Varsity Squad Shows Off for Alumni – Ohio State Buckeyes
1/5/2008 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
Seniors Bucher, Wickham and junior Bateman named 2008 captains
COLUMBUS, Ohio In front of a crowd of friends and family, including 15 Ohio State gymnastics alums, head coach Miles Avery announced upperclassmen DJ Bucher, Jimmy Wickham and Jake Bateman as captains of the 2008 Buckeye squad Saturday at the Varsity Exhibition held in Steelwood Athletic Training Facility. The exhibition marks the end of preseason activities for Ohio State as it opens regular-season action at the 38th-annual Windy City Invitational at 8 p.m. Saturday in Chicago, Ill.
“I’m glad to see so many fans and alumni here today,” Avery said. “This crowd makes it really feel like we are kicking off the season. It’s definitely a great start for us.”
Bucher, a native of Mason, Ohio, has served as a leader on the competition floor since his freshman year when he became the first Buckeye to earn three All-America honors (pommel horse, rings and parallel bars) as a rookie. Despite sustaining injuries through the years, the six-time All-American has continued to produce for Ohio State, leading the squad to three-consecutive Big Ten team championships and nabbing three Big Ten individual event titles.
Wickham, a walk-on to the Buckeye squad, has proven himself in the gym and classroom. Since joining in 2005, the Gulfport, Miss., native has excelled on floor and vault, winning the 2006 U.S. National vault title at USA Gymnastics’ Winter Cup Challenge. Wickham ended his junior season holding the country’s top average on vault with a 9.3 in the GymInfo national rankings. Beyond being a leader in the gym, Wickham, an exercise science major, is a two-time first-team CGA All-America Scholar-Athlete and three-time OSU Scholar-Athlete.
“It’s an honor, considering where I’ve come from,” Wickham said. “Coming here as a walk-on, earning an athletic scholarship and now being voted captain I’m happy and honored my teammates voted to have me as a leader of this squad.”
Bateman, the 2006 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, has been a consistent all-around competitor for the Buckeyes in his first two seasons. From a standout freshman season in which he represented Ohio State in 5-of-6 regular-season meets and both the Big Ten and NCAA championships, Bateman has expanded his collection of skills, nearly earning All-America status on high bar in 2007. The Kingsport, Tenn., native also is a leader in the classroom as a two-time first-team CGA Academic All-America and OSU Scholar-Athlete majoring in biology.
“It’s rewarding to see that the hard work from the last two years has paid off,” Bateman said. “I feel fortunate my teammates esteem me so high.”
In all, 13 former letterwinners attended the 2007 Varsity Exhibition, held yearly to thank the program’s alums, including Doug Stibel, Ohio State assistant coach, Blaine Wilson, three-time Olympian and current Ohio State volunteer assistant coach, Jamie Natalie, two-time all-around national champion (2000, ’01), and Daren Lynch, 2001 NCAA champion on vault.
The 2008 Buckeyes head west for their season opener in Chicago, Ill., as they compete at the Windy City Invite at 8 p.m. Saturday in the Physical Education Building on the campus of host school UIC. At the meet, No. 4 Ohio State will compete against preseason No. 1-ranked Stanford, No. 6 Michigan, No. 7 Minnesota, No. 8 Illinois, No. 9 Iowa and No. 13 UIC.
Men’s Gymnastics Letterwinners at the Varsity Exhibition:
| Michael Canales | 1996-99 |
| Ronald Ferris | 2003-05 |
| Dick Huntwork | 2000-03 |
| Jamey Houle | 2001-04 |
| Joel Hunt | 1972-73 |
| Daren Lynch | 1998-01 |
| Randy Monahan | 2002-05 |
| Michael Morgan | 1996-00 |
| Jamie Natalie | 1998-01 |
| Earnest Nelson | 1999-01 |
| Grant Osborne | 2004-07 |
| Doug Stibel | 1996-99 |
| Blaine Wilson | 1994-97 |
| Andy Zembower | 1975-76 |
