Athletics Good Stuff – Ohio State Buckeyes
2/13/2008 12:00:00 AM | General
Athletes of the Week
Wrestler Mike Pucillo went 2-0 over the weekend, bringing his overall season record to 24-1 and his dual record to a perfect 21-0. After garnering a win against the Spartans’ Palmieri, the redshirt-sophomore recorded a 6-5 victory over the second-ranked Tyrel Todd of Michigan to help lift the Buckeyes to a 16-15 win over the Wolverines, snapping a 14-match win streak by the Wolverines in the all-time series. Pucillo’s win gave the Buckeyes a 10-9 lead with four bouts remaining. With Ohio State losing two of the next three bouts before the final at 133 pounds, Pucillo’s win was significant in giving teammate Reece Humphrey (133) a chance to seal the OSU win.
This was the second meeting of the season between Pucillo and Todd as the two met in the final of the Cliff Keen Las Vegas Invitational. Todd pinned Pucillo in 7:22 in that meeting, but Pucillo’s escape with 1:06 remaining in the match Sunday held for the individual and eventually the team victory.
Jantel Lavender averaged 26.0 points, 7.5 rebounds and shot 60.5 percent (23-of-38) from the field last week as the women’s basketball team played on the road at Purdue and Wisconsin. Thursday night, Lavender scored a career-high 30 points on 15-of-23 shooting and recorded eight rebounds and two blocks in the last-second loss to the Boilermakers. Then on Sunday, she notched 22 points, grabbed seven boards and went 6-of-8 from the line as Ohio State came back from a 13-point deficit to defeat the Badgers in Madison, 80-77.
Lavender is the leading freshman scorer in the nation at 17.6 ppg and the third-leading rebounder at 9.7 per game. She has scored in double-figures in all 24 games and has 10 double-doubles on the year. She is the first OSU freshman to be named a finalist for the Naismith Award.
Athletics Good Stuff
Men’s Basketball (15-8; 6-4 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Thad Matta
The Buckeyes went 1-1 last week in front of two sellout crowds of 19,049. Ohio State handed Michigan a 65-55 loss in Value City Arena Feb. 5 before dropping to Indiana, 59-53, Feb.10.
Senior Jamar Butler became only the second Buckeye in program history to record 500 career assists Feb. 5. Butler tailed his 500th on a dish to senior forward Othello Hunter at 5:49 of the first half.
Hunter recorded his fourth double-double of his career as he notched 15 points and 12 rebounds. With the win, Ohio State is 7-1 this season when at least one Buckeye records a double-double.
For the fourth time this season, Ohio State had five players score in double figures. Hunter led the way with 15-points, while freshman guard Jon Diebler had 14. Freshman forward Kosta Koufos and sophomore guard David Lighty both had 12 points and Butler tallied 10 points.
Against Indiana, Koufos had 18 points and nine rebounds for the Buckeyes while Diebler added 14 points.
Up Next: at Northwestern, 9 p.m. Feb. 13 in Evanston, Ill. (Television: Big Ten Network)
at Michigan, 1 p.m. Feb. 17 in Ann Arbor, Mich. (Television: CBS)
vs. Wisconsin, 4 p.m. Feb. 24 in Value City Arena (Television: CBS)
No. 23 Women’s Basketball (18-6; 9-4 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Jim Foster
Senior Marscilla Packer scored 23 points and freshman Jantel Lavender added 22 as Ohio State snapped a three-game road losing streak with an 80-77 win over Wisconsin at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis., Feb. 10.
Despite freshman center Lavender scoring a career-high 30 points, Ohio State was edged, 68-67, by Purdue Feb. 7 in West Lafayette.
Up Next: vs. Purdue, 7 p.m. Feb. 18 in Value City Arena (Television: ESPN2)
vs. Iowa, 7 p.m. Feb. 21 in Value City Arena
Football
Head Coach: Jim Tressel
Tyler Whaley, a senior fullback on the 2007 Buckeye team, was one of seven Central Ohio college athletes to be honored at the 47th-annual Scholar-Athlete Awards Banquet by the Columbus Chapter of the National Football Foundation (NFF) and College Hall of Fame Feb. 11 in Columbus. Each athlete was recognized for their excellence both on the field and in the classroom and community.
To date, Ohio State football players have received 19 NFF and College Hall of Fame awards, including Craig Krenzel (2003), Ahmed Plummer (1999), Greg Bellisari (1996), Bobby Hoying (1995) and Joey Galloway (1994). The Buckeyes also have 29 former student-athletes and coaches inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The most recent inductee was former quarterback Rex Kern in 2007.
Women’s Golf
Head Coach: Therese Hession
Ohio State opened its spring season in 13th place Monday after the first round of the Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge in Palos Verdes, Calif. The Buckeyes shot a team total of 309 (+25) on the par 71, 5,912-yard Palos Verdes Golf Club.
The Buckeyes were led throughout round one by junior Jennifer Cassidy. The Dalton, Ga., native birdied hole Nos. 6, 14 and 17 to finish the day 3-over par and sit tied for 17th with a score of 74.
Carling Coffing shot a 77 to tie for 38th and Emma Jandel finished just one stroke behind with a 78 to tie for 46th.
No. 7 Men’s Gymnastics (4-5; 2-3 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Miles Avery
Junior Jake Bateman earned his second-consecutive Big Ten Gymnast of the Week honor Feb. 6, becoming the first Buckeye to receive back-to-back weekly league honors since Randy Monahan did so Jan. 14 and Jan. 21, 2004.
At the 2008 Winter Cup Challenge, Bateman advanced to the finals after finishing 17th in the all-around with an 82.45 at the qualifier Feb. 7. He ended the competition in 13th with a two-day score of 166.85 Feb. 9.
Blaine Wilson, a three-time Olympian and former Buckeye (1994-97), finished the weekend with Top 10 finishes on floor (t-9th/29.0), rings (7th/30.25), vault (t-4/31.75) and high bar (6th/29.05). Paul Hamm, the 2004 Olympic all-around champion, topped the competition, winning the all-around with a two-day score of 185.85. Both athletes are coached by Ohio State head coach Miles Avery.
Also competing for the Buckeyes were junior Eddie Hay and Sean Regan. The teammates tied on high bar with a 13.75 for 24th at the qualifier. Regan finished the all-around in 28th.
Up Next: vs. California, 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in St. John Arena
vs. Penn State, 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. John Arena
No. 23 Women’s Gymnastics (3-2-1; 1-0-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Carey Fagan
In a rare tie, Ohio State tied Iowa with a season-high 195.400 in Iowa City, Iowa, Saturday. It marked the Buckeyes’ first tie since Feb. 21, 2004 when they scored a 195.950 against Penn State. Ohio State moves to 3-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 Big Ten.
The Buckeyes won vault with a 48.775 and bars with a 48.90. The bars score marked a season best for the squad, along with the 48.85 on beam. Ohio State added a 48.875 on floor.
Freshman Rebecca Best led the Buckeyes with a 39.175 score in the all-around to place second in the meet. She took first on vault with a 9.825 and tied for second on floor with a 9.85. Best recorded a 9.75 on both bars and beam.
On bars, senior Kaylan Clevinger tied her career best with a near-perfect 9.90 to take first in the meet. Clevinger has led the Buckeyes on bars in every meet this season.
Up Next: vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m. Feb. 16 in St. John Arena
vs. Penn State, 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in St. John Arena
Men’s Hockey (9-20-3; 5-14-1 CCHA)
Head Coach: John Markell
Ohio State after tying Nebraska-Omaha, 3-3, Feb. 8, the Buckeyes dropped game two, 5-2, Feb. 9.
Freshman John Albert scored his third-career goal against the Mavericks Saturday with assists coming from senior Tommy Goebel and Sergio Somma. Albert is tied for second on the team with 17 points, with a team-best 14 assists. He had his third two-point night in the last six games with a goal and an assist while classmate Somma has an assist in each of his last three games. Goebel remains the team’s leader in points with 29, including a team-best 18 goals. He extended his scoring streak to six (6-3-9).
The Buckeyes second goal Saturday was notched by senior Johann Kroll, who scored his first goal of the season.
In game one, Ohio State got points from nine players as the Buckeyes skated to a 3-all tie with Nebraska-Omaha Feb. 8. The team received goals from seniors Goebel, Tom Fritsche and freshman Kyle Reed. Adding assists were rookies Somma, Shane Sims, Peter Boyd, Patrick Schafer and seniors John Dingle and Kyle Hood.
Fritsche now has 105 points as a Buckeye, with 32 goals and 73 assists, to tie for 43rd in program history. He is tied for second on the team with 17 points this season, including 12 assists.
Up Next: vs. Northern Michigan, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 15 in Value City Arena
vs. Northern Michigan, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 16 in Value City Arena
at Notre Dame, 7:35 p.m. Feb. 22 in Notre Dame, Ind. (Television: Comcast)
at Notre Dame, 7:05 p.m. Feb. 23 in Notre Dame, Ind.
Women’s Hockey (12-15-3; 7-14-3 WCHA)
Head Coach: Jackie Barto
Ohio State fell to No. 4 Minnesota by a score of 5-1 Feb. 9 at Ridder Arena in Minneapolis, Minn. The sweep by the Golden Gophers is the first of the last six meetings between them and the Buckeyes, with the teams splitting their previous five series.
Senior Jody Heywood scored her first goal of the season Saturday with assists from freshman Jenna Kilpatrick and junior Olivia Antognoli.
The Buckeyes fell to the Gophers, 7-3, Feb. 8. Junior forward Hayley Klassen scored twice for the Buckeyes and classmate Morgan Marziali had a goal and assist to extend her point streak to eight games.
Up Next: vs. Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m. Feb. 15 in OSU Ice Rink
vs. Minnesota State, 4:07 p.m. Feb. 16 in OSU Ice Rink
at Bemidji State, 7:07 p.m. Feb. 22 in Bemidji, Minn.
at Bemidji State, 2:07 p.m. Feb. 23 in Bemidji, Minn.
Pistol
Head Coach: Jim Sweeny
Ohio State shot a team record 6,368 in the open events at the Midwest Sectional last weekend in Converse Hall. OSU’s previous record in the open events was 6,273. The qualifying scores will determine if OSU advances to the Collegiate Nationals, March 10-14 at Ft. Benning Georgia.
Junior Seth Berglee was the top shooter in all three open events, posting a 532 in free pistol, a 539 in standard pistol and a 568 in air pistol.
Ryan Devine placed second in free pistol with a career-high 505 while Teresa Meyer was second in standard pistol at 535 and air pistol with a 558. Meyer finished first in air pistol with a 370 and sport pistol with a 569.
No. 22 Softball (5-0)
Head Coach: Linda Kalafatis
Now 5-0 for the first time since 1986, the softball team beat host Stetson, 6-5, Feb. 10 in extra-innings in the championship game of the Stetson Lead-Off Classic at Patricia Wilson Field Feb. 10.
Sophomore Lindsay Bodeker threw her second complete-game of the weekend and sophomore Whitney Cooper’s RBI double in the bottom of the eighth inning ended the game and gave the Buckeyes their second win of the weekend over the defending Atlantic Sun Conference champions.
Bodeker struck out 13 Stetson batters, which is the most by an OSU pitcher since Jamee Juarez struck out 16 Massachusetts batters Feb. 29, 2004.
Sophomore Sam Marder hit a three-run homer and junior pitcher Kim Reeder repeatedly got out of jams to lead Ohio State a 5-2 win over Stetson Feb. 9.
A seven-run third inning and a four-hit pitching performance by sophomore Megan Miller propelled the Buckeyes to a 7-1 win over Marist Feb. 9
In its 2008 season opener, Ohio State got a two-run single in the top of the ninth inning from senior captain Brittany Vanderink to break a 0-0 game and give the Buckeyes a 2-0 win over Detroit Feb. 8.
Junior Kim Reeder struck out eight and allowed only one hit in a nine-inning shutout. She retired 17 of the first 18 batters she faced and gave up only a second-inning single against Detroit.
Up Next: at Florida International Tournament, Feb. 15-17 in Miami, Fla.
at Palm Springs Classic, Feb. 22-24 in Palm Springs, Calif.
Synchronized Swimming
Coach: Linda Lichter-Witter
Ohio State to the state of Virginia Saturday and Sunday for competition in back-to-back dual meets vs. Richmond and William & Mary. The Buckeyes swept all four categories of competition both days to record their third and fourth wins of the season. The combination of Barbara Nesbitt, Michelle Theriault and Caitlin Stewart took the title in the trio competition, both vs. Richmond and William & Mary. The trio excelled on both occasions with their performances earning them an 88.000 and 94.833, respectively. The Buckeyes also found success on the road in the duet competition. The routine of Stewart and Theriault triumphed, earning an 89.833 at Richmond and a 91.000 at William & Mary Nesbitt also found success in the solo competition in Virginia. With consistent performances garnering a 94.667 and a 95.833, respectively, Nesbitt kept her win streak in tact, winning her third and fourth solo titles this season. The Buckeyes displayed their dominance in the team competition at both meets. Scoring a 96.500 vs. Richmond and a 95.833 vs. William & Mary, Ohio State claimed first by more than ten points each day.
No. 3 Men’s Tennis (6-0; 0-0 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Ty Tucker
Ohio State went 2-0 last weekend after beating No. 15 North Carolina, 4-2, Feb. 10 and defeating No. 11 Wake Forest, 5-1, Feb. 8 at the Ohio State University Varsity Tennis Center. The Buckeyes now are 65-4 in their last 69 matches, including in the postseason.
Against the Deacons, the Buckeyes won the doubles point as juniors Bryan Koniecko and Steven Moneke beat No. 21 Cory Parr and Steven Forman, 8-4, and the duo of rookies Matt Allare and Shuhei Uzawa downed Iain Atkinson and Andrew Brasseaux, 8-5, at the No. 3 doubles spot.
In singles action, No. 60 Moneke was the first Buckeye to defeat a Deacon. He beat Adamski 6-4, 6-2 at the No. 3 spot. No. 6 Justin Kronauge downed No. 64 Parr 7-5, 6-3 at the top singles spot to give Ohio State a 3-0 lead. No. 95 Drew Eberly clinched the match for the Buckeyes when he downed Brasseaux 6-4, 7-6 at the No. 6 singles spot.
On Sunday, Allare and sophomore Mike O’Connell, ranked 19th in the country, upset the nation’s third ranked doubles team in Taylor Fogleman and Chris Kearney, 9-7, while juniors Koniecko and Moneke beat David Stone and Lenny Gullan, 8-4, at No. 2 doubles.
Kronauge defeated North Carolina’s Stefan Hardy 6-2, 6-0 at the top singles spot as Moneke beat Benjamin Carlotti 6-3, 6-1 at the No. 2 singles and Uzawa clinched the match when he edged Fogleman 6-1, 1-6, 6-0 at No. 5 singles.
Up Next: at Kentucky, 12:30 p.m. Feb. 13 in Lexington, Ky.
at 2008 National Indoors, All Day Feb. 15-18 in Seattle, Wash.
at Baylor, TBA Feb. 27 in Waco, Texas
Men’s Track and Field
Head Coach: Robert Gary
Junior Jeff See posted a career-best time in the indoor mile as he took fourth with the second-best time in Ohio State history of 4:00.05 Feb. 10. The time for See is one of the Top 10 times in the country this season and is and NCAA provisional qualifier. Senior Anthony Cole grabbed fourth place in 60-meter dash, falling just short of an NCAA provisional time for the second-consecutive week as he came in with a time of 6.78.
After winning the weight throw with a toss of 64 feet, 11 1/4 inches on Feb. 9, senior Lenny Jatsek returned Saturday and took 12th in the shot put with a toss of 51 feet, 6 1/2 inches Feb. 10.
Senior Kyle Burns was the top Big Ten finisher in the pole vault with a leap of 16 feet, 4 3/4 inches during the first day of competition. Burns took fourth overall and took the fourth spot via a jump off. On the track, freshman Dan White took seventh in the 1,000-meters in a time of 2:28.38. White was second among Big Ten finishers.
Up Next: at Husky Classic, TBA Feb. 15-16 in Seattle, Wash.
at All-Ohio Championships, TBA Feb. 15-16 in Findlay, Ohio
at Zips Open, TBA Feb. 22 in Akron, Ohio
Women’s Track and Field
Head Coach: Karen Dennis
During the second day of competition at the New Balance Collegiate Invitational in New York City, senior Veronica Jatsek took the top spot in the weight throw with a toss of 67 feet, 7 inches Feb. 10. Jatsek defeated the field with ease, winning the event by almost four feet. In addition, junior Ayrizanna Favours took seventh-place in the finals of the 400-meter dash in a time of 54.88.
Senior Chandra Krempel grabbed second-place in the 500-meter dash with a time of 1:13.55 and sophomore Ashley Caldwell took eighth in a time of 1:15.15 Feb. 9. In the field, Jatsek took eighth in the shot put with a toss of 48 feet, 7 1/4 inches.
Up Next: at All-Ohio Championships, TBA Feb. 15-16 in Findlay, Ohio
No. 8 Men’s Volleyball (7-2; 5-0 MIVA)
Head Coach: Pete Hanson
Ohio State won a 3-0 (30-24, 30-27, 30-20) victory over Rutgers-Newark (3-6) Feb. 8 in The Golden Dome before dropping to George Mason in five games Feb. 9.
In the win, sophomore Kevin Heine scored a team-high nine kills, a solo block and four assists in the match while hitting a career-high .692 (13 attempts).
Ohio State rallied to take No. 14 George Mason to a fifth game before falling, 15-13. The 30-27, 25-30, 33-31, 27-30, 15-13 Patriot victory ended a five-match Ohio State winning streak Feb. 9. Brett Versen and Robbie Klein shared team-high honors with 24.5 points each. Versen had a match-high 23 kills, adding three assist blocks while Klein collected 20 kills, two ace serves, a solo block and three assist blocks.
Up Next: at Ball State, 7:30 p.m. Feb. 15 in Muncie, Ind.
vs. Juniata, 3 p.m. Feb. 17 in St. John Arena
vs. Long Beach State, 7 p.m. Feb. 22 in St. John Arena
vs. Long Beach State, 7 p.m. Feb. 23 in St. John Arena
No. 7 Wrestling (18-3; 6-1 Big Ten)
Head Coach: Tom Ryan
The Buckeyes improved to 18-3 overall and 6-1 in the Big Ten Conference with wins over Michigan State, 23-15, on the road Feb. 8 and Michigan, 16-15, in St. John Arena Feb. 10.
In front of a record-setting crowd of 5,341, Ohio State downed No. 6 Michigan, 16-15. The win snapped a 14-match Michigan win streak dating back to Feb. 4, 1994.
The Buckeyes have garnered six league wins for the first time since 1992-93, also the same year they last beat the Wolverines a 19-14 win in Columbus prior to Sunday.
Redshirt-sophomore Reece Humphrey sealed the victory for Ohio State with a 7-2 decision in the last match at 133 pounds.
Senior heavyweight J.D. Bergman continues to move up the Ohio State career wins list as he compiled his 121st Buckeye victory. He is now tied for eighth with former OSU assistant coach Ken Ramsey (1987-1992). In the eighth bout of the night, Bergman recorded a 9-2 decision over Chad Bleske to propel Ohio State into the lead (13-12) after trailing, 12-10.
Up Next: vs. Edinboro, 7 p.m. Feb. 14 in St. John Arena
at Minnesota, 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Ohio Stat Athletics Schedule
Feb. 12-19
Feb. 12
Women’s golf at Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, TBA
Palos Verdes, Calif.
Feb. 13
Women’s golf at Northrop Grumman Regional Challenge, TBA
Palos Verdes, Calif.
Men’s tennis at Kentucky, 12:30 p.m.
Lexington, Ky.
Men’s basketball at Northwestern, 9 p.m.
Evanston, Ill.
Feb. 14
Rifle hosting NRA Collegiate Sectional & NCAA Qualifier, TBA
Columbus, Ohio
Lt. Hugh W. Wylie Range in Converse Hall
Women’s tennis at Notre Dame, 3:30 p.m.
Notre Dame, Ind.
Wrestling vs. Edinboro, 7 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
St. John Arena
Feb. 15
Rifle hosting NRA Collegiate Sectional & NCAA Qualifier, TBA
Columbus, Ohio
Lt. Hugh W. Wylie Range in Converse Hall
Men’s track and field at Husky Classic, TBA
Seattle, Wash.
Men’s track and field at All-Ohio Championships, TBA
Findlay, Ohio
Women’s track and field at All-Ohio Championships, TBA
Findlay, Ohio
Men’s swimming and diving at Missouri Grand Prix, 9 a.m.
Columbia, Mo.
Men’s tennis at National Indoors, All Day
Seattle, Wash.
Softball vs. Providence (Florida International Tournament), 10 a.m. Miami, Fla.
Softball vs. Georgia (Florida International Tournament), 12:30 p.m.
Miami, Fla.
Men’s hockey vs. Northern Michigan, 7:05 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Women’s hockey vs. Minnesota State, 7:07 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
OSU Ice Rink
Men’s volleyball at Ball State, 7:30 p.m.
Muncie, Ind.
Feb. 16
Rifle hosting NRA Collegiate Sectional & NCAA Qualifier, TBA
Columbus, Ohio
Lt. Hugh W. Wylie Range in Converse Hall
Men’s track and field at Husky Classic, TBA
Seattle, Wash.
Men’s track and field at All-Ohio Championships, TBA
Findlay, Ohio
Women’s track and field at All-Ohio Championships, TBA
Findlay, Ohio
Men’s golf at Dual Match, TBA
Orlando, Fla.
Synchronized swimming at Keuka College Invitational, TBA
Keuka Park, N.Y.
Men’s cross country at USATF Cross Country Championships, TBA
San Diego, Calif.
Fencing at Junior Olympics, TBA
Charlotte, N.C.
Men’s swimming and diving at Missouri Grand Prix, 9 a.m.
Columbia, Mo.
Women’s tennis vs. South Florida, 11 a.m.
Columbus, Ohio
OSU Varsity Tennis Center
Men’s lacrosse vs. Navy, noon
Columbus, Ohio
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
Women’s lacrosse vs. American, 2:30 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
Softball vs. Illinois State (Florida International Tournament), 3 p.m.
Miami, Fla.
Women’s hockey vs. Minnesota State, 4:07 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
OSU Ice Rink
Women’s tennis vs. Toledo, 5 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
OSU Varsity Tennis Center
Men’s gymnastics vs. California, 7 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
St. John Arena
Women’s gymnastics vs. Pittsburgh, 7 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
St. John Arena
Men’s hockey vs. Northern Michigan, 7:05 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Softball vs. Florida International, 8 p.m.
Miami, Fla.
Men’s tennis at National Indoors, All Day
Seattle, Wash.
Feb. 17
Synchronized swimming vs. Canisius, TBA
Keuka Park, N.Y.
Men’s swimming and diving at Missouri Grand Prix, 9 a.m.
Columbia, Mo.
Men’s basketball at Michigan, 1 p.m.
Ann Arbor, Mich.
Softball vs. Florida International, 2 p.m.
Miami, Fla.
Men’s volleyball vs. Juniata, 3 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
St. John Arena
Men’s tennis at National Indoors, All Day
Seattle, Wash.
Feb. 18
Women’s golf at Central District Invitational, TBA
Parrish, Fla.
Women’s basketball vs. Purdue, 7 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Feb. 19
Women’s lacrosse vs. Duquesne, 4 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Jesse Owens Memorial Stadium
