COLUMBUS, Ohio – The No. 6 Ohio State men’s gymnastics team earned the 407.350-406.650 win in the regular-season finale against No. 4 Nebraska on senior day on Sunday to claim a share of the Big Ten Championship. This is Ohio State’s first Big Ten championship since the conference began awarding a regular-season title in 2019 and third overall title under the direction of Rustam Sharipov.
Jesse Tyndall won three events – floor (14.250), parallel bars (14.350) and high bar (13.900) with his high bar routine clinching the meet win and conference championship. Trevor Cummings had the Buckeyes’ first career-high of the meet with a 14.700 on pommel horse to finish second. Justin Ah Chow also had a career-best on pommel horse (14.100). On rings, Donovan Hewitt earned a 14.300, his career-best to win the event. Dexter Roettker earned a career-best 13.650 on high bar.
How it Happened
Floor
Ohio State held the 67.750-66.800 lead after the floor rotation. Jesse Tyndall earned the event win with a 14.250 and a stuck landing. Kazuki Hayashi earned his season-best (13.900) after Dexter Roettker began the meet with a season-high for him (13.750), just 0.050 off his career-high. Kameron Nelson earned a 13.500 and Jakob Murray rounded out the Buckeyes’ lineup with a 12.450.
Pommel Horse
The Buckeyes totaled 68.300 on the pommel horse, the best team showing of the season. Cummings led Ohio State with a career-best 14.700 to finish second overall. Ah Chow earned a career-best 14.100. Andrew Brower began his senior day with a 13.850. Curtis Chang earned a 13.150 and Luke Smigliani wrapped up the Buckeyes’ scores with a 12.500.
Rings
Ohio State had its highest team total on the rings this season (68.450) as the Buckeyes led 204.500-199.900 midway through the meet. Hewitt earned a career-high 14.300 to win the event. Tyndall stuck his dismount for a 14.000. Nelson scored a 13.700, just 0.050 off his career-best score. Tyler Rockwood earned a 13.300, while Smigliani had a season-high 13.150 to conclude the Buckeyes’ showing.
Vault
The Buckeyes held a 275.650-270.900 lead after four rotations. Hewitt led Ohio State against with a 14.450 to finish second overall. Nelson’s 14.400 was just 0.050 shy of his career-best. Hayashi earned a 14.300 to lead off the Buckeyes’ lineup and Roettker followed with a 14.200. Tyndall posted a 13.800 to wrap up OSU’s lineup.
Parallel Bars
Ohio State led by a narrow 340.200-339.300 margin following the parallel bars competition. Tyndall led the Buckeyes with a season-best 14.350 to win the event. Murray posted a 13.400. Domenic Sciulli earned a 13.050, while Brower earned a 12.350 and Tyler Rockwood rounded out the Buckeyes’ showing with an 11.400.
High Bar
The Buckeyes wrapped up the meet with their best team score (67.150) to maintain the lead. Tyndall earned his third event win with a 13.900 as the final gymnast to go. Roettker stuck his dismount and earned a career-best 13.650. Hayashi earned the same score as Roettker, while Sciulli had his season-best 13.050 and Hewitt wrapped up the Buckeyes’ showing with a 12.900.
All-Around
Tyndall was the lone competitor in the all-around, competing in all six events for just the second time this season. He earned three event wins – floor (14.250), parallel bars (13.350) and high bar (13.900) with his high bar routine clinching the meet win and conference championship. Tyndall’s 82.300 is the best all-around score among the Buckeyes roster this season.
What They Said
Head Coach Rustam Sharipov: “I’m very proud of our team’s effort today and our winning performance. We were able to honor and celebrate our six seniors and send them off on a good note as we head into the postseason. Thank you to all who came and supported us – the energy was electric.”
Up Next
Ohio State travels to Penn State’s campus for the 2022 Big Ten Championships on April 1-2.
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