No. 5 Ohio State Men’s Gymnastics Looks To Capture National Crown – Ohio State Buckeyes
3/29/2004 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
March 29, 2004
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Friday, April 2, 2004
Session I, 2 p.m. EST
National Qualifier
Session II, 8 p.m. EST
National Qualifier
Saturday, April 3, 2004
Session III
Team and All-Around Finals and Individual Event Qualifying, 8 p.m. EST
Sunday, April 4, 2004
Session IV
Individual Event Finals, 3 p.m. EST
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 5 Ohio State men’s gymnastics team will compete at the 2004 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Assembly Hall in Champaign, Ill., on the campus of the University of Illinois. The squad’s 2004 bid marks their 24th-consecutive trip to the NCAA championships.
The Top 12 teams in the nation, including the Big Ten (Illinois) and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (California) champions, were selected by the NCAA gymnastics committee to participate in the championship. The Top 12 all arounders, in the nation, not on a qualified team, earn the opportunity to compete. As well, the Top 12 competitors on each individual event earn a chance to participate. The individual event competitors earn a bid only if they are not on a qualified team or not an all-around competitor.
TELEVISION
ESPN2 will televise portions of the 2004 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships on tape-delay. The championships are scheduled to air at 4:30 p.m. April 8.
LIVE SCORING
Live scoring will be available at www.fightingillini.com. Scores will be updated at the end of each rotation.
GETTING THERE
Tickets to the 2004 NCAA Men’s Gymnastics Championships may be purchased by calling the University of Illinois Ticket Office at 1-866-ILLINI-1 or by logging onto www.fightingillini.com and following the “Tickets” link.
An all sessions pass is $32 for adults and $20 for students. Both sessions I and II are $8 for adults and $5 for students. Sessions III and IV are $10 for adults and $7 for students.
RANKING SYSTEM
The teams that earned a bid to the NCAA championships were determined by the national qualifying average, which was computed by selecting the four highest regular-season scores, counting no more than two home meets and the highest of these scores were dropped. The conference meet score was doubled and added to the three remaining regular-season scores. The average of these five scores, which includes the doubled conference score, is the national qualifying average. (The conference score counts as 40 percent and the regular season scores counts as 60 percent).
BUCKEYES IN THE NATIONAL RANKINGS
The No. 5 team overall in the nation, OSU is the No. 6 team nationally on floor and vault, averaging 36.505 and 36.840 points, respectively. The Buckeyes are seventh on pommel horse (36.090), fifth on rings (36.580), fourth on parallel bars (35.645) and second on high bar (37.070).
Individually, junior Kerry Adderly is eighth on parallel bars, averaging 9.030 points. Randy Monahan ranks in the Top 10 on four of the six events, as well as the all-around; floor – sixth (9.440); rings – seventh (9.575); parallel bars – tied-10th (8.950); high bar – third (9.630) and all around – first (55.435). Cody Trobaugh is fifth, nationally, on high bar (9.060).
BUCKEYES IN THE BIG TEN
Following the Scarlet and Gray’s third-place finish in the 2004 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships, the squad also is ranked third in the conference on parallel bars (35.645). OSU is fourth on floor and vault (36.505 and 36.840, respectively). The Buckeyes are fifth in the conference on pommel horse, averaging 36.090 points. The team is No. 1 and No. 2 on high bar and rings, respectively, posting average scores of 37.070 and 36.580.
Kerry Adderly is No. 5 in the conference on parallel bars, averaging a 9.030. Sophomore Ronald Ferris is eighth on high bar (9.325) and is the top pommel horse competitor for the Buckeyes (No. 9), scoring an average of 9.220 points per meet. Freshman Willie Ito closely follows Ferris, as he is 10th (9.20). Ito also is ranked 10th on high bar (9.280). As the top all-around competitor in the conference, Randy Monahan is second on rings (9.575) and high bar (9.630). Monahan is third on floor, averaging 9.440 points and is seventh on both vault and parallel bars (9.380 and 8.950, respectively). Junior Cody Trobaugh’s average score of 9.430 on rings is ranked fifth and he is third on parallel bars (9.060).
2004 BIG TEN CROWNS AND ACCOLADES
As a team the Buckeyes placed third at the 2004 Big Ten Men’s Gymnastics Championships. Individually, Ronald Ferris captured the high bar title, posting a career-high 9.650 and subsequently garnered All-Big Ten team honors. For the second- consecutive year, Randy Monahan earned All-Big Ten team accolades for the all around. Monahan is the third Buckeye in four years to earn the title (Monahan – 2003, Raj Bhavsar – 2002 and Jamie Natalie – 2001).
2004 BIG TEN GYMNAST OF THE YEAR
For the second consecutive season, Randy Monahan was named the 2004 Big Ten Gymnast of the Year. Dating back to 1988, Ohio State has the most Gymnast of the Year winners with nine, including two streaks of four consecutive honors between 1994-1997 and 2001-2004.
1994 – Drew Durbin
1995 – Blaine Wilson
1996 – Blaine Wilson
1997 – Blaine Wilson
2001 – Jamie Natalie
2002 – Raj Bhavsar
2003 – Randy Monahan
2004 – Randy Monahan
NATIONAL HONORS
Junior captain Randy Monahan was named National Gymnast of the Week by the publication Inside Gymnastics three-consecutive times during the 2004 season – Jan. 15, Jan. 22 and Jan. 29.
Monahan’s first honor came after he helped lead the Buckeyes to their second consecutive victory at the Windy City Invitational Jan. 10 in Chicago. During the meet Monahan claimed the all around (54.15), rings (9.5) and high bar (9.650) titles.
Following his record-setting performance in the all around against Minnesota Jan. 17, Monahan earned his second honor. In the all around Monahan compiled a NCAA record 56.5 points as the Buckeyes defeated the Golden Gophers, 217.100-210.250. Monahan’s NCAA record follows the new scoring system implemented during the 2001 season.
In addition to his all-around performance, Monahan posted career highs on four events – pommel horse (9.550), rings (9.600), parallel bars (9.150) and high bar (9.850). Capturing first place on rings, vault and high bar, Monahan finished in the Top 3 on the remaining events.
Monahan’s final national honor was awarded after he won his third consecutive all around with a 55.15 against Illinois-Chicago Jan. 24. Monahan’s all around score was the highest in the country over that weekend. He was a part of a Buckeye squad that defeated the Flames 214.45-208.15. Monahan completed the competition finishing first on floor (9.1), vault (9.45) and high bar (9.4).
ON THE MOVE
Miles Avery, Ohio State head coach was at the helm of the 2004 Visa American Cup team Feb. 28. OSU assistant coaches Doug Stibel and Arnold Kvetenadze served as assistant coaches at the annual event.
Avery will serve as head coach of the USA team at the Pacific Alliance Championships April 15-17 at the Stan Sheriff Center in Honolulu.
TRAINING THE BEST
In addition to former Buckeyes Raj Bhavsar (2000-2003) and Blaine Wilson (1994-1997), the 2003 World All-Around Champion Paul Hamm and brother Morgan Hamm (Washburn, Wis.) have been training with Miles Avery, OSU head coach at the Steelwood Athletic Training Facility in Columbus, Ohio. Jason Furr, native of Fairfax, Va., and another prominent national gymnast, also trains under Avery.
HOULE NAMED A NISSEN-EMERY AWARD FINALIST
Senior Jamey Houle is a finalist for the Nissen-Emery Award which is annually presented to the outstanding senior male collegiate gymnast in the nation.
The winner will be announced at the NCAA banquet. Ohio State is tied with Oklahoma for first in the nation, with four honorees apiece since 1990.
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.
FIRST-PLACE FINISHES
Thus far in the 2004 season, Ohio State has recorded 24 first-place finishes on the six different events, as well as six all-around victories in seven meets.
OSU has compiled four pommel horse and parallel bars titles, three floor titles, six rings titles, two vault 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 was 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.
MAKE IT EIGHT
Randy Monahan continues his dominance in the all-around, as he won his eighth all around of the season at the 2004 Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill.
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 was a team season high.
During the 2003 campaign, OSU posted its then-season high team score against Illinois at Champaign, Ill., as well.
2004 TEAM CAPTAINS
Seniors Jamey Houle and Jamie Shepard, along with junior Randy Monahan were voted the 2004 captains by their teammates’. Both student-athletes were awarded the honor at the team’s annual tribute to past Buckeye greats in the Varsity Exhibition Jan. 3 at the Steelwood Athletic Training Facility.
RETURNING ALL-AMERICANS
Ohio State returns two All-Americans who look to continue their success in 2004. Junior Kerry Adderly earned All-America honors on floor with a score of 9.312. Randy Monahan garnered the accolade when he placed fourth on the all-around, posting a career-high 54.55.
Both Adderly and Monahan have compiled a career total of two All-America honors.
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.
