COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State men’s gymnastics team totaled 394.900 at the Windy City Invite to open the 2023 season on Saturday, finishing third among the six teams competing.
Six Buckeyes made their collegiate debuts, totaling nine of the 30 competed routines. Ohio State had four sticks – three on high bar dismounts (Jadon Roberson, Caden Spencer, Kazuki Hayashi) and Matthew Piekarski’s rings dismount. Three returners earned career-high scores as Tyler Rockwood scored a 13.900 on parallel bars, Arthur Ashton scored a 13.250 on rings and Justin Ah Chow scored a 13.100 on rings.
How it Happened
Pommel Horse
Ohio State began the meet strong with a 65.750 as a team on pommel horse. Parker Thackston led the way in his collegiate debut with a 13.800, followed by senior captain Luke Smigliani’s 13.500. Junior captain Rockwood earned a 13.200, while freshman Kristian Grahovski started off the Buckeyes with an even 13.000 as the first routine. Ah Chow rounded out the Buckeyes’ scores with a 12.250.
Rings
The Buckeyes totaled an even 66.000 on rings in the second rotation. Senior captain Donovan Hewitt scored a team-high 13.600. Piekarski stuck his dismount in his collegiate debut for a 13.150. Ashton (13.250) and Ah Chow (13.100) each earned career-highs. Kameron Nelson capped Ohio State’s rotation with a 12.900.
Vault
Ohio State had a team score of 71.000 on the vault. Hayashi scored a team-best 14.500, while Jacob Harmon earned a 14.450 in his Buckeye debut. Ah Chow also had a 14.450 and Hewitt scored a 14.300. Nelson wrapped up OSU’s showing with a 13.300.
Parallel Bars
The Buckeyes earned 64.850 as a team on parallel bars. Spencer scored a team-best 13.950 in his first collegiate routine, while Rockwood scored a career-high 13.900. Ah Chow was right behind Rockwood with a 13.800. Nelson (13.000) and Hewitt (10.200) capped the Buckeyes’ rotation.
High Bar
The team totaled 62.250 on high bar. Hayashi and Spencer both stuck their dismounts, earning a 13.600 and 13.200, respectively. Hewitt scored a 12.050, while Rockwood (11.850) and Jadon Roberson (11.550) wrapped up Ohio State’s scores, also sticking his dismount.
Floor
Ohio State wrapped up the meet with a 65.050 on floor in the sixth rotation. Spencer earned a team-high 14.050. Hayashi scored a 13.100, while Nelson’s total was 12.850. Justin Ciccone made his collegiate debut with a 12.750 and Harmon rounded out the Buckeyes’ scores with a 12.300.
What They Said
Head Coach Rustam Sharipov: “We started well, but couldn’t finish the meet when it counted. I’m not satisfied with the outcome and know we are better than this performance. Our freshmen class stepped up and did their job, but we have much more to prove. We have a short week of practice but looking forward to another opportunity next week at the Navy Open.”
Up Next
Ohio State travels to the Navy Open next Saturday. The meet is scheduled to begin at 2 p.m. ET.
#GoBucks
