Nelson, Thackston Named Preseason Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch
12/20/2023 3:02:00 PM | General, Men's Gymnastics
The Big Ten Conference released its preseason men’s gymnastics awards on Wednesday.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference released its preseason men's gymnastics awards on Wednesday. Senior Kameron Nelson and sophomore Parker Thackston were named Preseason Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch. This is Nelson's second-consecutive season receiving this recognition and Thackston's first time.
Nelson was a three-time All-American last season, finishing third on floor, fifth on vault and sixth in the all-around competition at the NCAA Championships. His scores on floor and in the all-around were personal bests and he tied his personal-best score on vault, earning the stick as well. Nelson headed into the 2023 NCAA Championships ranking seventh on floor (14.138 national-qualifying average), eighth on vault (14.575 NQA) and 24th on rings (13.475 NQA). He earned wins on floor against Army and on vault against Illinois, accumulating 10 other podium finishes throughout the season. In the individual event finals at the 2023 Big Ten Championships, Nelson finished third on vault (14.625) and seventh on floor (13.925). This past April, Nelson competed at the 2023 Cairo World Cup for USA Gymnastics, qualifying for the finals on vault (finished fifth) and floor (finished eighth).
Thackston was a lock on pommel horse for the Buckeyes during his freshman season, earning three wins and three additional podium finishes. He headed into the 2023 NCAA Championships ranked seventh in the country on pommel horse with a national qualifying average of 14.038 after posting six scores of 14.000 or better. Thackston earned the two highest OSU pommel scores of the season – 14.333 in the NCAA Qualifiers (to secure his spot in the NCAA Championships) and 14.300 at Nebraska. He finished fifth in the individual event finals on pommel horse (13.575) at the Big Ten Championships.
Ohio State opens the regular season at home against Greenville on Saturday, Jan. 13 at noon inside the Covelli Center. The Buckeyes host the NCAA Championships on April 19-20 inside the Covelli Center with the qualifiers on Friday and the Championships on Saturday. View the full 2023-24 Ohio State men's gymnastics schedule HERE. Â
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