Buckeyes to Compete at U.S. Qualifier – Ohio State Buckeyes
7/8/2011 12:00:00 AM | General, Men's Gymnastics
July 8, 2011
COLUMBUS, Ohio – Two current and two former members of the Ohio State men’s gymnastics team will compete at the 2011 U.S. Men’s Qualifier Saturday at the U.S. Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, Colo. Senior Ty Echard and sophomore Jeff Treleaven along with former Buckeyes Sean Regan and Tai Lee will be looking to qualify for the U.S. Championships -the 2011 VISA Championships Aug. 17-20 in St. Paul, Minn.
More than 80 gymnasts are expected to compete in the event, which is the last opportunity for the country’s athletes to qualify for the USA Gymnastics national championships. The senior division has 48 gymnasts competing broken down into two sessions, 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. ET. The Top 15 gymnasts using the Men’s Program Committee 20-point system will advance to the championships.
“This is a good opportunity for guys to have a chance be a part of a USA gymnastics competition,” head coach Rustam Sharipov said. “I think for the current student-athletes this is a great chance to show that they are not only academically strong, but are athletically trying to improve. For them after the NCAA championships, the season isn’t over – they are continually looking to develop their skills and routines with the rest of the USA gymnastics community.”
Echard, a native of Carroll, Ohio, is a two-time All-American on pommel horse after finishing third in the NCAA event championships in 2009 and 2011. Last season, Echard claimed 10 Top 3 finishes on pommel horse. The senior Buckeye holds the program record on the event with a 15.700 set during the 2010 campaign at Michigan.
Treleaven, a native of Glen Ellyn, Ill., earned his first career All-American honor after notching a 16.100 on vault for third place at the NCAA event championships in Columbus. In 2011, Treleaven, a second team All-Big Ten selection, collected eight Top 3 finishes on the event, including a team-best 16.400 vs. Illinois and Nebraska at St. John Arena.
Regan, who completed his four seasons in the Scarlet and Gray this past spring, represented the Buckeyes in the all-around competition in the NCAA qualifier in Columbus, posting a career-high 83.350 in the event. In 2011, the native of Libertyville, Ill., claimed career highs on multiple events, including floor exercise (15.200), rings (14.950) and vault (15.600).
Lee, a four-year letterman for the Buckeyes from 2007-10, was a major part of the OSU program during his college career as a strong performer in the all-around competition. At the 2010 NCAA championships, Lee competed on all six events, including a team-high 14.050 on parallel bars, while also finishing second in the all-around competition with an 85.150 in the NCAA qualifier. Lee holds the program record on high bar with a 15.300.
