made a surge on the evening’s final event, falling only .01 points behind the Nittany Lions on high bar.
Three Buckeyes posted career highs. Kerry Adderly recorded a career high on high bar, scoring a 9.550 to tie for first place. Tallying a 9.150 on vault, sophomore Ronald Ferris clipped his former career high of 9.125. Cody Trobaugh scored two career highs, as he recorded a 9.4 on floor and a 9.3 on parallel bars to finish first on both events.
Monahan continued his all-around success as he scored a 54.500 to capture his sixth title of the season.
BUCKEYE CONTINGENT IN NEW YORK
Ohio State head coach Miles Avery and assistant coaches Doug Stibel and Arnold Kvetenadze, along with three gymnasts who train at OSU, were a part of the Buckeye contingent that traveled to New York for the 2004 Visa American Cup, Feb. 28.
Paul Hamm, the defending world all-around champion, Morgan Hamm and former Buckeye gymnast Blaine Wilson (1994-97) participated in the annual event. Paul Hamm finished the all-around competition third (56.450). Morgan Hamm captured the floor and pommel horse titles, scoring a 9.725 on both events. Wilson, the reigning Visa American Cup all-around champion, started off strong, scoring a 9.650 and a 9.3 on floor and pommel horse, respectively. However, Wilson sustained a torn biceps on rings to halt further participation in the meet.
FIRST PLACE FINISHES
Thus far in the 2004 season, Ohio State has recorded 22 first place finishes on the six different events, including six all-around victories in seven meets.
OSU has compiled three floor and pommel horse titles, five rings titles, two vault titles, four parallel bars titles and five high bar titles.
FACES IN THE CROWD
The Feb. 16, 2004 issue of Sports Illustrated featured junior Randy Monahan in its “Faces in the Crowd” section. Monahan was selected after he helped lead then-No. 1 Ohio State to victories over Illinois, 220.20-219.00, and Minnesota, 217.100-210.250. During the competition against the Golden Gophers, Monahan recorded a NCAA-high 56.500 in the all-around and later was named the national gymnast of the week by the publication Inside Gymnastics.
BIG TEN HONORS
Ohio State junior Randy Monahan has been named the Big Ten Gymnast and Co-Gymnast of the Week three times during the 2004 season. Monahan was first awarded Jan. 14 for his performance in the Windy City Invitational Jan. 10 in Chicago, Ill. During the meet Monahan captured the rings and high bar titles, scoring a 9.50 and a 9.65, respectively. Monahan also captured the first of his six all-around titles.
Monahan’s second honor came during the week of Jan. 21 after the Minnesota meet at St. John Arena. Claiming the all-around title with a score of 56.5, Monahan surpassed the former NCAA all-around record of 56.35.
Monahan’s last award was shared with Justin Spring of Illinois. He was awarded following his performance against Illinois Jan. 31 at St. John Arena. Monahan placed first in the all-around with a 55.350, his second-highest tally this season behind the NCAA record of 56.50 he set earlier this year. Monahan completed the competition with a career-high 9.750 on floor to finish first. Setting another career high on rings (9.7), Monahan claimed that event as well.
SENIORS HONORED
Fans and members of the Ohio State men’s gymnastics team honored seniors Jamey Houle, Jamie Shepard and Eric Van Sickle prior to the Penn State competition, Feb. 21. The trio has significantly contributed to the success of the OSU gymnastics program and are excited about future endeavors.
Senior captain Jamey Houle
“I have applied to seven different graduate schools around the country for a counselor psychology Ph. D program. Unfortunately, I will have to stop doing gymnastics, but it will be just another career move and hopefully I will become a doctor.” Senior Jamie Shepard
“I plan to attend law school next year.”
Senior Eric Van Sickle
“I’m going to take the LSAT during my last quarter. I’m also working on starting on my own computer business, but right now my main concern is to finish my bachelor’s degree.”
MAKE IT SIX
Randy Monahan continues his dominance in the all-around competition, as he won his sixth consecutive all-around against Penn State Feb. 21 at St. John Arena in Columbus, Ohio.
Monahan betters the five consecutive all-around victories compiled by former Buckeye Raj Bhavsar in 2002.
TOP TEAM SCORE
With its team winning score of 220.20 over Illinois Jan. 31 at St. John Arena, Ohio State obtained the highest tally in the nation for the week. The Buckeyes score also is a team season high.
During the 2003 campaign, OSU posted its then-season high team score against Illinois at Champaign, Ill., as well.
RECORD SETTER
Buckeye junior Randy Monahan’s all-around score of 56.50 against Minnesota was the highest in the NCAA since the new scoring rules were implemented at the beginning of the 2001 season. The previous high was 56.35, set by Daniel Furney of Oklahoma.
AROUND THE BIG TEN
Big Ten competitions March 6 included No. 11 Minnesota playing host to No. 8 Nebraska in Minneapolis, Minn. The Golden Gophers defeated the Cornhuskers, 212.725-211.450.
No. 7 Michigan traveled to Iowa City, Iowa to face No. 5 Iowa. The Wolverines were defeated by the Hawkeyes, 217.925-213.55.
In Norman, Okla., the No. 2 Oklahoma Sooners defeated No. 1 Illinois, 225.2-221.875, extending their meet winning streak to 50 meets.
The final Big Ten team in action March 6 was No. 4 Penn State. The Nittany Lions traveled to Stanford, Calif. and were victorious over the No. 9 Stanford Cardinal, 216.350-214.575.
FIND OUT ON THE WEB
Keep track of the latest men’s gymnastics news, scores and stats by logging on to the official Ohio State athletic website at ohiostatebuckeyes.com.
