Buckeyes Release 2010-11 Schedule – Ohio State Buckeyes
9/10/2010 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Head coach Miles Avery announced the release of the Ohio State men’s gymnastics 2010-11 schedule Friday afternoon. Highlighting the 2011 campaign, the Buckeyes will host the 2011 NCAA Championships April 14-16 at St. John Arena.
Ohio State has six meets scheduled for the regular season, including two at home before traveling to the 2011 Big Ten Championships in Champaign, Ill. Every opponent this upcoming season was ranked in the Top 20 last year, including six in the Top 10. Ohio State, which finished sixth last year at the 2010 NCAA Championships, returns a talented squad that will look to not only return to the top of the Big Ten standings, but also will look to achieve its ultimate goal; win a national title in Columbus.
“Our beginning of the season is certainly more challenging than in previous years with going to the Windy City Invitational and then to Oklahoma back-to-back,” Avery said. “I think we need that motivation this year. This team will be back to where I think we are used to seeing Ohio State gymnastics being at and I’m excited for the year ahead.”
Ohio State kicks off the season at the Windy City Invitational Jan. 15 in Chicago, Ill. Last year, the Buckeyes turned in a strong performance, finishing third with a 347.15 in their season opener. Following the invite, Ohio State will have its first road dual-meet test of the year, traveling to Norman, Okla., to take on the Sooners, who finished third at the NCAA Championships last season in West Point, N.Y.
The Scarlet and Gray will open the home schedule at St. John Arena Feb. 12 to compete against the College at Brockport for the first time in program history. Following a week off, Ohio State will participate in a co-ed meet at Penn State Feb. 26 in State College, Pa., before returning to Chicago March 7 for a quad-meet against host UIC, Air Force and Temple, Avery’s alma mater.
The Buckeyes round out the regular season in Columbus, welcoming Illinois and Nebraska in a tri-meet. Last year, Illinois took the Big Ten championship at St. John Arena, while Nebraska took fourth place at the 2010 Mountain Pacific sports Federation Championship in Norman, Okla.
Ohio State will travel to Champaign, Ill., as the defending champion Fighting Illini hosts the 2011 Big Ten Championship April 1-2. Arguably the most talented conference in the country, the Big Ten had three of the six teams in the NCAA finals last season, including 2010 national champion Michigan, Illinois and Ohio State. Minnesota, Penn State and Iowa were also ranked in the Top 12 a year ago.
The Buckeyes will prepare to host the 2011 NCAA Championships April 14-16 in St. John Arena. The three-day championships kickoff with two qualifying sessions Thursday followed by the team finals Friday. The 2011 national championships conclude with the individual finals Saturday. Ohio State will be the third Big Ten Conference institution to host the national competition in the last six years after Penn State did so in 2007 and Minnesota in 2009.
“The last time we hosted these championships in St. John Arena, we won it,” Avery said. “There’s a lot of history to the teams that host NCAAs. If a team is really good the year it is hosting, it does bode well to win a national championship.” This year we will be tremendously talented and hopefully that home-field advantage and all of the fans out there wanting the Buckeyes to get it done will help us succeed.”
In 2001, the Buckeyes won the program’s third NCAA title and Avery, in his fourth year at the helm, was named the national coach of the year in St. John Arena. Then-senior Jamie Natalie was presented the sport’s top honor, the Nissen-Emery award, previous to winning the NCAA All-Around title.
For the complete schedule, click here.
