Athletics Good Stuff – Ohio State Buckeyes
12/15/2009 12:00:00 AM | General
Student-Athletes of the Week
• Hokey Langan, a freshman on the women’s hockey team, concluded the first half of her strong rookie campaign with a goal and two assists while helping the Buckeyes take three points from St. Cloud State, Dec. 11-12 at the National Hockey Center.
With her assist Friday and goal and assist Saturday, Langan extended her point streak to 12 games. It is the third-longest in Ohio State history and she is just the second Buckeye to post a double-digit point streak. She joins the team’s all-time leading scorer Jana Harrigan (2003-06), who has steaks of 14 and 17 games. Langan continues to lead the Buckeyes in points (27), goals (11) and assists (16). She also maintained her spot as the highest-scoring freshman in the NCAA with 1.50 points per game (she ranks eighth overall in points per game).
• No. 9 Mike Pucillo, a member of the wrestling team, pinned Edinboro’s No. 20 Pat Bradshaw in 2:26 at 184 pounds to continue the Buckeyes’ momentum as Ohio State took a 34-0 lead over Fighting Scot Dec. 13 in Perrysburg, Ohio. The senior has six pins on the year.
Athletics Good Stuff
Athletics
• Thirty-four current and former Ohio State student-athletes received their degrees at autumn commencement ceremonies Dec. 13 in the Schottenstein Center.
• After posting the best spring in school history, Ohio State teams had the best fall season as all seven sports reached NCAA postseason play.
• The Ohio State Student-Athlete Advisory Board (SAAB) adopted a family in need through Volunteers of America and donated nearly 60 gifts, including new winter jackets, scarves and gloves.
No. 13/15 Men’s Basketball (7-2)
Head coach: Thad Matta
• Ohio State fell, 74-66, at Butler Dec. 12 with William Buford scoring 20 points and David Lighty adding 17 for the Buckeyes.
• The Buckeyes played for the first time without scoring leader Evan Turner, who was averaging a double-double this season. He fractured his lower back when he hit the court on a dunk attempt on Dec. 5.
Up Next: vs. Presbyterian, 7 p.m. Dec. 16 at Value City Arena
vs. Delaware State, 4 p.m. Dec. 19 at Value City Arena (ESPNU)
vs. Cleveland State, 8:30 p.m. Dec. 22 at Value City Arena (BTN)
at Wisconsin, 2 p.m. Dec. 31 in Madison, Wis. (ESPN2)
No. 9/9 Women’s Basketball (10-1, 1-0 Big Ten)
Head coach: Jim Foster
• Ohio State went on a 12-0 run to complete a 79-78 come from behind victory at Mississippi Dec. 13. Samantha Prahalis had 17 points for the Buckeyes.
• Andrea Walker hit the first basket of the 12-point run, then made two free throws to put the Buckeyes up 78-77 with 40 seconds to play. Prahalis hit one of two with 4.7 seconds left and Elizabeth Robertson’s 3-point shot for at the buzzer for Ole Miss bounced off the rim.
Up Next: vs. Wright State, 7 p.m. Dec. 15 at Value City Arena
vs. Alabama A&M, 8 p.m. Dec. 19 at Value City Arena
vs. Western Illinois, 4 p.m. Dec. 22 at Value City Arena
vs. Illinois, 8 p.m. Dec. 28 at Value City Arena
at Northwestern, 4 p.m. Dec. 31 in Evanston, Ill.
No. 8/8 Football (10-2; 7-1 Big Ten)
Head coach: Jim Tressel
• Ohio State is making its first trip to the Rose Bowl since the 1996 season, when the Buckeyes defeated Arizona State, 20-17, Jan. 1, 1997. The Buckeyes’ matchup vs. Oregon in Pasadena, Calif., Jan. 1 will be their fifth-consecutive BCS bowl appearance.
• Ohio State’s coaching tandem of safeties coach Paul Haynes and cornerbacks coach Taver Johnson are finalists for the FootballScoop.com’s Secondary Coaches of the Year Award. The winners of the 15 different coaching position awards will be announced beginning Dec. 14. Ohio State’s secondary players have thrived in 2009 and helped the Buckeyes to a fifth-consecutive Big Ten championship, 10-or-more win season and BCS bowl game, respectively, and also to Top 10 national rankings in the four categories.
• Eleven Buckeyes were named as part of Phil Steele’s 2009 Postseason All-Big Ten Team. Offensive lineman Justin Boren, punt returner Ray Small, linebacker Ross Homan and safety Kurt Coleman were first-team selections. Four Buckeyes were named second team: running back Brandon Saine, receiver DeVier Posey, defensive lineman Cameron Heyward and linebacker Brian Rolle. Third team accolades went to defensive lineman Thaddeus Gibson and cornerbacks Devon Torrence and Chimdi Chekwa.
Up Next: vs. Oregon at Rose Bowl, 4:30 p.m. Jan. 1 in Pasadena, Calif.
Fencing
Head coach: Vladimir Nazlymov
• A total of 14 Buckeye fencers participated in the North American Cup Dec. 4-6 in Pittsburgh, Pa. Senior Julia Tikhonova and junior Ben Parkins were among the top competitors in their weapon categories.
• Tikhonova was the best for the Buckeyes, finishing eighth in women’s epee. The Scarlet and Gray had strong showings in women’s sabre, with two fencers finishing in the Top 20.
Up Next: at Division I NAC, TBA Jan. 15-18 in San Jose, Calif.
at NYU Duals, TBA Jan. 23 in New York, N.Y.
at St. John’s Duals, TBA Jan. 24 in New York, N.Y.
Women’s Golf
Head coach: Therese Hession
• Therese Hession, in her 19th season as head coach of the Buckeyes, was honored with the 2010 Gladys Palmer Meritorious Service Award, the most prestigious honor given by the National Golf Coaches Association, Dec. 8 in Las Vegas. The award is given in recognition of outstanding service above and beyond the call of duty.
No. 7 Men’s Gymnastics Head coach: Miles Avery • Ohio State, who finished third a season ago at the Big Ten championships, has been tabbed fourth by the conference coaches in a preseason poll, the league office announced Dec. 9. Brandon Wynn, a junior All-American, and Philip Onorato, the 2009 Big Ten Freshman of the Year, are the Gymnasts to Watch for Ohio State. • The Buckeyes rank seventh nationally in the preseason polls after posting a sixth-place finish at the NCAA championships where Wynn, Steven Spencer and Ty Echard earned All-American honors. The Scarlet and Gray will look for a conference upset as host of the 2010 Big Ten Championships in St. John Arena this April. Up Next: hosting Scarlet and Gray Intrasquad, 2 p.m. Dec. 16 at St. John Arena hosting Varsity Exhibition, 2 p.m. Jan. 9 at St. John Arena at Windy City Invitational, 8 p.m. Jan. 16 in Chicago, Ill.
No. 18 Women’s Gymnastics
Head coach: Carey Fagan
• Ohio State, which earned a No. 18 ranking in the national preseason poll in November, has been voted fourth in the Big Ten by the conference coaches in an inaugural preseason poll, the league announced Dec. 8.
• The Buckeye Gymnasts to Watch selected by the Big Ten are junior All-American Rebecca Best and senior captain Hillary Dow. Best and Dow will look to help Ohio State to a conference title as host of the 2010 Big Ten Championships in St. John Arena in March.
Up Next: at Missouri, 6:30 p.m. Jan. 8 in Columbia, Mo.
vs. Oregon State, 4 p.m. Jan. 16 at St. John Arena
Men’s Hockey (7-12-1, 5-8-1-1 CCHA)
Head coach: John Markell
• Ohio State carried a 2-0 lead into the third period but No. 1-ranked Miami scored four unanswered to defeat the Buckeyes, 4-2, Dec. 12 in Steve Cady Arena. Buckeye junior goalie Dustin Carlson ended the game with 36 saves, while Hunter Bishop and Zac Dalpe scored for Ohio State.
• The Buckeyes fell, 6-0, to the RedHawks Dec. 11 in Value City Arena in the first game of a home-and-home series between the teams.
Up Next: vs. Bowling Green, 7:05 p.m. Jan. 8 at Value City Arena
vs. Bowling Green, 7:05 p.m. Jan. 9 at Value City Arena
vs. U.S. National Under-18 Team (exhibition), 7:05 p.m. Jan. 15 at Value City Arena
Women’s Hockey (7-7-4, 6-6-2-0 WCHA)
Head coach: Jackie Barto
• Forward Hokey Langan closed out the first half of her impressive freshman campaign with a goal and assist Dec. 12 as Ohio State defeated St. Cloud State, 2-1, to take three points in the conference series at the National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, Minn.
• In game one, the Buckeyes skated to a 2-2 overtime tie at St. Cloud State and fell in the shootout, 1-0, Dec. 11. Freshman Tina Hollowell and sophomore Kelly Wild scored for OSU.
• Ohio State has signed five student-athletes to National Letters of Intent, head coach Jackie Barto announced Dec. 8. The class includes three defensemen in Becky Allis, Madison Marcotte and Annie Svedin, as well as Ally Tarr, a forward, and Lisa Steffes, a goaltender.
• Sophomore forward Natalie Spooner has been named to the Canadian Women’s Under-22 Team that will compete in the 2010 MLP Cup, Jan. 5-9 in Ravensburg, Germany. This will be the second-consecutive MLP Cup for the Scarborough, Ontario, native, who helped Canada to the silver medal last January.
Up Next: vs. Robert Morris, 2:07 p.m. Jan. 2 at OSU Ice Rink
vs. Robert Morris, 2:07 p.m. Jan. 3 at OSU Ice Rink
at Minnesota, 6:07 p.m. Jan. 8 in Minneapolis, Minn.
at Minnesota, 4:07 p.m. Jan. 9 in Minneapolis, Minn.
Men’s Lacrosse
Head coach: Nick Myers
• Three Buckeyes earned a spot on the 2009 Preseason All-ECAC Team and Ohio State was slated third in the league’s preseason poll, the conference announced Dec. 8. Senior midfielder James Green, senior attackman Mario Ventiquattro and junior defenseman Matt Kawamoto all were selected in a vote by the league’s eight head coaches. The 2010 season marks the Buckeyes’ first in the ECAC Lacrosse League.
• Joel Dalgarno, who ended his Buckeye career in 2009 as the team’s all-time leading goal scorer, was selected in the third round of the 2010 Major League Lacrosse Supplemental Draft. Dalgarno was drafted in the third round, No. 16 overall, by the Long Island Lizards.
Women’s Lacrosse
Head coach: Sue Stimmel
• Seven student-athletes have signed NCAA National Letters of Intent to play women’s lacrosse for Ohio State starting in the 2010-11 campaign, head coach Sue Stimmel announced. Included in the group are four Marylanders and one each from Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Ohio.
• Kelly Becker is lone Ohioan, hailing from Dublin Jerome. She will join Katie Chase, Cara Facchina, Heather Gravinese, Tayler Kuzma, Morgan Obendorfer and Kate Sullivan as the newest Buckeyes.
Women’s Soccer
Head coach: Lori Walker
• Senior midfielder Ashley Bowyer was named a third-team All-American, the National Soccer Coaches Association of America announced Dec. 8. The Aliso Viejo, Calif., native became the fourth player in Ohio State history to be named an NSCAA All-American following Lara Dickenmann (2004), Melissa Miller (2003, 2004) and Jodie Stranges (1996).
• A 2009 first-team All-Big Ten selection, Bowyer led the Buckeyes to the NCAA tournament and a ranking as high as No. 11 nationally, scoring four goals and dishing out five assists in 2009. The two-year captain started 82 career games, fourth-most all-time at Ohio State, and ranks fifth on the career assists list with 16. Last week, Bowyer received her third Academic All-Big Ten award.
Men’s Track
Head coach: Robert Gary
• Ohio State wrapped up a successful start to the 2010 season Saturday at the Golden Flash Gala at Kent State.
• The heptathlon witnessed a pair of Buckeyes finish at the top of the standings. Assistant coach Patrick Woods won the event with a score of 5432, only 16 points off of the Kent State Fieldhouse record. Woods used first-place finishes in the shot put and 60m hurdles to win the title. Redshirt freshman Heath Nickles used a first-place finish in the pole vault to finish second overall with 5253.
Up Next: hosting Buckeye Classic, TBA Jan. 8 at French Fieldhouse
hosting Buckeye Classic, TBA Jan. 9 at French Fieldhouse
vs. Michigan, TBA Jan. 16 in Ann Arbor, Mich.
Women’s Volleyball (25-10, 12-8 Big Ten)
Head coach: Geoff Carlson
• Outside hitter Katie Dull was named to the 2009 AVCA Mideast All-Region Team Dec. 9. The 14-member team was picked by a panel of coaches. The All-Region team members as well as honorable mention selections will be considered for All-America first, second or third team selections and will be announced Dec. 16.
No. 3 Wrestling (5-0)
Head coach: Tom Ryan
• Ohio State defeated No. 19 Edinboro, 34-12, Dec. 13 in the Perrysburg High School in Perrysburg, Ohio, to improve to 5-0 on the season. The Buckeyes won the first seven bouts, including a Fighting Scot forfeit, to jump out to a 34-0 lead.
• With the Scarlet and Gray up 4-0 early, No. 1 and senior tri-captain Reece Humphrey made the score 8-0 at 141 pounds on a 27-11 technical fall.
• At 149 pounds, fourth-ranked Lance Palmer, also a senior tri-captain, notched a 9-1 major decision. Mike Pucillo, ranked No. 9, pinned No. 20 Pat Bradshaw in 2:26 at 184 pounds.
Up Next: at Hofstra, noon Jan. 3 in Hempstead, N.Y.
vs. Columbia/George Mason, 4 p.m. Jan. 3 in New York, N.Y.
at National Duals, 9 a.m. Jan. 9-10 in Cedar Falls, Iowa
Ohio State Athletics Schedule
Dec. 15-19
Dec. 15
Women’s basketball vs. Wright State, 7 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Dec. 16
Men’s gymnastics hosting Scarlet and Gray Intrasquad, 2 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
St. John Arena
Men’s basketball vs. Presbyterian, 7 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
Dec. 17-20
Women’s swimming at Chesapeake Energy Elite Pro-Am, TBA
Oklahoma City, Okla.
Dec. 19
Men’s basketball vs. Delaware State, 4 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
ESPNU
Women’s basketball vs. Alabama A&M, 8 p.m.
Columbus, Ohio
Value City Arena
