Buckeyes Announce 2012 Schedule – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/19/2011 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
July 19, 2011
WatchSharipov Interview WatchHamm Interview
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s gymnastics team announced its 2011-12 schedule Tuesday. The Buckeyes, under first-year head coach , will host three meets and travel for six contests. The home schedule consists of three opponents that ranked in the Top 6 in the final 2011 NCAA standings, including defending national champion Stanford.
“Looking at the schedule this upcoming year, we are going to have to face tough competition,” Sharipov said. “Facing these opponents will give us an idea of how we are progressing compared to the other top teams in the nation. We can unite as a team and put all of our strengths together, we can be pretty close to these teams in competition.”
The Buckeyes’ preseason includes three exhibitions, beginning with a varsity intrasquad Dec. 4 at Steelwood – home to the team’s training facility. The squad will then work out at St. John Arena Dec. 15 in the annual Scarlet and Gray intrasquad. Ohio State will close out the preseason slate with the alumni exhibition Jan. 8 at Steelwood.
The team kicks off the 2012 campaign at the Windy City Invitational Jan. 14 in Chicago, Ill. Last year, the Buckeyes finished fourth in the season opener. Following the invite, Ohio State has its first home test of the season against non-conference opponent Oklahoma Jan. 21 at St. John Arena. The Sooners were the national runner-up at the 2010 NCAA Championships in Columbus.
After the Winter Cup, a USA Gymnastics event, Feb. 2-4, the squad returns to dual action with three-consecutive conference meets, beginning at rival Michigan Feb. 18 in Ann Arbor, Mich. Ohio State returns to Columbus to face Penn State Feb. 25 before traveling to Illinois March 2 in Champaign.
The Buckeyes close out the home schedule against defending national champion Stanford Feb. 9 on Senior Day. Following its home finale vs. the Cardinal, the squad has one final prep meet at Minnesota in a tri-meet with Oklahoma March 24 before postseason competition begins.
Ohio State will travel to Iowa City, Iowa, as the Hawkeyes host the 2012 Big Ten Championships April 6-7. Arguably the most talented conference in the country, the Big Ten had three of the six teams in the NCAA finals last season, including Illinois, Michigan and Penn State. Ohio State, Iowa and Minnesota also ranked in the Top 10 a year ago.
Following the conference championships, the Buckeyes will prepare for the 2012 NCAA Championships April 19-21 in Norman, Okla., hosted by the University of Oklahoma. The three-day championships kickoff with two qualifying sessions Thursday followed by the team finals Friday. The 2012 national championships conclude with the individual finals Saturday.
Watch the video interviews above of head coach and assistant coach as they are introduced. For the complete video interviews of both Sharipov and Hamm, check back next week on OhioStateBuckeyes.com.
