Video: Buckeyes Ranked Third in Preseason Coaches Poll – Ohio State Buckeyes
10/21/2008 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
COLUMBUS, Ohio After finishing seventh in the 2008 NCAA standings, the Ohio State men’s gymnastics team jumped to third in the College Gymnastics Association’s (CGA) annual preseason coaches’ poll, the association announced Monday. For the second-consecutive year, Stanford tops the poll with 10 first-place tallies after finishing second at the 2008 NCAA Championships. Reigning NCAA champion Oklahoma holds the No. 2 ranking.
“It is nice to have our peers recognize the Ohio State program as one of the nation’s Top 3,” Miles Avery, Buckeye head coach, said. “Hopefully, we can live up to the ranking this season.”
Ohio State earned the highest ranking among Big Ten squads and is followed by Illinois, Penn State and Michigan in fourth, fifth and sixth, respectively. Last season, all three conference rivals finished in the NCAA’s Super Six, including a third-place finish by the Fighting Illini at the national championships. In the 2009 poll, all six Big Ten teams earned Top 10 preseason nods with Minnesota and Iowa ranking eighth and ninth, respectively, in the country.
Welcoming seven new faces to the Buckeye program this season, Ohio State has a tough schedule ahead with only two home meets in 2009. The Scarlet and Gray open the season on the road at the Windy City Invitational at 8 p.m. Jan. 17 in Chicago before heading to Champaign, Ill., Jan. 31 for an 8 p.m. meet at No. 4 Illinois.
The Buckeyes play host to No. 12 UIC at 7 p.m. Feb. 21 after taking a break from collegiate action to compete at USA Gymnastics’ Winter Cup Challenge Feb. 5 and 7. After one meet in Columbus, Ohio State enters a three-meet road swing as it faces the reigning Big Ten champion Penn State, seventh-ranked California and the No. 2-ranked Sooners in three-consecutive weekends starting Feb. 28. Regular-season action ends with a home contest against No. 6 Michigan at 7 p.m. March 21. The Big Ten Network will air the Buckeyes-Wolverines match-up on tape delay at 6 p.m. March 26.
Avery’s Buckeyes will compete in two exhibitions to warm-up for the 2009 season, starting with a 2 p.m. Scarlet & Gray Intrasquad in St. John Arena. At its second exhibition, Ohio State will welcome friends and family of the Buckeye gymnastics program to Steelwood Athletic Training Facility at 2 p.m. Jan. 10 for its Varsity Exhibition. At the final tune-up, Avery will name the 2009 captains as voted by the team.
2009 CGA Men’s Gymnastics Preseason Coaches’ Poll
1. Stanford
2. Oklahoma
3. Ohio State
4. Illinois
5. Penn State
6. Michigan
7. California
8. Minnesota
9. Iowa
10. Nebraska
11. Temple
12. UIC
13. Air Force
14. William & Mary
15. Navy
