Nelson and Pakele Named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch
12/19/2024 2:22:00 PM | General, Men's Gymnastics
The Big Ten Conference announced its preseason gymnasts to watch on Thursday.
COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Big Ten Conference announced the 2025 Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch ahead of the start of the season in January. Senior all-arounder Kameron Nelson and junior all-arounder Jesse Pakele were named Big Ten Gymnasts to Watch. This is Nelson's third time being named a Big Ten Gymnast to Watch, also earning his spot on the list prior to the 2023 and 2024 seasons.
Nelson, a team captain this year, has been a consistent member of the Buckeyes' lineup in multiple events the past three seasons. The 2022 Big Ten Vault Champion is a five-time All-American (2024 CGA regular season on floor, 2024 NCAA Championships on floor, 2023 NCAA Championships on floor, vault and all-around). Nelson is also a three-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team in 2022, second team in 2023 and 2024). He wrapped up the 2024 season nationally ranked in the top 12 in the country in three events – floor (fourth – 14.275), rings (10th – 13.888) and vault (11th – 14.600). Last season, Nelson collected five event wins – three on floor, one on rings and one on vault. He has been named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, CGA Specialist of the Week and has earned OSU Scholar Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten and CGA Scholar All-American honors for his work in the classroom. Outside of Ohio State, Nelson competed in the 2023 Cairo World Cup as a member of Team USA, qualifying for the finals on both vault and floor.
Pakele has earned his spot in the Buckeye lineup on floor, pommel horse and rings the past two seasons. He posted all his career-highs last season, earning a 14.250 on floor, 13.950 on pommel horse and 13.350 on rings. Pakele competed on all three of those events for the Buckeyes at the Big Ten Championships, NCAA Qualifiers and NCAA Championships in 2024. As a freshman in 2023, Pakele tied for the win on floor in his collegiate debut and was part of the Ohio State floor and pommel horse lineup at Big Ten Championships and NCAA Qualifiers.
Ohio State holds its annual Scarlet & Gray meet this Friday in the Covelli Center at 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free to all home men's gymnastics meets.
Nelson, a team captain this year, has been a consistent member of the Buckeyes' lineup in multiple events the past three seasons. The 2022 Big Ten Vault Champion is a five-time All-American (2024 CGA regular season on floor, 2024 NCAA Championships on floor, 2023 NCAA Championships on floor, vault and all-around). Nelson is also a three-time All-Big Ten honoree (first team in 2022, second team in 2023 and 2024). He wrapped up the 2024 season nationally ranked in the top 12 in the country in three events – floor (fourth – 14.275), rings (10th – 13.888) and vault (11th – 14.600). Last season, Nelson collected five event wins – three on floor, one on rings and one on vault. He has been named Big Ten Gymnast of the Week, CGA Specialist of the Week and has earned OSU Scholar Athlete, Academic All-Big Ten and CGA Scholar All-American honors for his work in the classroom. Outside of Ohio State, Nelson competed in the 2023 Cairo World Cup as a member of Team USA, qualifying for the finals on both vault and floor.
Pakele has earned his spot in the Buckeye lineup on floor, pommel horse and rings the past two seasons. He posted all his career-highs last season, earning a 14.250 on floor, 13.950 on pommel horse and 13.350 on rings. Pakele competed on all three of those events for the Buckeyes at the Big Ten Championships, NCAA Qualifiers and NCAA Championships in 2024. As a freshman in 2023, Pakele tied for the win on floor in his collegiate debut and was part of the Ohio State floor and pommel horse lineup at Big Ten Championships and NCAA Qualifiers.
Ohio State holds its annual Scarlet & Gray meet this Friday in the Covelli Center at 4 p.m. Admission and parking are free to all home men's gymnastics meets.
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